The Mbombela Stadium is set to host a pivotal Carling Currie Cup Round 5 encounter this afternoon as the Airlink Pumas welcome the DHL Stormers XXIII. With just a single log point separating the teams, this afternoon's clash is a critical crossroads for both sides' semi-final aspirations.
After a shaky opening month, Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas appear to have cracked the code. Since their Round 2 defeat to the Lions, the Mpumalanga outfit has strung together consecutive victories against Boland and a spectacular 33-31 heist against the Vodacom Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. That away win has injected immense confidence into a squad notorious for peaking at the business end of the season.
The Stormers XXIII travel up north looking to heal the self-inflicted wounds of last week's 31-26 loss to the Toyota Cheetahs at Athlone Stadium. While Tom Dawson-Squibb’s men have shown elite flashes of quality, including wins over the Griquas and Sharks XV, heavy defeats to the Cavaliers and the Free Staters have exposed deep inconsistencies, particularly on the road.
Historically, the Capetonians hold a narrow 3-2 edge over the Pumas in their last five head-to-head fixtures, but past statistics will count for little in the punishing Lowveld heat.
The Stormers XXIII boast plenty of X-factor, but their away form remains a massive question mark. Combined with the Mbombela altitude and the Pumas' newfound winning rhythm, the home side enters the match as distinct favourites. Expect a bruising, high-scoring affair where discipline at the breakdown decides the outcome.
Teams:
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.
DHL Stormers XXIII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (c), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo. Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Luan Botha, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 JC Mars.