Pumas punish ill-disciplined Griquas as Currie Cup kicks off in Mbombela

Flyhalf Danrich Visagie was the standout performer for the Pumas, scoring a try, slotting five conversions and three penalties for a personal haul of 24 points.

The match was tightly contested in the first half, with both teams exchanging blows throughout. Griquas took an early lead through a George Whitehead penalty, but the Pumas responded almost immediately when Sango Xlamlashe pounced on a charged-down kick to score the opening try. Griquas No 8 Gustav Erlank hit back with a powerful run for a converted try before Visagie crossed the line for the Pumas' second.

Whitehead and Visagie traded penalties as the half wore on, but Whitehead struck again with a converted try that edged Griquas ahead. However, a late surge by the Pumas saw hooker Eddie Swart score from a maul, giving the hosts a narrow 25-23 lead at the break.

The second half was all Pumas, aided by a string of yellow cards to the Griquas. Both halfbacks, Caleb Abrahams and Whitehead, were sent to the bin within minutes of each other for repeated try-line infringements, allowing Visagie to kick his third penalty before Wian van Niekerk danced through defenders to score under the posts.

Even with 13 men, Griquas showed resilience, but another yellow - this time to wing Gurshwin Wehr for a deliberate knock-down - further hampered their efforts. Although Mnombo Zwelendaba dotted down after a good attacking sequence, the Pumas replied instantly through JJ Scheepers after another Griquas penalty.

Scheepers was then sin-binned himself, and Griquas appeared to have scored again via Marco de Witt, but the TMO ruled the try out. The Pumas capped their performance with a final flourish as Visagie delivered a pinpoint cross-kick for Darren Adonis to secure the sixth try under the posts.

It was a clinical and composed display by the Pumas, who capitalised fully on Griquas' ill-discipline and set an early marker in this year's Currie Cup.

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