Challenge Series - teams and predictions
MIDWEEK MADNESS: The Currie Cup champions, the Pumas, get their first taste of competitive rugby since winning the title in sensational fashion in Kimberley in June.
However, it is not the easy 'warm-up' coach Jimmy Stonehouse would have hoped for.
In his 13th season involved in the union - first based in Witbank and later moved to Nelspruit - Stonehouse's champions face off against an impressive Emerging Irish team.
The Irish, on a brief three-match tour of South Africa, started with a 54-7 rout of the beaten Currie Cup finalists Griquas last Friday.
To make the challenge even more complicated for Stonehouse is that more than half of his winning team departed the union - all earning bigger contracts elsewhere.
A much-changed Pumas team will be captained by seasoned flyhalf Tinus de Beer.
The No.10 said they have put their Currie Cup success behind them and are focused on the enormous task ahead.
"We enjoyed everything that goes with being called the champions thoroughly," De Beer said.
"However, the new season is starting from now and that's where the focus will be.
"We have been training well and the boys are just amped to get back out on the park to see where we are as a team.
"We want to see how well we play together and turn everything that we've worked on in the preseason into magic moments."
For the Irish, it is about building for the future.
Coach Simon Easterby acknowledged that they certainly didn't expect things to get any easier as the tour progressed, but admitted there would be an intent to provide some new players with an opportunity before the final Challenge clash against the Cheetahs on Sunday.
"Fingers crossed we came through the [Griquas] game pretty well [in terms of injuries]," Easterby said.
"We'll certainly look to get everyone in the touring party involved by the end of Wednesday's game.
"The Pumas won the Currie Cup, so they'll present a step up, and I'm sure the Cheetahs will as well.
"We just have to continue with the same work ethic and attitude we've shown so far, and then we'll be fine.
"Players are connecting with each other and if they display the same type of intent and physicality that you need in South Africa, and the smarts as well, then I expect we'll perform really well again on Wednesday with what might be a new-look team."
Cian Prendergast, a member of the touring party leadership group, will fulfil the captain's duties against the Pumas.
Cian will play on the blindside flank, with John Hodnett in the No.7 jersey and James Culhane in the No.8 slot. Cormac Izuchukwu and Brian Deeny are named at lock, with Callum Reid, Diarmuid Barron and Roman Salanoa in the front row.
Michael McDonald and Jake Flannery will steer the team from halfback, with Cathal Forde and Antoine Frisch in midfield.
Ethan McIlroy is joined in the backfield by Sevens duo Chay Mullins and Andrew Smith.
* The second match in the midweek mayhem will see Griquas looking to rebound against a very young Bulls team - the visitors from Pretoria made up mostly of junior players.
Griquas coach Pieter Bergh said there were 'some' positives to take from their hammering at the hands of the Irish last week.
However, despite creating opportunities, their decision-making and execution let them down.
"This week our focus has been on ourselves," Bergh said, adding: "Before we can look at the opposition, we first have to get our systems in place.
"We know the Bulls team playing on Wednesday is focusing on the national Under-21 competition, so it will be a very different challenge."
Bulls XV coach Hayden Groepes selected a young side for the trip to Bloemfontein.
The side will be co-captained by the experienced duo of Cebo Dlamini and Tiaan Fourie.
Groepes said the opportunity that awaits his side in Bloemfontein, is one to be grabbed with both hands.
"This encounter is another great opportunity that the Bulls has given these youngsters and we hope that they will go out there and enjoy the moment as they go up against Currie Cup finalists, putting up their hands to try and put themselves up for any senior opportunities to come,” the coach said.
Speaking on the youthful balance of the side, the coach said: "We are taking a predominantly young side who will face a different level of physicality, playing against a senior group of players but I do believe that we have a well-conditioned group whom I'd like to see respond to the demands of the conditions."
Teams and predictions for Wednesday's matches
Pumas v Emerging Ireland
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 17.00; 16.00 Ireland time; 15.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Emerging Ireland by 20 points
Teams
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Jade Stiglingh, 13 Sebastiaan de Klerk, 12 Wiaan van Niekerk, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Tinus de Beer (captain), 9 Chriswill September, 8 André Fouché, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Anele Lungisa, 20 Franna Kleinhans, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Gene Willemse, 23 Diego Apollis.
Emerging Ireland: 15 Chay Mullins, 14 Ethan McIlroy, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 Michael McDonald, 8 James Culhane, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Cormac Izuchukwu, 3 Roman Salonoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Callum Reid.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Josh Wycherley,18 Sam Illo ,19 Tom Ahern, 20 David McCann, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Shane Daly
Griquas v Bulls
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Griquas by six points
Teams
Griquas: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Reagan Oranje, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Michael Amiras, 7 Carl Els, 6 Niel Otto (Captain), 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Melusi Mtabela, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Stephan Smit, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Vaughen Isaacs.
Bulls: 15 Quewin Nortje, 14 Adrian Joubert, 13 Munashe Dukuzwa, 12 Carlton Banies, 11 Larry Nkonki, 10 Rowan Cloete, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 Hardus Rothmann, 7 Merwe Oliver, 6 Rynard Mouton, 5 Marco de Witt, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Rob Hunt, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Cebo Dlamini.
Replacements - from: 16 Tielman Nieuwoudt, 17 Reuben van der Nest, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Ghudian van Reenen, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Neil le Roux, 22 Gert Steyn, 23 Franco Knoetze, 24 Gcino Mdletshe, 25 Eric Basson, 26 Compion von Ludwig.
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* Additional reporting from the Irish Examiner