The final 2021 Carling Currie Cup match of the weekend, today in Cape Town @ 16h00, promises to be a humdinger as the New Nation Pumas take on DHL Western Province.
The Pumas are clinging to the fourth spot on the log and if they hope to make it to the semi-finals, a win at DHL Newlands will go a long way in ensuring they remain in the top four. However, the Western Province, currently sixth on the log, two points behind their opponents this weekend, will be desperate to repeat their round seven wins in Nelspruit to move up in the standings as the competition moves towards the business end.
Warrick Gelant will make his first start for DHL Western Province in this year's Carling Currie Cup Competition.
Gelant made his return from injury off the replacements bench last week and has been named at fullback in one of five changes to the starting line-up for the clash with the Mpumalanga team, which kicks off at 16h00 on Sunday.
Experienced centre Juan de Jongh will captain the team and form a midfield partnership with Dan du Plessis, with Rikus Pretorius set to make an impact in the second half.
In the forward pack, Evan Roos and Johan du Toit come into the starting loose trio to link up with Nama Xaba, while the only other change is in the front row, with loosehead prop Leon Lyons in the starting XV this week.
DHL Western Province Head Coach John Dobson said that his team are intent on building on their hard-fought win at home last week.
“This is a crucial phase of the season for us and we are keen to build on our win against the Toyota Cheetahs last week.
“We know there are several areas where we can improve and this match is another great opportunity to raise our standards and show what we are capable of.
“We have got some seriously talented players coming into the mix this week and the focus is on delivering an 80-minute performance of real quality at Newlands,” he said.
Jimmy Stonehouse, head coach of the New Nation Pumas named the same team that was supposed to travel to Durban on Saturday last weekend. His starting lineup shows two changes from the side that won against the Sigma Lions in Round 8.
The two changes are both upfront, where Phumzile Maqondwana replaces Kwezi Mafu at #7 and Etienne Janeke replaces Dewald Maritz at loosehead.
Prediction: Western Province by 20.
DHL Western Province: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Leon Lyons. Replacements (from): 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Rikus Pretorius, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 25 De Wet Marais.
New Nation Pumas: 15. Devon Williams, 14. Sebastián de Klerk, 13. Erich Cronje, 12. Matt More, 11. Etienne Taljaard, 10. Eddie Fouche, 9. Ginter Smuts, 8. Willie Engelbrecht, 7. Phumzile Maqondwana, 6. Daniel Maartens, 5. Pieter Janse van Vuuren (C), 4. Shane Kirkwood, 3. IG Prinsloo, 2. Simon Westraadt, 1. Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16. Eduan Swart, 17. Morgan Naude, 18. Marne Coetzee, 19. Kwanda Dimaza, 20. Kwezi Mafu, 21. Chriswill September, 22. Ali Mgijima, 23. Tapiwa Mafura.