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Nelspruit - The Pumas will field a brand-new pack and halfback combinations for Wednesday afternoon’s Currie Cup fixture against the Cheetahs in the Mbombela Stadium (15:15 kick-off).
Captain Hennie Skorbinski is back to lead the team with only fullback Devon Williams, centre Gerrit Smith and winger Ruwellyn Isbell retaining their places.
Wing Jerome Pretorius and flyhalf Justin van Staden are promoted from the bench, while centre Neil Maritz gets a first opportunity in the match-day 23.
Van Staden will be partnered by scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer.
Sias Ebersohn, who made a huge impact at inside centre against Western Province, wasn’t considered for selection after a knock to the head.
It was always coach Brent Janse van Rensburg’s intent to rest some of his first-choice players before the Cheetahs match which they’ve targeted for a possible win on home turf.
With Francois Kleinhans preferred as the openside flanker, Chris Cloete will start from the bench for the second week running.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Williams Small-Smith, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Niell Jordaan (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Erich de Jager, 17 Joseph Dweba, 18 Rynier Bernardo, 19 Junior Pokomela, 20 Zee Mkhabela, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Malcolm Jaer
Pumas
15 Devon Williams, 14 Jerome Pretorius, 13 Gerrit Smith, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Jeremy Jordaan, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Kwezi Mona
Substitutes: 16 Frank Herne, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Cameron Lindsay, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Kobus Marais, 22 Neil Maritz
