Rugby
‘It’s a must win for us’ – Davis─── MORGAN PIEK 10:07 Sat, 24 Aug 2024
“To keep our home semifinal hopes alive it’s a must win for us, but yes, looking forward to the challenge against the Lions: It’s a quality team, a young team who are very hungry and are playing awesome rugby at the moment.”
The Toyota Cheetahs will target a bonus point win on Saturday in Bloemfontein when they tackle the in-form Lions in the Currie Cup.
A good win will be needed if the defending champions are to keep their chances of securing a home semifinal alive. It’s a done deal that only three spots remain available in the knockout round, and the Cheetahs, Lions and Sharks are strong contenders for these, albeit Western Province and the Pumas also remain in the hunt.
The Suzuki Griquas are also still in for a shout, however, they need bonus point wins against the Cheetahs as well as Western Province. While these two games will be at home, they will also require quite a lot of favours.
Aidon Davis. Photo: Morgan Piek
The Cheetahs are third on the log, and a bonus point win against the Lions will move them up to second again if they deny the visitors a bonus point.
The Cheetahs loose-forward, Aidon Davis, told OFM Sport that this is a big one, and they need to triumph in the cat fight. “The game this weekend is a big one, a very big game actually,” said the former Exeter Chiefs player.
“Like you said, to keep our home semi final hopes alive it’s a must win for us, but yes, looking forward to the challenge against the Lions. It’s a quality team, a young team who are very hungry and are playing awesome rugby at the moment.
“There are a few changes for us and a few boys are struggling with niggles, but we’re still very confident in the team that we're putting onto the field. But, we’re looking forward to the challenge, it's going to be a big one.”
Saturday’s battle of the big cats between the Cheetahs and Lions at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 17:00.
Cheetahs - 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corné Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements - 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Pierre Uys, 20 Ulrich Stander, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin
Lions - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Tiaan Wessels, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Kane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements - 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Luca Ribbens, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Marius Louw
