On Now
Weekdays 15:00 - 18:00
The Joyride Nico, Nikki, Kayla and JayBee
NEXT: 18:00 - 19:00 OFM Business Hour with Olebogeng
Listen Live Streams

Rugby

Cheetahs expect tough opener against Lions

───   MORGAN PIEK 16:22 Fri, 17 Feb 2017

Cheetahs expect tough opener against Lions | News Article
Niel Marais - Suhaimi Abdullah

The Toyota Cheetahs are expecting a tough day at the office come next week Saturday when they host the Lions in their opening match of the 2017 Super Rugby.


While the Cheetahs made light work of beating the Lions in the Currie Cup semi-finals, they are well aware of the fact that Johan Ackermann will be bringing a much better side to the Toyota Stadium.

The Lions have their Springboks back for the competition and they are very fresh after being well managed in Japan.

The Cheetahs in their turn are carrying injuries in key positions, most notably that of the captain Francois Venter.

This could see Nico Lee play at outside centre, with Clinton Swart possibly debuting for the side, while Oupa Mohoje and Torsten van Jaarsveld are most likely the candidates to lead the side.

The Cheetahs CEO, Harold Verster, told OFM Sport that he expects a tough match.

“It’s two different competitions and its two different teams.

“We have lost our captain and have some other injuries here and there. But we have some good players back into the fold, such as Clinton Swart from the Griquas and so on.

“They are also a different outfit, they have their Springboks back from Japan so it’s going to be a very tough match.

“It will be different to that semi-final we played here at the Toyota Stadium. The difference in score will be 7 to 10 points. It’s going to be very tough but we can make it.

Next week Saturday’s match at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 15:05.

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs named their 37-man squad for the Super Rugby and there are no major surprises. Smith and his technical staff have at least a further 17 players in the wider training group to call upon if the need arises. These players include the likes of JP Smith, Ruan Janse van Rensburg and Joubert Engelbrecht.

Toyota Cheetahs 37-man squad: Danie Mienie, Joseph Dweba, Ox Nche, Chares Marais, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jacques du Toit, Elandré Huggett, Tom Botha, Aranos Coetzee, Justin Basson, Carl Wegner, Hilton Lobberts, Armandt Koster, Francois Uys, Dennis Visser, Reniel Hugo, Tier Schoeman, Oupa Mohoje, Uzair Cassiem, Boom Prinsloo, Niell Jordaan, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Tian Meyer, Fred Zeilinga, Niel Marais, Sergeal Petersen, Raymond Rhule, Zee Mkhabela, Francois Venter, Rayno Benjamin, Nico Lee, William Small-Smith, Clinton Swart, Michael van der Spuy, Clayton Blommetjies, Ryno Eksteen.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport

@ 2024 OFM - All rights reserved Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | We Use Cookies - OFM is a division of Central Media Group (PTY) LTD.