Currie Cup, Round 10 - teams and predictions
FRIDAY PREVIEW: The injury-ravaged Pumas run the risk of their Currie Cup title defence stalling, as their dwindling depth is being tested to the full.
They host the high-flying Sharks in Nelspruit, as the race for Currie Cup semifinal places intensifies.
The Sharks go into Friday's vital Round 10 outing knowing that a strong performance will help continue the momentum they have built up in recent weeks.
The Cheetahs are two log points clear of the second-placed Pumas at the top of the standings.
Six points separate the defending champion Pumas and the third-placed Sharks.
The Pumas need to beat the Sharks to stay in touch with the high-flying Cheetahs at the top of the standings.
A victory will also ensure that they keep the third-placed KwaZulu-Natalians at arm's length.
However, a rash of injuries complicate the Pumas' task of ending a period of inconsistent performances that have seen them lose to the Lions (10-26) and Sharks (12-19), but beat Western Province (25-24) and the Griffons (64-6 & 45-25).
Having lost the services of tighthead props Ignatius Prinsloo (rib) and JW Meades (neck), they are also without frontline hookers Jacques Momberg (neck) and Eduan Swart (ankle).
All are 'long-term' injuries and leave their front row resources at a threadbare level - forcing changes to the team.
Other long-term injuries include wings Sebastian de Klerk (knee) and Jade Stighling (fractured cheekbone).
A third wing, Stefan Coetzee (hip) and centre Aliqhayiya Mgijima (ankle) is also sidelined with short-term injuries.
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse believes the set pieces will be key in this contest.
"They have a very powerful set of forwards," the Pumas coach told @rugby365com.
"Their strengths are the line-outs, mauls and scrums.
"They named six forward and two backs on the bench, a clear indication they will target us up front.
"If we can't contain their forwards, we will have trouble.
"The injuries are not making it any easier for us."
Discipline is another key aspect, with the Pumas having conceded four yellow cards in their last two outings.
"Apart from the three yellow cards, we also conceded 18 penalties last week,"the coach said.
The Sharks, in contrast, managed to put a poor start behind them and have won their last three matches - against the Cheetahs, Griquas and Bulls.
Sharks captain Reniel Hugo said it is a "massive" game for the Durban-based outfit.
"They are the defending champions and [Pumas coach] Jimmy Stonehouse is doing unbelievably great work," the visiting skipper said.
"It is going to be a massive challenge for us," he said, adding that he feels they are the "underdogs" in Nelspruit.
Sharks coach Joey Mongalo likened this to a test match, saying they "passed" the tests against Cheetahs and Bulls.
"However, this one is going to be just as tough, if not tougher than the others," Mongalo said.
"The Pumas are a very good side that topped the standings for a long time.
"They're one of the top teams in the tournament and we mustn't forget that they're the reigning champions.
"It's going to be physical, the dew factor and humidity will definitely play a role in how we play and how the game unfolds.
"I have a lot of respect for Jimmy Stonehouse who coached me at Craven Week level in 2002, for the career he has built and the important figure he is in South African rugby."
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* In the other Friday game utility back Mnombo Zwelendaba makes his return from injury in Western Province's encounter with the Griffons in Welkom.
There are a few changes to the Western Province team.
Zwelendaba comes in on the wing, joining Clayton Blommetjies and Luke Burger in the back three.
Cornel Smit will link up with Juan de Jongh in midfield and Thomas Bursey starts at scrumhalf in place of the injured Godlen Masimla.
Louw Nel makes his first start at No.8 for the injured Keke Morabe, while Patric Kitete makes his senior Western Province debut in the second row alongside Adre Smith, who starts for the first time since returning from injury.
Province coach John Dobson said that while some changes were forced by injury, there are still many exciting combinations in this team.
"We have seen this team continue to grow through this campaign and we will hopefully take another step forward in Welkom on Friday.
"There are some exciting players coming into the side and we are looking forward to seeing how they go with the guidance of some of our more seasoned campaigners," he added.
Assistant coach Labeeb Levy said it is the 'journeymen' in the Griffons' side that pose a real threat - players with a point to prove.
"They play hard up the middle and have a forceful game," he told @rugby365com.
"Hopefully our youthful exuberance can outlast them, but they are likely to try and turn it into an arm-wrestle."
All the Friday teams and predictions follow below ...
Friday, May 12
Griffons v Western Province
(NorthWest Stadium, Welkom - Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Western Province by 12 points
Teams
Griffons: 15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Domenic Smit, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Jaywinn Juries , 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Dandre Delport, 1 Stephan de Jager.
Replacements - from: 16 Hendrik van Schoor, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Jean Pretorius, 22 Keanu Vers, 23 Randy Fielies, 24 Jared Kruger, 25 Calla Pienaar, 26 Richman Gora, 27 Allistair Mumba, 28 Ethan Williams, 29 Robbie Petzer, 30 Bennie Human.
Western Province: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Luke Burger, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Adre Smith, 4 Patric Kitete, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Louwan Horn, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Tom Nel.
Referee: Aime Barrett Theron
Assistant referees: Diffie de Villiers, Maria Mabote
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Pumas v Sharks
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit - Kick-off: 17.05; 15.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Sharks by eight points
Teams
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Andrew Kota, 10 Thinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jacobs, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Etienne Taljaard.
Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Josh Jonas, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Celimphilo Gumede, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Marnus Potgieter.
Referee: Christopher Allison
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys
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