Steval Pumas aim for double over Bulls

May 25 • General News • 1647 Views • Comments Off on Steval Pumas aim for double over Bulls

Having already beaten the Vodacom Blue Bulls away, the Steval Pumas will aim to do the double over the Pretoria side, welcoming them to Mbombela Stadium in the next round of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge this Saturday.

Having travelled extensively over the last few weeks, the Nelspruiters are looking forward to playing at their home ground, especially after their scintillating 41-41 draw over the Hino Falcons in Kempton Park this past weekend. The men in pink will be playing at Mbombela Stadium for the first time this year, having hosted their previous home match in Kanyamazane.

Reflecting on the Hino Falcons clash, Steval Pumas coach Brent Janse van Rensburg said that the team needed to be more patient with ball in hand.

“If you look at the match it’s clear that we dominated. We again created plenty of opportunities to put points on the board, but sometimes made the wrong decisions by kicking the ball away or losing it at the attacking breakdown. There were also one-on-one tackles missed, so we need to cut down on those soft moments in the game. It’s small things, not big things, so we’ll be focusing on executing our plans correctly this time,” said Janse van Rensburg.

This weekend, Tazz Fuzani, Marko Janse van Rensburg and Khwezi Mona will come into the starting line-up. Jacques Kotze will also get some game time coming off the bench.

“This is an opportunity to see what they can do again. Certain players are right for certain types of games so we’ve thought tactically about the changes we’ve made this week,” Janse van Rensburg said of the alterations.

Janse van Rensburg is confident that the Steval Pumas can counter the Bulls’ abrasive style of play, just as they did in the 31-23 victory at Loftus Versveld in the first round of the competition.

“I’m sure the players will be really up for it this week. The set piece is always a big challenge against the Bulls. Their team thrive off momentum and are very good at moving the ball to the edges and then stretching you in the wider channels. Our width, defence and line speed are key. But we’re confident we can put them under pressure if we execute accurately and everyone plays to their full potential,” the coach said.

A win over the Bulls will see the Steval Pumas leapfrogging their opponents into second place on the North Conference log, behind the Xerox Golden Lions.

The match against the Vodacom Blue Bulls kicks off at 15:00. Be sure to get your tickets today for the match taking place at the Mbombela Stadium.

Die Steval Pumas sien dubbel

Nadat hulle alreeds the Vodacom Blue Bulls op Loftus kon klop, mik die Steval Pumas nou vir die tweeslag as hulle die Pretoria span Saterdag te Mbombela Stadion welkom heet in die SuperSport Rugby Challenge.

Oor die afgelope paar weke het die Nelspruiters wyd en syd gereis, en sien dus uit na ‘n kans om op hul tuisveld te speel, veral na die sprankelended 41-elk bonus-punt stryd teen die Hino Falcons in Kempton Park laas naweek.
Dit sal die eerste keer wees dat die Manne-In-Pienk by die Mbombela Stadion speel, hul vorige tuis wedstryd was in Kanyamazane.

Met ‘n terugblik op die Hino Falcons wedstryd het Steval Puma afrigter, Brent Janse van Rensburg, gesê dat die span meer geduldig moet wees wanneer hulle balbesit geniet.

“Dit was duidelik dat ons deurgaans die oorhand oor die Hino Falcons gehad het. Ons het weereens telke geleenthede geskep om punte op die telbord te sit, maar het elke nou en dan die verkeerde besluit gemaak en ons besit weggeskop, of die bal by die aanvallende afbreekpunt verloor. Ons het ook n paar individuele duikslae op enkel bal-draers gemis, en ons moet gewoon ontslae raak van hierdie sagte oomblikke in ons spel. Die groot planne is in plek, ons moet seker maak dat ons aandag gee aan die fyner besonderhede, ons sal fokus om ons planne korrek uit te voer in hierdie wedstryd,” het Janse van Rensburg gesê.

Tazz Fuzani, Marco Janse can Rensburg en Kwezi Mona is almal in die opdraf-span, terwyl Jacques Kotze van die plaasvervangersbank speeltyd sal kry.

“Dis ‘n geleentheid om weer te sien wat hulle kan doen. Sekere spelers is ideaal vir spesifieke wedstryde, so ons het die veranderinge aan die span takties oorweeg,” het Janse van Rensburg gesê.

Die afrigter is ook vol vertroue dat die Steval Pumas die Vodacom blue Bulls se agressiewe speel-styl suksesvol kan teenstaan, net soos hulle in die 31-23 oorwinning op Loftus Versveld kon doen tydens die eerste rondte van die kompetisie.

“Ek is oortuig ons spelers is reg vir hierdie wedstryd. Die vaste aspekte van die spel is altyd van deurslaggewende belang teen die Bulls. Hulle floreer op momentum en is gespits om die bal vinnig wyd te sprei, en dan die verdedigende span in die wyer kanale te strek. Die wydte van ons spel, ons verdediging, en ons lyn-spoed gaan baie belangrik wees in hierdie wedstryd.”

“Maar, ons is vol vertroue dat ons hulle onder druk kan plaas as ons ons spel-patrone effektief uitvoer, en as almal tot hul volle potensiaal speel,” het die afrigter gesê.

n Oorwinning sal die Steval Pumas in staat stel om hul Saterdag opponente met n boksprong verby te steek op die punteleer, en ‘n tweede plek, na die Xerox Golden Lions, in te neem.

Bull, Bull, staan styf…
Die wedstryd teen die Vodacom Blue Bulls skop om 15:00 af by die Mbombela Stadion. Kry jou kaartjies vandag.

Team as follows:

15	Full back	WILLIAMS	DEVON
14	Right wing	ISBELL	RUWELLYN
13	Outside centre	SKORBINSKI	HENNIE
12	Inside centre	NELL	RYAN
11	Left wing	LEWIS	JEAN-PAUL
10	Fly half	MARAIS	KOBUS
9	Scrum half	VAN ROOYEN	REYNIER
8	Number eight	GREEFF	CAREL
7	Right flanker	ENGELBRECHT	WILLEM
6	Left flanker	SHABANGU	BRIAN
5	Right lock	KLOPPERS	HUGO
4	Left lock	TAZZ	FUZANI
3	Tight head prop	COETZEE	MARNE
2	Hooker	JANSE VAN RENSBURG	MARKO
1	Loose head prop	MONA	KWEZI

16	Hooker	HERNE	FRANK
17	Prop	KOTZE	JACQUES
18	Lock	STANDER	JANNIE
19	Utility Forward	VAN DER WALT	NARDUS
20	Scrum half	TEMPERMAN	EMILE
21	Utility back	EBERSOHN	SIAS
22	Utility back	PRETORIUS	JEROME