Jimmy Stonehouse has named an unchanged match-day 23 as the Pumas look to settle a score with Griquas when the two sides clash in the Currie Cup final in Kimberley on Saturday.
A five-minute scoring blitz at the death clinched the Pumas a spot in the sport’s oldest competition showpiece at the expense of the Free State Cheetahs in a Bloemfontein semi-final thriller.
But, Griquas will take confidence into the final, having beaten the Pumas twice already this year – by 41-20 at home in February, and by 45-44 after a cliffhanger in Nelspruit in their final match of the regular season.
Last year, the Pumas won 26-22 at home and drew 13-13 in the Northern Cape, while the only encounter between the two teams in the pandemic-affected 2020 season ended in a 22-17 home win for the Mpumalanga outfit.
So, the experienced Stonehouse is understandably excited about Saturday’s decider. “It’s amazing that everything worked out for us,” the Pumas coach said.
MORE: ‘Our eyes sparkle when we get that ball’
“At one stage, we almost let it slip, but the emotions after that semi-final were amazing. I think we deserve this, and we are feeling very happy. Between Griquas and us [Pumas], there is a big rivalry brewing and this is one of the best things that could ever have happened for rugby in SA.
“We are losing 10 players at the end of the season and the Griquas are also losing players. But where are they going? They are going to the United Rugby Championship [URC], and you bred them here at the Currie Cup.
“It’s going to be great in Kimberley on Saturday – we owe Griquas one and we are looking forward to the final, it’s going to be an amazing occasion.”
Pumas – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Andre Fouche, 7 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corne Fourie.
Subs: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Kwanda Dimaza, 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Alwayno Visagie.
