Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Pumas coach MJ Mentz has made seven changes to the starting team which ran out against the Free State Cheetahs last week as the men from Mpumalanga look to close their Currie Cup campaign on a high note against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday evening.
Flyhalf Francois Brummer, who has started every game of this season’s Currie Cup, has been ruled out due to an ankle ligament injury.
Playing his last match for the Pumas, Heinrich Steyl moves from fullback to take up the reins from the former Super Rugby player. Devon Williams will slot into his familiar berth at number 15.
Hennie Skorbinksi is also unavailable for selection after undergoing finger surgery, giving the 102kg Leighton van Wyk another starting opportunity at inside centre.
Tyler Fisher has been picked ahead of Ruwellyn Isbell at right wing, whilst scrumhalf Emile Temperman has recovered from knee ligament damage to replace Kevin Luiters. Isbell and Luiters will provide backline cover from the bench, along with Deon Helberg.
In the forwards, Jeremy Jordaan gets his first start in the Pumas jersey at left lock, in place of Stephan Greeff. Hugo Kloppers has been named as the lock replacement.
Lambert Groenewald is out with bronchitis, to be replaced by Carel Greeff at right flank. Khwezi Mona is being rested with an ankle niggle, with De-Jay Terblanche starting at loose head prop.
After a winless Currie Cup thus far, Mentz said that his side are determined to cap off the season with a victory against the bottom-of-the-log Kings.
"We are extremely hungry for a win and the new guys coming this week realise the importance of getting that win," Mentz said.
"The Kings have played some good rugby in the first half of every game this season and will be just as hungry as us. Obviously it’s never nice to be involved in a bottom-of-the-log clash but there’s still a lot to play for."
Steyl is leaving the Pumas to pursue his studies in accountancy.
Renaldo Bothma, who has captained the team since the early stages of the season, will also wear the pink jersey for the last time as he takes up a full-time contract with the Blue Bulls.
"It was a great privilege to have both of these talented rugby players on board and we wish them every success for the future. We hope we can send them off with a win," Mentz commented.
Kick-off on Friday is at 18:00.
Teams:
EP Kings
15 Johan Tromp, 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Ricky Schroeder (captain), 8 Christiaan de Bruin, 7 Sebastian Ferreira, 6 Brandon Brown, 5 Dylan Pieterse, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Vukile Sofisa, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Barend Potgieter
Substitutes: 16 Warrick Venter, 17 Pieter Stemmet, 18 Etienne Oosthuizen, 19 Luke van der Smit, 20 Cullen Callopy, 21 Vian van der Watt, 22 Lungelo Gosa
Pumas
15 Davon Williams, 14 Tyler Fisher, 13 Hoffman Maritz, 12 Leighton van Wyk, 11 Jean-Paul Lewis, 10 Heinrich Steyl, 9 Emile Temperman, 8 Renaldo Bothma (c), 7 Carel Greeff, 6 Brian Shabangu, 5 Jannie Stander, 4 Jeremy Jordaan, 3 Louis Albertse, 2 Frank Herne, 1 De Jay Terblanche
Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Marne Coetzee, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Reuben Johannes, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Ruwellyn Isbell
