Honoured captain targets win
Absa Currie Cup fever has definitely hit the Lowveld with a bang.
This week is the official start of the series’ season and the Steval Pumas will host the Toyota FS Cheetahs for the first time. For one of the dedicated Pumas, a milestone will be reached with this match. Commitment to the Mpumlanga Rugby Union comes in the form of a live-wire flanker, not to be messed with on any pitch. Sidelined for a year due to a neck injury, Corné Steenkamp, captain of the team will earn his 150th cap in a Puma jersey.
A very young inexperienced Cheetahs team will be travelling to Mbombela for the first time, and this under leadership of a former Puma, Torsten van Jaarsveld. A total of seven debutants are included in their line-up for the weekend. Experience comes in the form of Sarel Pretorius at scrum half, Rayno Benjamin and Raymond Rhule on the wings. On the Bloemfontein bench the well-known Bees Roux will most probably have his run at the Pumas too.
“The fact that the Bloemfontein boys are very inexperienced doesn’t mean they aren’t going to play hard-core rugby. We worked hard this week and, although I’m celebrating a personal milestone, our focus must be on the work on the day.
“Obviously we’re earmarked as the underdogs, and we would like to keep it like that. Our mission is to win all our home encounters and give more than our best on the away games. After Friday night’s Bulls match, the boys know what is expected of them, and we need to remain focused for 90 minutes,” the experienced captain, Steenkamp commented.
Although Jimmy Stonehouse and MJ Mentz announced their starting line-up earlier in the week, their star player, Rosco Spekman had to withdraw from the squad due to a niggling injury. He is replaced by Jerome Pretorius with Heinrich Steyl on the bench.
According to Roelf Kotzé ticket sales are doing well due to the fact that the “big guns” are coming to town.
Yet the public needs to take notice of the fact that the parking ticket, which is included in the R80 price, is on a first come, first served basis.
“To avoid any traffic congestion, rather leave your home a little earlier. Bring your braai and come enjoy the Currie Cup fever at the stadium,” Kotzé said.
Gates open at 12:30 with the u/19 and u/21 Pumas playing curtain-raisers against the SWD Eagles with the main attraction’s kick-off at 19:10.
