Chris Cloete starts his first match for the Pumas this weekend in Kimberley

Aug 17 • General News • 2943 Views • Comments Off on Chris Cloete starts his first match for the Pumas this weekend in Kimberley

SA A flanker Chris Cloete will start his first match for the Pumas when they travel to fortress Kimberley to face the high-riding Griquas in an all-important Currie Cup match.

Cloete has produced a couple of cameos from the bench and gets a deserved opportunity to play a bigger role in the Starting XV.

Cloete replaces Francois Kleinhans in the number six jersey with the latter packing down at eight, a move which gives the Pumas the luxury of two specialist fetchers.

Another ex-Kings player, Stefan Willemse gets a start at lock in place of Jeremy Jordaan, who is out with a concussion.

The versatile Gerrit Smith, who had a blinder in the midfield against the Cheetahs, is back at fifteen this week, replacing Devon Williams.

His selection at fullback necessitated a change in midfield where Jerome Pretorius will partner captain Hennie Skorbinski while JP Lewis is drafted in on the right wing.

The Pumas would target this match to open their Currie Cup account but they will have taken notice of the Peacock Blues’ recent form and their victories over WP and the Cheetahs.

1.Mona Khwezi 2. Mark Pretorius 3. Scholtz Pieter 4. Willemse Stefan 5. Kloppers Hugo (VC) 6. Cloete Chris 7. Groenewald Lambert 8. Kleinhans Francois 9. Ungerer Stefan 10. Van Staden Justin 11. Isbell Ruwellyn 12. Skorbinski (C) Hennie 13. Pretorius Jerome 14 Lewis Jean-Paul 15. Smith Gerrit 16. Herne Frank 17. Terblanche De-Jay 18. Cameron Lindsay 19. Bholi Thembelani 20. Greeff Carel 21. Van Rooyen Reynier 22. Ebersohn Sias