Bulls and Pumas name teams for Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld
The defending Currie Cup champs completed their preparations for the 2023 tournament with a tour to Namibia.
The Airlink Pumas will begin their defence of the Carling Currie Cup against the Vodacom Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday at 13:00.
The last Currie Cup match the Pumas played was the 2022 final against the Windhoek Draught Griquas in Kimberley on June 25
last year.
After losing twice to Griquas, 41-20 at Windhoek Lager Park (February 2) and 45-44 at Mbombela Stadium (June 10), the Pumas executed a near perfect game plan to win the final 26-19.
Vodacom Blue Bulls:
15 Wandisile Simelan, 14 Sibongile Novuka 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 S’bu Nkosi; 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Bernard van der Linde; 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Ruan Vermaak, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Keagan 22 Johannes, 23 Chris Smith, 24 Cornal Hendricks.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Francois Kleinhans, 6 Andre Fouché, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corne Fourie.
16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Lundi Msenge.
The Pumas returned this past weekend from a pre-Currie Cup season tour of Namibia during which they played the Windhoek Draught
Welwitschias twice at the Hein Geingob Stadium in Windhoek.
The Pumas won the inaugural Airlink Cup, defeating the Namibians 43-0 last Wednesday and 81-8 on Saturday.
The Currie Cup champions beat the Nonavit Griffons 47-16 in a pre-season friendly at Mbombela Stadium on February 22.
On February 18 they faced the Fidelity ADT Lions in the first of the friendlies in preparation of the Currie Cup, at Emirates Airline Park, and won 33-24.
Airlink Pumas 2023 Carling Currie Cup fixtures (home team first)
• Sunday March 12, 13:00: Bulls XV
vs Pumas
• Friday March 17, 17:00: Pumas vs Lions
• Friday March 24, 19:05: Pumas vs Griquas
• Friday March 31, 17:00: Cheetahs XV
vs Pumas
• Friday April 7, 19:05: Sharks XV vs Pumas
• Sunday April 16, 15:00: Griffons vs Pumas
• Friday April 21, 16:00: Pumas vs
Western Province
• Friday April 28, 17:00: Lions vs Pumas
• Friday May 5, 17:45: Pumas vs Griffons
• Friday May 12, 19:05: Pumas vs Sharks XV
• Friday May 19, 17:00: Western Province
vs Pumas
• Saturday May 27, 17:00: Pumas vs Bulls XV
• Friday June 2, 17:05: Pumas vs
Cheetahs XV
• Friday June 9, 15:00: Griquas vs Pumas.
