Georgia’s Black Lions defeated the Airlink Pumas 46-35 in the opening match of the 2026 Toyota Challenge at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The Black Lions started like a house on fire to lead 12-00 after ten minutes of play in the first half. Thereafter, the Pumas took control of the match and scored three unanswered tries to lead 21-12 after 25 minutes of play; however, the Black Lions answered with a try and a conversion during the final 5 to go into the halftime break trailing 20-21.
Thereafter, it turned into a ding-dong battle and the Pumas led 36-34 with 5 minutes still to play. Once again, the Black Lions scored two late tries to secure a 46-35 win.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Darren Adonis, Thomas Bursey, Simon Westraadt (2), Willie Engelbrecht. Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (4). Penalty: Nevaldo Fleurs.
Black Lion: Tries: Tengiz Peranidze, Otar Giorgadze, Lasha Tsikhistavi, Akaki Tabutsadze, Luka Tsirekidze, Irakli Kvatadze, penalty try. Conversions: Luka Tsirekidze (2), Merls Pieterse. Penalty: Luka Tsirekidze
Teams:
Airlink Pumas: 1 Kudzwai Dube, 2 Darnell Osuagwu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 4 JJ Scheepers, 5 Tiaan De Klerk, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 7 Ruwald Van Der Merwe, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 9 Thomas Bursey, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 11 Darren Adonis, 12 Wian Van Niekerk, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 14 Lundi Msenge, 15 Jay Cee Nel. Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Zukisa Sali, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Miyelane Ngobeni, 20 Marvellous Mashimbyi, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 Tino Swanepoel.
Black Lions: 1 Dato Abdushelishvili, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 3 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 4 Mikheili Babunashvili, 5 Demuri Epremidze, 6 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 7 Otar Giorgadze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 10 Merls Pieterse, 11 Romani Makhatadze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 13 Demuri Tapladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 15 Luka Tsirekidze. Replacements: 16 Giga Kobakhidze, 17 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 18 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 19 Guram Ganiashvili, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Vano Putkaradze, 22 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 23 Zaur Lutidze.