The Tuks 1 coaches also made three significant tactical changes. Up front Nqubeko Zulu moves from flank to lock, replacing Franco Mostert. Wesley Kotze takes over the No 7 jersey. Zulu’s switch and Kotze’s promotion from the bench to the starting XV can only be seen as an effort to beef up the Tuks pack for the physical Pukke onslaught.

In the back Danie Faasen takes over from Neil de Bruin at scrumhalf, meaning that Tuks will now field a proven combination at No 9 and 10 as Fassen and fly half Marnitz Boshoff have played together for the Blue Bulls.

There are also changes on the bench, one seeing the long awaited return of ex-Matie centre Dabeon Draghoender.

The Tuks 1 team is:

Jurgen Visser; Boeboes Coetzee, Arno van Zyl, Wesley Dunlop ©, Hayden Groepes; Marnitz Boshoff, Danie Faasen; Arno Botha, Wesley Kotze, Warwick Tecklenberg, Nqubeko Zulu, MB Lusaseni, Grant Kemp, Robbie Coetzee, Vincent Koch. REPLACEMENTS: Chris Crous, Jean Rossouw, Franco Mostert, Jacques Verwey, Clayton Stewart, Dabeon Draghoender, Dirk Dippenaar, Juan Schoeman.