Pumas edge Western Province in Mbombela thriller

The table-topping Pumas welcome Western Province to the Mbombela Stadium on Friday afternoon.

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Western Province Skills coach Labeeb Levy is an admirer of the Pumas attacking game.

“The Pumas had a certain DNA in the past but they changed it this season,” Levy told Rugby365. 

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“They have started giving the ball more air and trying to spread it more. They have definitely evolved this year, which is good for rugby.”

Injuries have hit WP with Jean-Luc du Plessis set to fill in at 10 after the knock to Kade Wolhuter. Cornel Smit comes in to partner skipper Juan de Jongh in the centres.

Teams

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Deon Slabbert, 6 Franna Kleinhans, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Cameron Dawson

Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Andre Fouche, 20 Ruwald vd Merwe, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Lundi Msenge

Western Province: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Kwenzo Blose.

Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Luke Burger.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Assistant Referees: Local

TMO: AM Jacobs

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