Currie Cup: Leopards - Pumas @ Profert Oliën Park (05-08-2011, 18:00 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Profert Oliën Park (05-08-2011, 18:00 GMT)

Even though they've lost all three their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division matches to date, the Ford Pumas are higher on the log than the Vodacom Blue Bulls, by virtue of a better points' difference.

And after having come very close to victory in all three their previous matches, the Ford Pumas will be anxious to get that first win of the season on the board.

Last year they won both games against the Platinum Leopards, which could point to the team from Mpumalanga being favourites for this match, but they will be mindful of the North Westerners' performance in Johannesburg last week.

The Platinum Leopards might have been on the wrong side of the stick in their first two Absa Currie Cup games in 2011, but at Coca-Cola Park they played much better, and with 10 minutes to go were still drawn on the score board with the MTN Golden Lions.

"Yes, the Leopards were not great in their first two games, but against the Golden Lions last week they really played very well and will be ready for us with their tails up," said Ford Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse.

"We were disappointed with our first half performance against Griquas last week, but came back strongly in the second half and that's what I'd like to see in Potch this weekend. We have not shifted our focus at all and still believe we can win if we're at our best and we do what we're supposed to for the full 80 minutes."

Platinum Leopards vs Ford Pumas
Date: Friday, 5 August
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Lourens vd Merwe
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
17 July: Ford Pumas won 37-32 in Witbank
3 September: Ford Pumas won 27-26 in Potchefstroom

Leopards: 15. George Tossel, 14. Danie Dames, 13. Charl Weideman, 12. Joubert Engelbrecht, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Wesley Dunlop, 9. Whestley Moolman, 8. Morne Hanekom (Captain), 7. Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6. Philip de Wet, 5. Brendon Snyman, 4. Christo van Niekerk, 3. Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2. Gavin Williamson, 1. BG Uys

Replacements: 16. Marius Fourie, 17. Bêrend Botha, 18. Bradley Peter Mockford, 19. Juan Pretorius, 20. Theo van Wyk, 21. Walter Venter, 22. Clayton Durand

Pumas: 15. MJ Mentz, 14. Deon Scholtz, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Tiaan Marx, 11. Shandrè Frolick, 10. Coenie van Wyk, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Jaco Bouwer, 6. Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Rudi Mathee, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1. Dawie Steyn

Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. De-Jay Terblanche, 18. Eduan Van Der Walt, 19. RW Kember, 20. Hendrik van der Nest, 21. Dewald Pretorius, 22. Carl Bezuidenhout


*Vbookie odds supplied by BWIN*