Unbeaten Cheetahs keep changes to a minimum for Pumas clash

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has opted for continuity in naming his team to tackle the Pumas in a Currie Cup clash in Nelspruit on Saturday.

There is one change to the starting XV which beat the Bulls 38-25 in Pretoria on 2 February. Daniel Kasende starts at right wing, as Rosko Specman moves to left wing in place of the injured Enver Brandt. 

Marnus van der Merwe and Cohen Jasper are also back on the bench.

"We had a good away win against the Bulls and only one injury so we didn't have to make a lot of changes to the team," Fourie said.

Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar continues to lead the Cheetahs, while fellow Bok Frans Steyn features at inside centre.

"During the last two weeks we've done a lot of preparation. We know we are playing against a really good team in Nelspruit and it's been a tough place to go to the last few seasons. They suffered a big lost against the Griquas so they'll be up for it," Pienaar said.

The Cheetahs are unbeaten after two games and sit second on the log behind the Bulls who have played three games. The Cheetahs beat Griquas 30-20 in their opening game in Bloemfontein on 15 January.

Saturday's clash at Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 14:30.

Pumas

TBA

Cheetahs

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar (Captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Substitutes: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Sergio Moreira, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Cohen Jasper.