Steval Pumas coach MJ Mentz announced an unchanged 22-man line-up for the 4th Currie Cup match of the season.
The men from Nelspruit will host the high-flying Xerox Golden Lions on Friday – the 2nd time the 2 sides will meet this season in the Currie Cup.
The Golden Lions beat the Pumas 44 / 27 in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.
The sides have not met in Nelspruit since the Pumas’ return to the Currie Cup competition in 2014.
However, Pumas coach MJ Mentz is confident about his team’s chances.
“We don’t focus on other team’s, our home games are very important to us and we focus entirely on our own game plan and will try not to slip down the Log,” Mentz said in an interview.
The Golden Lions pack were dominant against the Cell C Sharks but Mentz believes his Pumas’ team have a plan to stop the Lions pack.
“We have a plan to put them under pressure and neutralise their scrum. We believe our plans will bear fruit on Friday.
“We are full of confidence that it will go well.
“The crowd will see nice running rugby and lots of tries,” added Mentz.
4 Of the Pumas’ players featured in the Emirates Lions’ Super Rugby squad at some stage this past season – scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, centre Stefan Watermeyer, lock Rudi Mathee and prop Corné Fourie.
Steval Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (Captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 JC, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Giant Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corné Fourie
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Jannie Stander, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.
Date: Friday 28 August
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-Off: 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs, Jaco Kotze
TMO: TBA
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