Tomorrow’s game is the penultimate round of the inaugural SuperSport Rugby Challenge. The Pumas currently third place on the Northern log with 24 points, just three points behind the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
The Bulls will face the log leaders, the Xerox Golden Lions on Friday evening. If the Bulls loose this match and the Pumas gain five points out of their game, the home-side will move up to second place.
Van Staden who made his debut for the Pumas during the Vodacom Cup in 2014, will play in his 50th match in the pink jersey off the bench.
Utility forward, Lambert Groenewald, who also had to watch his teammates from the side line since August 2016, is included in the 22-man squad.
Gerrit Smith and Francois Kleinhans who made their debuts for the Pumas last weekend against the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias from the bench, will start respectively at fullback and flanker.
“The new players need more game time to get rhythm. The Currie Cup is around the corner. We know what we have in the other players, but Gerrit, Francois, Ruwellyn (Isbell) and Justin need some game time. That is why some of the players that played against the Welwitschias are being rested this week,” said coach Brent Janse van Rensburg.
Reynier van Rooyen will start at scrum half with Emile Temperman moving back to the bench. Jerome Pretorius moves to left wing and Isbell will start in the number 14 jersey.
“We have to be more patient with the ball. We seem to throw the ball away aimlessly. They (the Falcons) are a threat with ball in hand and we cannot underestimate them. I do think if we can keep the ball in hand we can score tries. I do feel we are on track. This past weekend’s game was a huge frustration among the players as they know they are better. They have let themselves down in soft moments,” added Janse van Rensburg.
The Pumas faced the Falcons in May in Kempton Park. The final score was 41-41. The Lions thrashed the Falcons on Friday 96-27.
“I think every game has its own personality. We know what to expect. We have travelled to Namibia and we got some rhythm after the bye so hopefully we have worked off some of the rust and we will be better this week. I think the guys are looking forward to be playing at home,” said Janse van Rensburg.
Captain, Hennie Skorbinski said that the team have put Saturday’s game in Namibia behind them and are excited for this weekend’s clash.
“We don’t take this game lightly. It is always nice to have new blood in the team. They bring the X-factor to the game. The standards have been set and they need to perform. At the end of the day, we want a team that has depth. This weekend’s game creates an opportunity for the injured players to come back and to find their feet.”
