Pumas forced to change

Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has been forced to reshuffle his backline ahead of the visit by the Sharks to Nelspruit on Friday.


The wily mentor named an unchanged forward pack, but his backline shows three changes for this Currie Cup Round Four encounter.


Heinrich Steyl, who was injured in the 33-15 win over Griquas last week, could have played. However, Stonehouse told rugby365 they did not want to take any chances and John-Wessel Bell will start in the No.15 jersey.


Wing Ruwellyn Isbell has a family bereavement and will be replaced by Rosco Spekman.


The final change sees Dylon Frylinck start at scrumhalf in place of Reynier van Rooyen, who drops down to the replacement bench.


Coenraad van Wyk also comes onto the bench in the place vacated by Spekman's promotion.


Pumas: 15 John-Wessel Bell, 14 Jerome Pretorius, 13 Jacobus Jonker, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Dylon Frylinck, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Corne Steenkamp (captain), 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Swys du Toit, 1 Corne Fourie.

Replacements: 16 Frank Herne, 17 Dee-Jay Terblanche, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Juan-Claude Roos, 22 Coenraad van Wyk.


Date: Friday, August 29

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)

Referee: Ben Crouse

Assistant referees: Marius Jonker, Stefan Breytenbach

TMO: Johan Greeff