Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
NNC Pumas included former Junior Springbok prop, Marné Coetzee, at tighthead for the New Nation Pumas after missing the entire 2020 season due to injury when they face the Toyota Cheetahs in Nelspruit on Friday afternoon.
Apart from running out in 47 matches for the Lowvelders, the 27-year-old Coetzee has played for the Cell C Sharks and SWD Eagles in a senior career that dates back to 2015.
With Ig Prinsloo out injured, Coetzee – who played for the SA Schools side in 2011 and the SA Under-20s in 2013 – will run out in the New Nation Pumas’ No 3 shirt, next to Simon Westraadt (hooker) and Morgan Naudé (loosehead prop).
Willie Engelbrecht (No 8) and Daniel Maartens (flanker) return to the loose trio, with Francois Kleinhans moving from blindside to openside flanker.
At the back, Etienne Taljaard is back at right-wing, while Erich Cronje gets a start at the outside centre next to the impressive Ali Mgijima (inside centre).
Eddie Fouché and Chriswill September will continue with their halfback partnership as the New Nation Pumas look to bounce back from their defeats against the Lions (32-28) and Vodacom Bulls (48-31) in the last few weeks.
New Nation Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Ali Ngijima, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Eddie Fouché, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Francois Kleinhans, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Darien Landsberg, 4 Pieter Janse van Vuren (captain), 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naudé. Replacements (from): 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Jaco Willemse, 20 Kwanda Dimaza, 21 Phumzile Maqondwana, 22 Ginter Smuts, 23 Wayne van der Bank, 24 Sebastian de Klerk.