The Toyota Cheetahs will feature two debutants in their starting XV for Friday’s (26/7) Currie Cup round four tie against the Griffons in Welkom, while there is also a new captain for the Free State derby.

The Shimlas Varsity Cup winning star, Michael Annies, will make his debut on the right wing for the Cheetahs, while Cohen Jasper will start at fullback. The former Griffons centre, Carel-Jan Coetzee, will also make his first appearance back in a Cheetahs jersey, after returning to Bloemfontein following a very successful spell with the Purple People Eaters.

‘Pumas hooker, Corné Fourie, will start in the front row’

The scrumhalf, Rewan Kruger, in turn, will captain the Cheetahs for the first time. Upfront, the highly experienced former Lions and Pumas hooker, Corné Fourie, will start in the front row for what will be his debut as well.

Carl Weger and Pieter Jansen van Vuren will form the lock combination, with the latter earning his first start for the team after joining the Currie Cup champions from France. On the bench, the American international scrumhalf, Ruben de Haas, makes his return from an injury.

Michael Annies. Photo: Catharine Kotze

Kruger told OFM Sport that he is honoured to be given the responsibility of captaining the side, and at the same time, he is excited for the debutantes Annies and Fourie. “Firstly, it’s obviously a huge honour for me to be named captain for Friday’s Currie Cup match against the Griffons,” said the former Junior Springbok I’m excited for the challenge and for the experience lying ahead.

“Then, we have two debutantes in Michael and Corné, and both of them are great players. Michael is an exciting outside back. I’m just excited for him to be in the mix and make his debut for the Cheetahs. I expect a lot from him. I hope he’s going to enjoy the experience. And with Corné, he’s an experienced campaigner, so he’s been around the block.

‘I’m very excited to see what he brings to the mix’

“He would definitely bring that calm presence onto the pitch, although I know he’s itching to play a game. So I’m very excited to see what he brings to the mix as well.”

Friday’s derby between the Griffons and Cheetahs in Welkom kicks off at 15:00.

Griffons - 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Qamani Kota, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Robbie Petzer, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius (captain), 9 Cheslin Arendse, 8 Orateng Koikanyang, 7 Rian Olivier, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Matthew Gray, 4 Joshua Paris, 3 Edwin Nxumalo, 2 Willem van der Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs

Replacements - 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Moango Ngundue, 19 Curtley Thomas, 20 Jared Kruger, 21 David Bunduki, 22 Keegan Schaefer, 23 Gilroy Philander

Cheetahs – 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger (captain), 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Corné Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Replacements – 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Piere Uys, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Munier Hartzenberg

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek  mvh