Players to swelter in Currie Cup
The Steval Pumas still have a mathematical chance to qualify for the Absa Currie Cup semi-finals. But they would have to win both their remaining matches against the Toyota Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls, and hope that other results go their way.
Should the Pumas lose against the Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 13:15), their 2015 Currie Cup aspirations will be over.
After winning two of their first three matches, they have lost four out of the last five.
The team have battled to gel this Absa Currie Cup season. They have conceded an average of 30 points per match. For a team which were determined to earn a semi-final place, this is nowhere near good enough.
Stefan Watermeyer has recovered from a hamstring injury and returns to inside centre. Coach MJ Mentz has high regard for Watermeyer’s leadership skills. “We are glad to have Stefan back. We missed his captaincy last week, especially in the second half. We will need his experience and calmness in pressure situations this week,” said Mentz on Thursday.
At the unusual kick-off time, the 34 degrees Celsius predicted will test the players to the limit.
“At 13:15 on Saturday it’s going to be hot. We have a well-balanced team. There will be an important impact from the bench. The Cheetahs keep ball in hand and play a similar style to us. With the heat this game will be won in the last 20 minutes,” said Mentz.
Tickets are available at Computicket and at the stadium.
Teams
Steval Pumas
15. JW Bell; 14. Jerome Pretorius; 13. Hoffmann Maritz; 12. Stefan Watermeyer (c); 11 Rosko Specman; 10. Justin van Staden; 9. Faf de Klerk; 8. Jason-Colin Fraser; 7. Uzair Cassiem; 6. Jaco Bouwer; 5. Marius Coetzer; 4. Giant Mtyanda; 3. Vincent Koch; 2. Frank Herne; 1. Corné Fourie
16. Francois du Toit; 17. DeJay Terblanche; 18. Rudi Mathee; 19. Marnus Schoeman; 20. Reynier van Rooyen; 21. Hennie Skorbinski; 22. Bernardo Botha.
Toyota Cheetahs
15. Clayton Blommetjies; 14. Sergeal Petersen; 13. Francois Venter; 12 Rayno Benjamin; 11. Raymond Rhule; 10. Sias Ebersohn; 9. Shaun Venter; 8. De Wet Kruger; 7. Oupa Mohoje; 6. Gerhard Olivier; 5. Francois Uys (c), 4. Reniel Hugo; 3. Luan de Bruin; 2. Neil Rautenbach; 1. Teunis Nieuwoudt.
16. Chase Morison; 17. BG Uys; 18. Boela Serfontein; 19. Freddie Ngoza; 20. Ruan van Rensburg; 21. Niel Marais; 22. AJ Coertzen.
