Utility forward Kwanda Dimaza will make his first start for the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in the Carling Currie Cup, while James Tedder returns at fullback for Sunday’s Round Three encounter against the Airlink Pumas in Wellington at 15:00 SAST.
Head coach Hawies Fourie has made three changes to the pack that dismantled the DHL Stormers XXIII 41-03 a week ago, while Tedder’s inclusion marks the only change to the backline.
Domenic Smit drops to the bench to accommodate Tedder, while David Brits misses out on the matchday 23 entirely. Fourie has opted for continuity across the rest of his backline, retaining the midfield combination of Jurick Lewis and Lunathi Nxele. Chris Smit and veteran scrumhalf Louis Schreuder pair up once again at halfback.
In the pack, former Pumas utility forward Kwanda Dimaza earns his first Currie Cup start for the Kavaliers. He joins forces with flanker Gift Dlamini and captain Thurlow Marsh in the back row. Locks Marlyn Williams and Jeandré Leonard retain their partnership in the second row.
The front row features two rotational adjustments, with hooker Llewellyn Classen and loosehead prop Mthokozisi Gumede elevated to the starting line-up alongside tighthead Dayan van der Westhuizen. They replace Alistair Vermaak, who is sidelined with an Achilles injury sustained last weekend.
Out wide, last week’s hat-trick hero Jayden Bantom links up with Xavier Mitchell on the wings.
On the bench, hooker Darnell Osuagwu is poised to make his Kavaliers debut. The former Pumas front-rower, who joined the Wellington outfit after the SA Cup, will provide cover alongside Dewald Maritz and Heiko Pohlmann.
"Kwanda Dimaza comes in for Khwezi Mafu in a straight swap," explained head coach Hawies Fourie. "The rest of the back row and second row remain the same. We wanted to maintain continuity while giving starting opportunities to Llewellyn [Classen] and letting Darnell [Osuagwu] make an impact off the bench. Darnell has really impressed us since arriving from the Pumas."
"Kwanda was a mainstay during our SA Cup campaign before being sidelined for three weeks with a concussion. He is a massive unit, exceptional in the lineout, and possesses a very clean skill set. We are eager to see what he brings to the starting whistle."
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Chris Smit, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (c), 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jeandré Leonard, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Johnré Stopforth, 20 Taine Booysen, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Domenic Smit.