Rugby
Cheetahs unchanged for Western Province─── MORGAN PIEK 12:39 Fri, 12 Jul 2024
![Cheetahs unchanged for Western Province Cheetahs unchanged for Western Province | News Article](https://oscar.ofm.co.za/img/5be51c33-7334-4de6-83f4-d5efb839d4b2.jpg?crop=0,3,800,453)
“I heard them saying that they are looking forward to coming here so they can throw the ball around a little, which is great because that's the way we want to play as well.”
The Toyota Cheetahs have opted for continuity for Saturday’s Currie Cup second round clash against Western Province in Bloemfontein.
The defending champions have named an unchanged starting XV to the one that thumped the Griffons 82-20 at home in round one last week.
The only changes are on the bench with three senior players returning from injury.
Carl Wegner, Oupa Mohoje and Reinhardt Fortuin are all fit again will get a run from the bench.
The trio will replace Pierre Uys, Jandré Nel and George Lourens who all did duty last week against the Griffons. Nel is perhaps unlucky to make way, especially after he scored a brace of tries last week while on debut.
The Cheetahs coach, Izak van der Westhuizen, expects quite a high-tempo game tomorrow.
“If you look at Western Province, even though it was a wet game against the Blue Bulls, they still wanted to run with the ball and throw the ball around,” said Van der Westhuizen.
“We're expecting quite a high-paced game and then they do have quality forwards as well. So, the setpiece is also going to be a big battle.
“I heard them saying that they are looking forward to coming here so they can throw the ball around a little, which is great because that's the way we want to play as well.”
Saturday afternoon’s match at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 13:55.
Cheetahs - 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements – 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin
Western Province - 15 Luke Burger, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Hendré Stassen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Replacements - 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Corné Weilbach, 19 André-Hugo Venter, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Labib Kannemeyer, 23 Damian Markus
Morgan Piek OFM Sport