The Toyota Cheetahs u/21 can move to fourth in the SARU u/21 Cup competition if they manage to earn a bonus point win against the DHL Western Province u/21 today at the Villagers club in Cape Town at 13h30.
However, it will be an uphill battle against a DHL Western Province u/21 team that won against the Lions u/21 in Johannesburg a week ago. What was impressive with that win was the physicality of the DHL Western Province u/21 pack of forwards. An Area where the Toyota Cheetahs u/21 struggled in against the Leopards u/21.
The coaching staff of the DHL Western Province u/21 made several changes to the starting line-up.
At the back M van der Spuy will start at fullback replacing Duran Koevort while M Retief comes in at the inside centre moving Ruben Labuschagne to the outside centre. Jaque Rousseau and Conwill Conradie is promoted from the bench and will form a brand new halfback pairing replacing Jonathan Roche and Imad Khan.
Up front, five changes were made to the starting line-up of which two are positional changes. Keagan Blanckeberg is promoted from the bench at hooker as was Romuald Ntumba who will join Arman Maritz an d captain Simon Miller in the loosies. M van Rijn replaced Simon Miller who moved to the side of the scrum while Arman Maritz is moved from the side of the scrum to eightman.
The Toyota Cheetahs u/21s head coach, Henley du Plessis made eight changes to the starting line-up that was surprisingly beaten by the Leopards u/21 in Bloemfontein a week ago.
Eulon Redcliffe was promoted from the bench at inside centre while J Jooste will make his first appearance of the season at wing. D. Kriek and H. Klaas is the new halfback pairing.
Captain Louhan Potgieter moves to the lock and is replaced b D Cloete at #8 with R. Viljoen and Reinhardt Nel are the new locks. B. Venter will make his first appearance at hooker in the final change of the starting line-up.
Teams:
DHL Western Province u/21: 15. M van der Spuy 14. Ebenezer Tshimanga, 13. Ruben Labuschagne, 12. M Retief, 11. Paschal Ekeji, 10. Jaque. Rousseau, 9. Conwill. Conradie, 8. Arman Maritz, 7. Simon Miller (c), 6. Romuald Ntumba, 5. M van Rijn, 4. Edrich Viljoen, 3. Matthew Coenraad, 2. Keagan Blanckenberg, 1. Rhynhardt Rijnsburger. Replacements: 16. Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17. Lamla Nunu, 18. V Matongo, 19. Dian Basson, 20. Keke Morabe, 21. M Volmoer, 22. B. Kubyadi, 23. T. Ryland.
Toyota Cheetahs u/21: 15. Michael Annies, 14. Liyema Gaba, 13. Nkoka Ngobe, 12. Eulon Redcliffe, 11. J. Jooste, 10. D. Kriek, 9. H. Klaas, 8. D. Cloete, 7. Francois Bester, 6. Amo Heenop, 5. Louhan Potgieter (c), 4. R. Viljoen, 3. Reinhardt Nel, 2. B. Venter, 1. Warren Louw. Replacements: 16. Ronaldo Ismail, 17. Bernard Venter, 18. Aviwe Mpepo, 19. Henri van Heerden, 20. Xavier Fourie, 21. Jandre Nel, 22. Eulon Redcliffe, 23. Aldino Erasmus.