The Pumas and Griquas will kick off the Carling Currie Cup round two action on Friday in Nelspruit with both teams named on Thursday 3 December.
Griquas hope to break their duck in happy hunting ground
Griquas will be looking to improve on their already impressive track record against the Pumas in Currie Cup competition when they clash with the Lowvelders in Nelspruit on Friday night.
The Northern Cape outfit have won five of the last seven matches between the teams since 2014 – with two of those victories coming in Nelspruit.
Six points separated the teams in their last meeting, a Super Rugby Unlocked clash earlier in the season, and this match is likely to determine who finishes bottom of the Currie Cup standings.
Former Southern Kings loose forward CJ Velleman will earn a first start for Griquas in the only change to coach Scott Mathie’s starting XV. He replaces the injured Gideon van der Merwe, who was forced to leave the field against the Lions after taking a blow to the head.
Pumas ring changes
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse made seven changes to his team – two of which were positional switches – which will see a new-look front row as Dewald Maritz (prop) and Simon Westraadt (hooker) earn starts next to Ruan Kramer.
The lock pairing also differs from last week with Le Roux Roets and regular captain Pieter Jansen van Vuren holding the fort, while the only change in the backline was at right wing, where Luther Obi takes over from Morne Joubert.
Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg will celebrate a big career milestone of 50 caps for the Lowvelders if he takes the field from the subs bench.
Currie Cup team news: Pumas vs Griquas
Phakisa Pumas: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Dewald Maritz. Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Ignatius Prinsloo, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Tiaan Botes, 22 Wayne van der Bank, 23 Liam Hendricks.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Carl Els, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Andre Swarts, 23 Enver Brandt, 24 Zandre Jordaan, 25 Ewan Coetzee, 26 Ashlon Davids.
Match information – Phakisa Pumas v Tafel Lager Griquas
Date: Friday, 4 December 2020
Time: 19h00
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant Referees: Paul Mente and Morne Ferreira
TMO: Willie Vos
TV: SuperSport Rugby
