Photo Credit: Johan Orton Photography
Former Junior Springbok wing Luther Obi has been named in the place of the injured Neil Maritz in the Phakisa Pumas' starting team for Saturday's Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked fixture with the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg.
The strong running Maritz, who has scored four tries thus far in the competition, sustained a shoulder injury against the Cell C Sharks two weeks ago and is set for a few months on the sidelines.
Former Tafel Lager Griquas scrumhalf Chriswill September has been included in the starting line-up for the first time in a rotational switch with Ginter Smuts.
Upfront, Morgan Naudé (loosehead prop) and Simon Westraadt (hooker) are the other two changes in the the pack, replacing Liam Hendricks and AJ le Roux respectively.
There is also a new No 8 in Willie Engelbrecht, who moves to the back of the scrum in the place of Jeandré Rudolph, who has joined the Toyota Cheetahs. Phumzile Maqondwane takes over at blindside flank.
Phakisa Pumas: 15 Devon Williams 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Fiela Boshoff, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwane, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Pieter Janse van Vuren (captain), 4 Darrien Landsburg, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naudé. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Ig Prinsloo, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Ginter Smuts, 22 Tapiwa Mafura, 23 Ali Mgijima.