Provincial Qualifier: Vodacom Blue Bulls vs StevalPumas – 13 May

Press release:

Venue: Loftus Versveld, Pretoria (Tswane) Date: 13 May 2016

Kick-off: 15:00

This week head coach of the Steval Pumas, MJ Mentz made several changes to his starting line-up for the Provincial Qualifier against the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Friday in Pretoria.

Captain Hugo Kloppers, Bernado Botha and Reynier van Rooyen are cleared to play, after struggling with concussion, a calf and shoulder injury respectively.

Last week, Marnus Schoeman had to withdraw from the Welwitschias match due to flu, but he was declared fit for this week.

Jacques Kotze, the former Nelspruit Hoërskool learner and White River club player,  will eventually make his debut for the Steval Pumas.

“We will build on the momentum we have at this stage, but the Bulls are always a tough encounter at Loftus. They are a young team who varies their game from keeping ball in hand to a running game. The fact that there is no pressure on them to qualify for the Currie Cup later the year. makes of them a very dangerous team. We expect a hard battle up front. therefor we decided on a five-two replacement combination for Friday afternoon,” Mentz commented.

The Steval Pumas:

15. Heinrich Steyl
16. Bernado Botha- in for Dean Helberg
17. Hoffmann Maritz
18. 12. Hennie Skorbinski
19. Marcello Sampson
20. Justin van Staden
21. Reynier van Rooyen- in for Emile Temperman (moves to bench)
22. Carel Greeff – in for Lambert Groenewold (moves to flank)
23. Lambert Groenewald- in for Nardus van der Walt (moves to bench)
24. Marnus Schoeman
25. Hugo Kloppers- in for fannie Stander (moves to bench)
26. Stephan Greeff- in for Wiehan Hay
27. 3. Marne Coetzee
28. 2. Frank Herne- in for Francois du Toit (moves to bench)
29. Simon Westraadt- in for De-Jay Terblanche (moves to bench)

Replacements:

16. Francois du Toit- in for Frank Herne (moves to starting line-up)
17. De-jay Terblanche- in for Khwezi Mona
18. Jacques  Kotze (debutant)
19. Jannie Stander- in for Stephan Greeff (moves to starting line-up)
20. Nardus van der Walt- in for Dylan Peterson
21. Emile Temperman- in for Johan Herbst (bruised bicep)
22. Marlou van Niekerk (debutant)