The Toyota Cheetahs and Racing 92 will be hunting their first and only win in the competition this season when they battle it out at the La Defense Arena in Paris at 19:30 (SA Time) on Sunday, which will spice up the match, even though both teams will be playing purely for pride.
The Free Staters, however, will have to deliver a top-drawer performance to topple the hosts, who may be languishing at the bottom end of the Top 14 log, but boast seven wins in 14 matches and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record in Paris this season.
This will make a victory even sweeter for the Toyota Cheetahs after last weekend’s disappointment when their match against Ulster in the Netherlands was cancelled; however, they will have to be in top form on attack and defence.
The Cheetahs’ team that was selected for the game against Ulster will face Racing 92. A couple of changes were made from Round 2: Dux Manyama will start, with Cameron Dawson providing cover on the bench. Sisonke Vumazonke replace the injured Pierre Uys (face fracture), and Jaco van der Walt returns as flyhalf after a hamstring injury. The centres are Zander du Plessis and De-an Ackermann. Munier Hartzenberg will be wearing the number 14 jersey with James Verity-Amm on fullback.
Cheetahs’ Coach Frans Steyn: “We really gave ourselves a shot at still qualifying before the Ulster game. For all of us, we want to go out with a proper performance. If it is a win, it’s a win, and if it’s a loss, it’s a loss. We’re going to go out swinging and playing our style of rugby.”
As a former player, Stey said, “ I know Racing – if they pitch on the day, then it will be difficult, but I have confidence in the guys that they will be up for it.”
Teams:
Racing 92: 15 Sam James, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Vladi Ashvetia, 11 Nolann Donguy, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Kleo Labarbe, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Noa Zinzen, 6 Auguste Albuisson, 5 Romain Taofifenua (c), 4 Thomas Lainault, 3 Lehopoame Leota, 2 Elia Masi, 1 Edouard Jabea Njocke. Replacements: 16 Janick Tarrit, 17 Lino Julien, 18 Herman Coetzee, 19 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 20 Jonny Hill, 21 Matis Julien, 22 Antoine Latrasse, 23 Noham Valeu.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Marco Janse van Vuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Curtley Thomas, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (c), 1 Dux Manyama. Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Arno van der Merwe, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Michael Annies.