Rugby
Cheetahs geared for the cat fight─── MORGAN PIEK 08:19 Fri, 21 Mar 2025
The Toyota Cheetahs aren’t dwelling on the past as they prepare for their big SA Cup round three clash against the Pumas in Mbombela on Friday (21/3).
The last time the Cheetahs played in Mbombela they thrashed the Pumas 41-14 to qualify for the 2024 Currie Cup semi-finals. However, the Lowveld has rarely been a happy hunting ground for the team from Bloemfontein.
This time around, the Cheetahs are a completely different outfit, while the Pumas have made it clear that they are determined to set the record straight.
Cheetahs hooker and captain, Chucky van der Westhuizen, told OFM Sport past results mean little, and they are expecting the Pumas to come hard at them. He also acknowledged the threat posed by Pumas captain Clinton Swart, particularly with his kicking boot.
“You can’t look back and build confidence on that because it’s a new team, new systems in place, new coaches –everything’s new. We have momentum now, and we’ll try to build on it. It’s always a catfight between the Pumas and the Cheetahs. Obviously, they want to finish at the top of the log, so all the teams are going to come out all guns blazing.
Clinton Swart. Photo: Morgan Piek
“Discipline across the field has to improve – not just because their captain, Clinton Swart, is a good kicker, but also because it puts us in difficult situations at the wrong moments in the game. So, discipline all over has to be better.”
Friday’s clash between the second-placed Pumas and fifth-placed Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 19:00.
Pumas – 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart (captain), 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandré Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements – 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 André Fouche, 21 Conor van Eden, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Lundi Msenge
Cheetahs – 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Raegan Oranje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Neels Volschenk, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements – 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dux Manyama, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Jooste Nel
OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg
