Pumas coach, Jimmy Stonehouse
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has named his team to face the Cheetahs in their opening Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match in Mbombela on Saturday afternoon.
Stonehouse included inside centre Stefan Watermeyer, who was a regular feature during the Lions’ Super Rugby campaign.
Watermeyer, the only Super Rugby player considered for the starting XV with scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and fullback Coenie van Wyk out with injury, will form a midfield combination with JW Jonker.
Prop Corne Fourie has been named on the bench with Vincent Koch receiving the nod ahead of him.
Scrumhalf Reynier van Rooyen will form a halfback combination with Justin van Staden.
JW Bell will be in the last line of defence, forming a back trio with Springbok Sevens players Rosco Speckman and Ruwellyn Isbell.
Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Ruwellyn Isbell, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Reynier van Rooyen, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 DeJay Terblanche, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 Vincent Koch
Replacements: 16 Frankie Herne, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Giant Mtyanda, 19 Uzair Cassiem, 20 Snake Nyoka, 21 JC Roos, 22 Jerome Pretorius.
When one compares this team to that of the Kings named for the weekend, one cannot help but notice that there are far fewer “name” players in the Pumas’ side.
That said, expect this Pumas side to be a bloody tough nut to crack in the CC competition.
Stonehouse has proven year after year that he’s capable of developing an exceptional team from mediocre resources. The “big 5” will visit Nelspruit with a knot in their stomach’s and home ground advantage will NEVER be taken for granted when the “two strip” Pumas come calling.
“Go Jimmy. Give ’em hell” I say.