The Toyota Cheetahs hosts the Cell C Sharks in Bloemfontein today, the kick-off is scheduled for 14h30. With the halfway mark of the competition in sight, all teams in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division will know that slip-ups will become very costly from here on, especially since all seven teams bunched together in terms of log points.
When these two sides met shortly after Christmas last year, also at the Toyota Stadium, the Cheetahs caused a minor shock as they beat the Sharks by 37-10, scoring four tries in the process and restricting their visitors to only one.
The Cheetahs will be looking to build on the momentum they’ve created with wins in their last two matches when they host the Cell C Sharks on Saturday afternoon.
The Cheetahs are building up a lot of momentum with wins against DHL Western Province (38-21) and the Pumas (17-16) in Round 4. A decision regarding log points regarding the cancelled match against the Sigma Lions is still pending. Should sanity prevails the Cheetahs should be awarded 4 log points which will see them moving to the third position on the log.
The Cell C Sharks had three home games cancelled and are still waiting on decisions on log points allocation on two. They could move to the top of the log with 19 points if previous decisions are used as a guideline.
Toyota Cheetahs' coach Hawies Fourie announced his team with two changes from Wednesday’s match against Western Province: Rosko Specman is back from the Springbok camp and will be starting on the wing. Jacques Potgieter and Junior Pokomela switch places with Junior providing cover on the bench.
Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has something of a balancing act to negotiate with player management as he looks to take into account player welfare together with workload and then balance that with the need to maintain as much consistency as possible in team selection.
With consecutive clashes called off – against the New Nation Pumas and Vodacom Blue Bulls – the Cell C Sharks have had little Currie Cup action to speak of, although they won’t be underdone, given the fact that they were up against international opposition two weeks ago when they took on the British & Irish Lions twice in the space of just three days.
He also had to take into account injuries, a suspension and return to action to further when deciding on his matchday squad. As such, the coach has made five changes to the team that played the British & Irish Lions last Wednesday for this week’s match.
Khutha Mchunu returns to the side in place of Wiehahn Herbst at tighthead prop with James Venter coming back into the backrow in place of Mpilo Gumede who has been named amongst the replacements.
There is a new halfback pairing with Grant Williams taking over from Jaden Hendrikse who was not considered for selection due to suspension. The young and exciting Williams will partner alongside flyhalf Curwin Bosch, with Lionel Cronje named on the bench.
The final change sees the return of the hugely physical Marius Louw coming in for Murray Koster at the centre.
Prediction: The Cheetahs will have their tails up at home and could prove a hard nut to crack for the visiting Sharks. The Sharks should on paper win this BUT the Cheetahs team spirit could just be the winning factor, and then there is Ruan Pienaar ...... Cheetahs by 5?
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. David Brits, 12. Siya Masuku, 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Brandon Thomson, 9. Ruan Pienaar (C), 8. Aidon Davis, 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. Jean Droste, 4. Rynier Bernardo, 3. Hencus van Wyk, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 1. AluluthuTshakweni. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. Cameron Dawson, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Victor Sekekete, 20. Junior Pokomela, 21. Zinedine Booysen, 22. Reinhardt Fortuin, 23. Chris Smit.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Anthony Volmink, 14. Marnus Potgieter, 13. Werner Kok, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Thaakir Abrahams, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7. Dylan Richardson, 6. James Venter, 5. Reniel Hugo, 4. Le Roux Roets, 3. Khutha Mchunu, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Mzamo Majola, 18. Lourens Adriaanse, 19. Thembelani Bholi, 20. Mpilo Gumede, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Jeremy Ward.