The Toyota Cheetahs will battle it out against the Tafel Lager Griquas today at 16:45 at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. Toyota Cheetahs will be desperate to keep their Carling Currie Cup playoff hopes alive against a resurgent Tafel Lager Griquas.
Tafel Lager Griquas will be looking for a second win over their neighbours this season, which will ensure they stay in the top four as the competition goes into the final straight.
Toyota Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie announced his team with ten changes to the starting lineup.
Four changes were made in the back. David Brits and Siya Masuku make their return as the centre combination while Reinhardt Fortuin and Ruan Pienaar are welcomed back as the scrumhalf and flyhalf combination.
Upfront six changes were made Aidon Davids (#8) and Junior Pokomela (#7) return as loosies with Jean Droste coming in at lock. Aranos Coetzee, Marnus van der Merwe and Cameron Dawson replace the frontrow that started against the Cell C Sharks.
“We need to get rid of the soft moments and we have to focus for the full 80 minutes,” said coach Hawies Fourie.
“We’ve shown glimpses of what we can do and had too many soft moments to let teams in. The short turnaround is tough on the bodies but I think it is the same for everyone,” said captain Ruan Pienaar.
“I don’t think the log table justifies the way we’ve played this season. We’ve had a really tough start to the season with Covid and injuries and a few narrow losses. It could easily have gone differently and we might have been second or third on the log.”
“We have a young group and a lot of new players. Things don’t just happen overnight and we know that there is a process that we need to follow. We need to back the coaches and the management and what they expect of us and just do that better. It might take some time, but we’ll get there.”
“Griquas is a tough team and they’ve played some really good rugby. They’ve beaten some of the top teams in this season both home and away and we know that it’s a massive challenge.”
“It is always a big battle against Griquas. They have a really good game plan and I think they’ve evolved a lot as a team since we last played them. They’ll come here with confidence.”
“We’ve got to be up for it. It’s another derby against Griquas which is always exciting to watch. We’ve prepared well and hopefully put up a positive performance.”
Tafel Lager Griquas head coach Scott Mathie made four changes to his starting line-up that will travel to Bloemfontein.
James Verity-Amm replaces Enver Brandt in the only change in the backline.
Up front capatin Ruan Steenkamp moves back to #8 and Haru Sirgel moves #7 to make place for Gideon vd Merwe. Adre Smith replaces Cameron Lindsay and Erich de Jager comes in at tighthead for Janu Botha.
Prediction: Cheetahs by 5.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Craig Barry, 13. David Brits, 12. Siya Masuku, 11. Malcolm Jaer, 10. Reinhardt Fortuin, 9. Ruan Pienaar (C), 8. Aidon Davis, 7. Junior Pokomela, 6. Andisa Ntsila, 5. Jean Droste, 4. Victor Sekekete, 3. Aranos Coetzee, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 1. Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. AluluthoTshakweni, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Rynier Bernardo, 20. Reinier Viljoen, 21. Mihlali Mosi, 22. Tian Meyer, 23. Chris Smit.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15. Ashlon Davids, 14. Eduan Keyter, 13. Chris Hollis, 12. Jonathan Francke, 11. James Verity-Amm, 10. George Whitehead, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Ruan Steenkamp ©, 7. Hanru Sirgel, 6. Gideon vd Merwe, 5. Stefan Willemse, 4. Adre Smith, 3. Erich de Jager, 2. Alandre van Rooyen, 1. Mox Mxoli. Replacements: 16. Janco Uys, 17. Andrew Beerwinkel, 18. Andries Schutte, 19. Johan Momsen, 20. Luyolo Dapula 21. Reagan Oranje, 22. Andre Swarts, 23. Ederies Arendse, 24. Andrew Kuhn 25. Cameron Lindsay, 26. Theo Boshoff.