The Toyota Cheetahs will focus on this week and not the past as they turn their attention to their big Currie Cup semi-final against the Lions.

The last time these two teams met, the Lions beat the Cheetahs 38-21 in Bloemfontein towards the end of last month.

Izak van der Westhuizen. Picture: Morgan Piek

On Saturday, the Cheetahs thumped the Pumas 41-14 in Nelspruit to keep their title defence alive, however, it is expected that the Lions will field a near full-strength URC team this weekend.

The Cheetahs will have a couple of changes as there are injuries to players such as the centre Ali Mgijima, who has a fractured jaw.

There is a new energy in the Cheetahs’ captain and coach, Izak van der Westhuizen, who told OFM Sport they are excited.

“This whole season we’ve been starting to install and implement things, and this past weekend it sort of came together,” said Van der Westhuizen.

“I think it was the first week where the guys stuck to the plan and the results showed. We played in the right half of the field and when we had the ball, we were able to play. It was a good weekend for us.

“The lekker thing about playoff games is there is no history. It’s what happens on the day and that’s what we are going to focus on. We’re not going to worry about what happened before, we are only focused on the weekend.”

Oupa Mohoje. Picture: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs had numerous players that really made a big step-up against the Pumas – such as Carl Wegner, Evardi Boshoff, but the 18-time capped Springbok, Oupa Mohoje, has his best game since his knee injury against Munster in Limerick in 2018.

Van der Westhuizen added that the 34-year-old Mohoje, who has spent his entire career at the Cheetahs, still has what it takes. “I think he is still a champion and he showed it on the weekend. He had a massive game and his work rate was massive. He just showed that he can still play.”

Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final at Ellis Park kicks off at 14:30.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg/mvh