Lions vs Pumas Preview & Tips - Lions to secure the points against the Pumas

The Lions have a 6-4 lead over the Pumas from 10 previous Currie Cup rugby matches. 

The two sides met three times last year, with the Pumas winning 39-10 and 36-33, whilst the Lions won 33-25 in January 2021. 

The Lions were defeated by Western Province 36-48 at Newlands in their opening round fixture of the Carling Currie Cup.  

The Lions side lost to the Pumas by three points 33-36 at home last season. Before that loss, the Lions had defeated the Pumas four games in a row at home.

There have been less than 10 points between the Lions and Pumas in five of the seven previous matches.

The Lions let themselves down last weekend through ill-discipline, and an improvement will be required to see them beat the Pumas on Wednesday. 

Coach Mziwakhe Nkosi would not have been pleased with his team conceding so many penalties last Saturday, and he will demand a better performance against the Pumas. 

Five changes have been made to the team. Tyler Bocks, Manuel Rass, Ginter Sumts, Lunga Ncube, Sibusiso Sangweni and Morne Brandon all start. 

Simon Dionisio is out through injury.

15 Quan Horn, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Zeilinga Strydom, 10 Vaughen Isaacs, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 Lunga Ncube, 4 PJ Steenkamp, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (captain), 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Banele Mthenjane.

Substitutes: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Sibusiso Shongwe, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 James Tedder, 23 James Mollentze. 

According to Coach Stonehouse, the Pumas put in their worst performance in two years when they went down 19-33 to the Bulls last Friday. They conceded four tries in the match. 

Although the Pumas don't have the best away record against the Lions, the narrow 36-33 victory last season should remind them that they can grab the points on offer on Wednesday.

The Pumas team would have noted that the Lions leaked tries in Cape Town, including their lack of discipline, which should give them a chance to pick up their first win of the season.

Coach Jimmy Stonehouse has made six changes to the team that lost to the Bulls. 

In come Ali Mgjima, Kwanda Dimaza, Phumzile Maqondwana (captain), Malembe Mpofu, Ruan Kramer and Corne Fourie switches to hooker. 

Willie Engelbrecht and Shane Kirkwood are both out through injury. 

15 Devon Williams, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Sebastain de Klerk, 12 Ali Mgjima, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Thinus de Beer, 9 Lucky Dlepu, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana (captain), 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Ruan Kramer.

Substitutes: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Simon Raw, 19, Brandon Valentyne, 20 Kwezi Mafu, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Alwayno Visagie, 23 Andries Viljoen.