Changes galore for Airlink Pumas ahead of Bulldogs clash

Airlink Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has selected a heavily changed team for his side’s SA Cup clash with the Border Bulldogs in East London on Saturday April 20, with only two players retaining their spots in the starting line-up.

The changes will give key players such much-needed and deserved rest, particularly in the backline where the Pumas remained unchanged for the first four games of the season. Now, all seven of these players have been pulled out of the matchday squad and rested, with the Border Bulldogs lying in wait on Saturday.

The Bulldogs are currently bottom of the log with zero points, having conceded the most points and scored the least points in the opening four rounds of the SA Cup competition.

In stark contrast the Pumas find themselves second with four bonus point wins from four games, with least number of points conceded and second-most points scored.

The key players in the setup will enjoy a much-needed rest this weekend, as they begin to look ahead to the tail-end of the competition which includes a trip to Kimberley to face the Griquas in two weeks’ time. Loosehead prop Etienne Janeke and lock Tiaan de Klerk are the only two players from the team that thrashed the Valke last week to retain their spots in the starting line-up.

Jan-Henning Campher, who’s been a regular starter this season but came off the bench against the Valke, returns to the starting line-up to take the captain’s armband at hooker. Darnell Osuagwu will start on the bench this week, having made a great impact in the side having started at hooker against the Valke.

Blindside flanker Jaco Labuschagne returns to the matchday squad as a substitute after being rested last week. Gene Willemse makes his first start at fly half having been a regular off the bench so far this season.

The Pumas will take on the Border Bulldogs at Police Park in East London at 15:00 on Saturday April 20. The team for the Bulldogs clash is: