Photo Credit: Johan Orton Photography
There may only be pride at stake when Tafel Lager Griquas welcome the Toyota Cheetahs to Kimberley on Saturday, but this is expected to bring out the best in the teams in what could prove to be a gripping Carling Currie Cup match-up which will kick off at Tafel Lager Park at 16h30.
Form may favour the Toyota Cheetahs but they will be careful to write off the home side, who have a favourable track record of three wins in four outings against them in the Carling Currie Cup since 2017, two of which were in Kimberley.
Tafel Lager Griquas head coach Scott Mathie tweaked the squad that came up short in Durban last weekend as they hunt their first and only win in the competition.
Daniel Kasende will start on the right wing, with Harlon Klaasen on his inside, replacing Enver Brandt and Berton Klaassen respectively.
In the forward pack, Mathie recalled Adre Smith (lock) in place of Ewan Coetzee, who in turn starts among the replacements.
In the other change, prop Mox Mxoli, has been promoted to the starting team, switching with Andrew Beerwinkel, who is one of the impact players.
Mathie named an extended bench, featuring experienced flyhalf and former captain, George Whitehead, who missed a big chunk of the season due to injury, while Ederies Arendse (wing) comes in for Johnathan Francke.
Masixole Banda (utility back) could also get a run if he features in the finalised match day squad.
Toyota Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie made wholesale changes to his matchday squad, with six changes in the starting team and a new-look bench.
There were three changes to the forward pack, two of which were in the front row – Marnus van der Merwe takes over from the injured Wilmar Arnoldi at hooker, and Conraad van Vuuren (prop) moves up from the replacements bench in place of Khutha Mchunu.
In the loose trio, George Cronje, a star of the SA Schools side in 2019, fills the void left by the experienced Oupa Mohoje, who is nursing a back injury.
In the backline, Duncan Saal gets a run on the right wing, which sees Rosko Specman switch to the other side and Rhyno Smith drop down to the bench, while Tian Meyer takes over from Ruben de Haas at scrumhalf.
On the bench, Cameron Dawson (prop) and Louis van der Westhuizen (hooker) are back in action after recovering from their injuries and will feature among a number of new faces.
Teams:
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (Captain), 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Mox Mxoli. Replacements (from): 16 CJ Conradie, 17 Bandisa Ndlovu, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Ederies Arendse, 24 Andrew Beerwinkel, 25 Raegan Oranje, 26 Masixole Banda.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner (captain), 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Rhyno Smith.