Maritz boost for Pumas
Pumas head coach Marthinus Mentz has shaken up his backline for Saturday's crucial Currie Cup clash against the Western Province at Newlands.
Maritz will slot in at outside centre, with Hennie Skorbinski moving to No.12 while Marlou van Niekerk drops out of the squad with an ankle injury. Having served a one-match suspension, Tyler Fisher is on the bench as backline cover.
"Hoffman [Maritz] is one guy we've really missed this season and it's exciting to have him back. We'll look to him to really shore up the midfield and provide some impact with ball in hand," Mentz said.
Ruwellyn Isbell, who injected some spark into the backline as a replacement against the Blue Bulls, has earned a starting spot at right wing ahead of Bernado Botha, who is out of the matchday squad altogether.
In the only change to the forward pack, Khwezi Mona replaces De-Jay Terblanche at loosehead prop, who drops to the bench.
Pumas: 15 Williams Devon, 14 Ruwellyn Isbell, 13 Hoffman Maritz, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Jean-Paul Lewis, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Emile Temperman, 8 Renaldo Bothma (captain), 7 Lambert Groenewald, 6 Brian Shabangu, 5 Jannie Stander, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Louis Albertse, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Carel Greeff, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 Heinrich Steyl, 22 Tyler Fischer.
Date: Saturday, September 17
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Francois Pretorius
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
