Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
There will be no love lost today when the Toyota Cheetahs host the Xerox Lions in a repeat of the 2019 Carling Currie Cup final in what marks the teams’ first match-up this season after their Vodacom Super Unlocked game was cancelled.
The narrow three-point lead the Johannesburgers hold over the fifth-placed Free Staters on the log is also expected to spice things up.
While a win for the Xerox Lions could see them leap into second or third place on the standings depending on the outcomes of the other matches, a defeat could see the Toyota Cheetahs vault into the top four at their expense.
The Toyota Cheetahs have won four of the last five matches between the sides in the competition in Bloemfontein, but with no more than three points separating the teams on the scoreboard in their last two games, both sides will brace themselves for a big battle.
Toyota Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie made five changes to his starting team – three in the backline and two upfront – with William Small-Smith and Malcolm Jaer named as the new wings, while the experienced Tian Schoeman takes over from Reinhardt Fortuin at flyhalf.
The changes to the forward pack were at hooker, where Jacques du Toit comes in for Reinach Venter, and at flank, where Aidon Davis takes over from Victor Sekekete.
Xerox Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen made three changes to his starting team - one of which was enforced - as Dan Kriel replaces the injured Burger Odendaal (calf) at inside centre.
The other two were rotational switches, with André Warner replacing Ross Cronje at scrumhalf, while the experienced Jannie du Plessis is back in the mix and takes over from Ruan Dreyer at tighthead prop.
Teams:
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Victor Sekekete, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Dries Swanepoel.
Xerox Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Willem Alberts, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Roelof Smit.