MJ Mentz – Pumas head coach
Steval Pumas head coach, MJ Mentz, decided to make 8 changes to his Pumas team for this coming weekend’s ABSA Currie Cup match against the ORC Griquas in Kimberley.
After a narrow 26 / 27 loss to the Cell C Sharks in Durban, they will face a tough trip to Kimberley – where they will meet a very physical Griquas team.
Vincent Koch’s is the most notable absentee from the front row – De-Jay Terblanché comes in for the Springbok prop.
Koch is still nursing a knock to the knee that he picked up while he was a part of the Springbok training squad – as a precautionary measure he will be given the week off to recover.
In the backline Hoffmann Maritz replaces JW Bell at fullback.
Jerome Pretorius and Deon Helberg form a new look centre-pairing.
Justin van Staden also replaces JC Roos at flyhalf.
Francois du Toit will play at hooker with Jacques Momberg dropping out of the squad.
Giant Mtyanda makes a welcome return and he will partner Rudi Mathee at lock, with Marnus Schoeman back at openside flank – with last week’s 2 locks, Jaco Bouwer and Marius Coetzer, dropping to the bench.
Steval Pumas: 15 Hoffmann Maritz, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Deon Helberg, 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Faf de Klerk (Captain), 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Giant Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 De-Jay Terblanché, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 Corné Fourie
Replacements: 16 Frank Herne, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Hennie Skorbinski, 22 Wilmaure Louw
Date: Saturday 12 September
Venue: Griqua Park, Kimberley
Kick-Off: 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant Referees: Jason Jaftha, Pieter Janse van Vuuren
TMO: TBA
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