Pumas have a new captain

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pumas will have a new captain when they take on the Golden Lions in Nelspruit on Friday.

Centre Ryan Nel will lead the home team in the final round of league action.

Nell, who previously captained Boland, will lead the Pumas for the first time.

The Pumas are Lions are meeting in what is effectively a quarterfinal showdown.

The Lions (on 16 points) are in fourth place, one position ahead of the Pumas (12 points).

The home team must win by 18 points or more and deny the Lions a bonus point to advance to the play-offs.

Coach Jimmy Stonehouse made changes to his loose trio and front row.

Francois Kleinhans starts at No.8 in place of Jeandré Rudolph, who drops down to the replacement bench.

Marné Coetzee will start at tighthead prop.

Pumas: 14 Devon Williams, 14 Morné Joubert, 13 Neil Maritz, 12 Ryan Nell (captain), 11 Ruwellyn Isbel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Francois Kleinhans, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Morgan Naudé.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Stefan Willemse, 19 Jeandré Rudolph, 20 Abri Griesel, 21 Kobus Marais, 22 Henco Marais.

Date: Friday, October 12

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Johre Botha

TMO: Marius Jonker