Pumas shuffle their line-up
Francois Kleinhans has been slotted in among the replacements ahead of the iCollege Pumas Currie Cup clash against the Cell C Sharks at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban tonight.
Early in the season, the flanker broke his arm in a Super Sport Rugby Challenge warm-up game against the Blue Bulls.
Director of rugby for the Pumas, Jimmy Stonehouse made three changes to his starting line-up and one positional change after their 28-59 loss against DHL Western Province.
Marko Janse van Rensburg replaces Simon Westraadt, who was not considered for tonight’s game. Hugo Kloppers, who came onto the field from the bench against the Capetonian side, will start in the number-five jersey ahead of Cameron Lindsay, who moves to the bench.
Winger Ruwellyn Isbell will be returning from an injury and replaces JP Lewis in the starting 15.
Neil Maritz will now move from left to right wing.
The bench will also see Frank Herne returning after recovering from a broken rib, as well as Jeandré Rudolf.
Coach of the Sharks, Robert du Preez has made just two changes to the starting XV that defeated Free State in Bloemfontein last weekend. Luke Stringer has been handed a start in only his second Currie Cup match, swapping places with Wian Vosloo, who will play off the bench.
The exciting young Aphelele Fassi also gets a first start, at fullback, with Curwin Bosch moving to the bench.
Akker van der Merwe returns to the side (named on the bench) after missing the opening two rounds due to Springbok commitments.
iCollege Pumas
Gerrit Smith, Neil Maritz, Ryan Nell, Hennie Skorbinski, Ruwellyn Isbel, Chris Smith, Stefan Ungerer, Willie Engelbrecht, Stefan Willemse, Marnus Schoeman, Hugo Kloppers, Le Roux Roets, Marné Coetzee, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: Frank Herne, Andrew Beerwinkel, Cameron Lindsay, Francois Kleinhans, Reynier van Rooyen, Jeandré Rudolph, Jerome Pretorius.
Cell C Sharks
Aphelele Fassi, Kobus van Wyk, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Lwazi Mvovo, Robert du Preez, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez, Tyler Paul, Luke Stringer, Hyron Andrews, Gideon Koegelenberg, John-Hubert Meyer, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Khutha Mchunu, Andrew Evans, Wian Vosloo, Cameron Wright, Johan Deysel, Curwin Bosch.
