The Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas have named their teams for Thursday’s Toyota Challenge matches in Tbilisi.
The Pumas get the away leg of the tournament under way against Spanish side Iberians at 12pm (SA time), with former Tuks prop Barnard Nortjé in line to make his debut for the Lowvelders after being named on the bench.
Fellow recruit Jaco du Toit has been handed a start at loosehead prop, while scrumhalf Christiaan van der Westhuizen, on loan from the Cheetahs, and former Shimlas flyhalf Bradley Giddy are among the replacements.
The Cheetahs face Portuguese outfit Lusitanos at 3pm (SA time), with coach Frans Steyn handing rookie Shaun Ray a start at fullback.
Ray forms a back three with Litha Nkila and Ntokozo Makhaza, while Jandré Nel and Tiaan Swanepoel are the halfbacks.
Captain Louis van der Westhuizen starts at hooker, with Sisonke Vumazonke at No 8 alongside flanks Arno van der Merwe and Siyemukela Ndlovu.
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Griquas tackle Georgian side Black Lion at 6pm (SA time).
The Currie Cup champions have selected a largely experimental lineup, while winger Sako Makata will make his 50th appearance for the Kimberley-based side.
Derik Pretorius captains Griquas from the second row, while Caleb Abrahams and Liam Koen form the halfback combination.
Four players could make their Griquas debuts from the bench – hooker Willem van der Heever, flank Ntsika Fistanti, flyhalf Danrich Visagie and centre Luke Burger.
PUMAS – 15 Jay-Cee Nel, 14 Alfondso Isaacs, 13 Banie Britz, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Tino Swanepoel, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 7 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 6 André Fouché, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Stephan Krugel, 3 Bryan le Roux, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Jaco du Toit.
Bench: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Barnard Nortjé, 19 André Goedhals, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 22 Bradley Giddy, 23 Qamani Kota.
CHEETAHS – 15 Shuan Ray, 14 Litha Nkula, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Duncan Basson, 11 Ntokozo Makhaza, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Sisonke Vumazonke, 7 Arno van der Merwe, 6 Siyemukela Ndlovu, 5 Juan Venter, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 John-Kelly Okonkwo, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Tebogo Nkosi.
Bench: 16 Juandre Schoeman, 17 Matome Manyama, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Mihlali Mosi, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Erich Visser, 22 Ethan Wentzel, 23 Daniel Maartens.
GRIQUAS – 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Connor Mahoney, 13 Tom Nel, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Liam Koen, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Dillon Smith, 7 Carel van der Merwe, 6 Phumzile Magondwana, 5 Derik Pretorius (c), 4 Lungi Mbiko, 3 Johan Louw, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Corne Lavagna.
Bench: 16 Willem van der Heever, 17 Ebune Ngundue, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Ntsika Fisanti, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Luke Burger.
Photo: Gallo Images
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The Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas have named their teams for Thursday’s Toyota Challenge matches in Tbilisi.
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