Pumas have a new benchwarmer

Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse refrained from making too many changes to the side which upset defending Currie Cup champions, the Sharks, by 32-22 last week.


The Mpumalanga side will travel to Bloemfontein for their return match against the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday, with only one change to the bench.


Hennie Skorbinski has been drafted into the matchday 22, as centre cover for JW Jonker and Stefan Watermeyer, who had formed an effective midfield combination so far this season.


"Hennie comes in for Coenie van Wyk because we had some trouble with our centres on the injury front," Pumas assistant coach MJ Mentz said on Wednesday.


"We just wanted to have a centre on the bench as back-up."


The Pumas are in third place on the Currie Cup log with three victories from four matches.


In the opening round of the competition, the Pumas claimed a 28-21 victory over the Cheetahs, but are yet to win away from home as all three victories were in Mbombela.


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 Francois 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 Hennie Skorbinski.


Date: Saturday, September 6

Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)

Referee: Craig Joubert

Assistant referees: Gerrie de Bruin, Jaco Kotze

TMO: JJ Wagner