On Sunday, 6 September, the Toyota Cheetahs welcome the Airlink Pumas to Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein for a highly anticipated Carling Currie Cup semi-final. The high-stakes knockout match kicks off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
The Toyota Cheetahs secured home-ground advantage after finishing second on the log with five wins from seven matches. The Free Staters remain one of the competition's most experienced playoff outfits. They have been regular semi-finalists over the past five seasons and tasted championship success in 2023, beating the Pumas 25-17 in Bloemfontein.
The Airlink Pumas have established themselves as formidable knockout specialists. The lowveld side won semi-finals in both 2022 and 2023 to advance to consecutive finals. This included their historic 2022 title triumph when they defeated the Griquas in Kimberley.
Recent history between these two sides generally favours the host team. Prior to last weekend, the Free Staters had won four of the previous five meetings. However, the Pumas' big win at Mbombela Stadium last weekend snapped that four-game losing streak, injecting massive momentum into their camp.
A major milestone will be celebrated this Sunday as powerful loose forward Sisonke Vumazonke runs onto the field. He will be earning his 50th cap for the Toyota Cheetahs.
Toyota Cheetahs: 1. Tebogo Nkosi, 2. Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3. Frankie Dos Reis, 4. Carl Wegner, 5. Victor Sekekete, 6. Ramon Uys, 7. Simon Miller, 8. Neels Volschenk (c), 9. Faf de Klerk, 10. Jaco van der Walt, 11. Prince Nkabinde, 12. Zander du Plessis, 13. Carel-Jan Coetzee, 14. Michael Annies, 15. Cohen Jasper. Replacements: 16. Stefan Venter, 17. Tielman Niewoudt, 18. John-Kelly Okonkwo, 19. Arno van der Merwe, 20. Sisonke Vumazonke (50th cap), 21. Daniel Maartens, 22. Litha Nkula, 23. Marco Jansen van Vuren.
Players unavailable due to injury: Ntokozo Makhaza (knee), Vice Hofmeyr (shoulders), Louis van der Westhuizen (ankle), Gideon van der Merwe (lower leg), Munier Hartzenberg (knee), Henry Immelman (knee), Ben Pitout (shoulder), Ethan Wentzel (shoulder), Juan Venter (chest), Juan Smal (ankle), Clayton Blommetjie (upper leg) Shaun Ray (ankle), Erich Visser (ankle).