The Airlink Pumas have named their team to host the DHL Stormers XXIII in a highly anticipated Currie Cup encounter at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday at 17:00 SAST.
Loose forward Willie Engelbrecht will captain the side from number eight, looking to guide the Lowvelders to another vital victory on home soil. The Pumas head into the clash with plenty of continuity in their starting line-up, making only two changes to their starting line-up.
In the only change out back, Tino Swanepoel starts at fullback, linking up in an exciting back three with wings Alfonso Isaacs and Banie Britz. Powerhouse midfielder Sango Xamlashe pairs up with Wian van Niekerk in the centres, while Nevaldo Fleurs and Thomas Bursey marshal the game as the halfback pairing.
Up front, Etienne Janeke and Sampie Swiegers anchor the scrum as the starting props alongside hooker Chyle van Zyl. Lock pairing JJ Scheepers and Tiaan de Klerk will look to dominate the lineouts, backed by a dynamic back row that welcomes back Thabo Ndimande, who joins Ruwald van der Merwe and skipper Engelbrecht.
The bench features plenty of firepower, with utility backs Jaycee Nel and Darren Adonis providing versatile cover, alongside a robust forward split that includes Jan-Henning Campher and Zikisa Sali.
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Alfonso Isaacs, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zikisa Sali, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Jaycee Nel, 23 Darren Adonis.