Leopards lean on Pukke stars

A host of FNB Pukke's Varsity Cup stars will be in action for the Leopards in their 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division opener against the Golden Lions at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Friday evening.

Centre Neill Jacobs (pictured, right) will start in the No.12 shirt for the Leopards, alongside the familiar face of flyhalf Cecil Dumond - who, after an outstanding 2009 Varsity Cup campaign, made his Currie Cup debut last year already.

Jacobs's centre mate from the 2010 Varsity Cup, Kempie Rautenbach, will be hoping for his first taste of Currie Cup action from the bench, whilst prop Eric Coetzee - another Pukke Varsity Cup regular - will be eyeing a similar opportunity.

Meanwhile, former Pukke ace Wilhelm Koch - who represented the university in the 2006 National Club Championships - will captain the Leopards team from the No.7 position.

The Leopards team: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Neill Jacobs, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 RW Kember, 7 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 6 Victor Joubert, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Antonie Gronum, 3 Philip Lemmer, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Eric Coetzee, 18 Edrich Linde, 19 Riaan Swanepoel, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Kempie Rautenbach, 22 Danie Dames.

Kick-off: 7pm