The Toyota Cheetahs will host New Nation Pumas this afternoon @ 16h00 in Bloemfontein. The Pumas will be in the #1 position on the 2021 Carling Currie Cup log if they beat the Cheetahs.
The Pumas travelled to Bloemfontein with an established team while the Cheetahs are still severely affected by Covid19.
The Cheetahs lost their Round1 fixture against Griquas (10-31) and had their second match of the season cancelled due to the Cheetahs not being able to field a team due to Covid19 protocols.
The Pumas on the other hand had a brilliant start to the season. They outplayed the Lions (39-10) in Round1 and were extremely unlucky to lose 32-38 to the Bulls. Last week in Nelspruit ill discipline almost cost them the game against Griquas. However, they managed to hang on and won 26-22.
Prediction: A very settled Pumas team must be the favourites as the Cheetahs still have 9 players as well a head coach Hawies Furie out to Covid19. The Cheetahs' pack have a few players back, but their backline has three players that will make their debut for the Cheetahs. The Pumas must be the favourites at this stage of the season.
Toyota Cheetahs announced their squad with nine changes to the team that lost to the Griquas two weeks ago. Five players will make their debut for the Cheetahs.
At the back, Lesley Botha and Siya Masuku are the brand new centre pairing while Cohen Jasper replaces Tian Meyer at wing. Reinhardt Fortuin is replaced by Brandon Thompson at flyhalf in the fourth change at the back.
Upfront Aidon Davids replaces Gideon van Wyk at eight, while Jeandre Rudolph returns in the place of Jean Droste at #6. Jean Droste replaces Victor Sekete at lock while Hencus van Wyk, Marnus van der Merwe and Aluluthu Tshakweni is the new front row.
New Nation Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse only made two changes to his starting lineup. In the only change at the back, Jade Stighling comes off the bench to replace Ettienne Taljaard on the wing. In the only change up front, Brandon Valentyn comes off the bench to replace Darrien Landsberg at lock.
Teams:
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. Lesley Botha*, 12. Siya Masuku*, 11. Cohen Jasper, 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. Aluluthu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. Schalk Ferreira, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Victor Sekekete, 20. Junior Pokomela, 21. Mihali Mosi*, 22. Zinedine Booysen*, 23. Malcolm Jaer. (*Players making their Currie Cup debut for the Toyota Cheetahs.) Players not available: The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Oupa Mohoje (calf), Chris Smit (calf), Craig Barry (hamstring), Andisa Ntsila (hamstring), Marcell Muller (hamstring), Tian Meyer (hamstring), George Cronje (knee).
Players In isolation: Aranos Coetzee, Cameron Dawson, Chris Massyn, David Britz, Evardi Boshoff, Howard Mnisi, Janus Venter, Reinhardt Fortuin, Wilmar Arnoldi.
New Nation Pumas: 15. Devon Williams, 14. Tapiwa Mafura, 13. Erich Cronje, 12. Matt Moore, 11. Jade Stighling, 10. Eddie Fouché, 9. Ginter Smuts, 8. Willie Engelbrecht, 7. Phumzile Maqondwana, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4. Brandon Valentyn, 3. Ignatius Prinsloo, 2. Simon Westraadt, 1. Dewald Maritz. Replacements: 16. Hendrik van Schoort, 17. Ruan Kramert, 18. Eduan Swart, 19. Kwanda Dimaza, 20. Daniel Maartens, 21. Chriswill September, 22. Wayne van der Bank, 23. Sebastiaan de Klerk.