The Vodacom Bulls is in a favourable position to host a Carling Currie Cup semi-final this season after good victories over the past week. The Vodacom Bulls will secure a home semi-final if they can secure a bonus-point win against the New Nations Pumas today @ 14h30.
The New Nations Pumas is currently 3rd on the log, however, the race to the other two playoff spots will go down to the wire, with all six other Premier Division teams still in the hunt to make the top four.
However, the Vodacom Bulls face a tricky away fixture when they travel east on the N4 to face the New Nation Pumas in Nelspruit, where the Lowvelders have been a tough opponent this year. They will also be full of confidence after fighting back to draw with DHL WP in Cape Town on Sunday.
New Nations Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse made wholesale changes to his starting lineup.
Twelve changes in total were made with only Sebastian de Klerk surviving at the back and captain Pieter Jansen van Vuuren and Phumzile Maqondwana the only "survivors" upfront.
The whole bench that played to a draw against DHL Western Province is included in the starting lineup with exciting tighthead prop Cassie Bezuidenhout set to make his debut from the bench.
Talented fullback, Sibongile Novuka, will earn his first start for the Vodacom Bulls. Novuka, who has come off the bench in two previous outings this season, is among a number of changes to a new-look backline which will include a midfield pairing of Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans, while Johan Goosen and Zak Burger will partner once again for the halfback combination.
Arno Botha will again lead the side as captain while spearheading a forwards pack that will see No8, Elrigh Louw, returning to the starting XV after being utilised from the bench against the Cell C Sharks at the weekend.
Hooker Schalk Erasmus, together with props Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith, will also start the match in the front row at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, said: “This is our penultimate match in the round-robin stages, so it is important that we give it our best shot in the remaining matches to secure a spot in the playoffs.
“We had the opportunity to rotate the team in some positions at the weekend, and it paid off. We have done the same for this midweek game in order to give the players enough opportunity to make a contribution towards the team. We are looking forward to seeing what the likes of Novuka can offer from the start of the match after having shown his worth from the bench in previous encounters.
“The New Nation Pumas will be a tough competitor, especially at home in Nelspruit. They do not occupy third position on the log by accident – they have been strong competitors throughout this campaign.”
Prediction: Vodacom Bulls by 15
New Nation Pumas: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Sebastián de Klerk, 13 Alwayno Visage, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Khwezi Mafu, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Niel Otto, 5 Pieter van Vuuren, 4 Kwanda Dimaza, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Christo Bezuidenhout, 19 Shane Kirkwood, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Eddie Fouche, 23 Matt More.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Sibongile Novuka, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Muller Uys, 6. Arno Botha (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Janko Swanepoel, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Schalk Erasmus, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Mhleli Dlamini, 19. Reinhardt Ludwig, 20. WJ Steenkamp, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Lionel Mapoe, 24. Nolan Pienaar, 25. Reinhardt Roets, 26. Joe van Zyl, 27. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 28. Madosh Tambwe.