Head coach Frans Steyn has made several changes to the Cheetahs lineup to face SWD Eagles in the SA Cup at Free State Stadium on Saturday.
Up front, captain and hooker Louis van der Westhuizen packs down alongside Aranos Coetzee and Cameron Dawson, who replaces Hencus van Wyk at loosehead.
Pieter Jansen van Vuren comes in for Victor Sekekete, partnering Carl Wegner in the second row, while No 8 Neels Volschenk slots into a back row with Sisonke Vumazonke and Andisa Ntsila.
In the backline, Cohen Jasper starts at fullback, with Michael Annies and Prince Nkabinde making up an explosive back three. Marco Jansen van Vuuren partners Ali Ngijima in midfield, while the on-loan Clayton Blommetjies makes his third start at 10 alongside Rewan Kruger.
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Gideon van der Merwe (ankle), Ethan Wentzel (back), Munier Hartzenberg (hamstring), Franco Smith (hamstring), Carel-Jan Coetzee (knee), Andell Loubser (hip), and Litha Nkula (thigh) are unavailable due to injury.
The Cheetahs scored six tries last week in a thrilling home win against the Griffons, which moved Steyn’s charges up to fourth on the log but are still under pressure to perform with the Boland Kavaliers and Valke hot on their heels.
CHEETAHS — 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Michael Annies, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (c), 1 Cameron Dawson.
Bench: 16. Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17. Banele Mthenjane, 18. Robert Hunt, 19. Victor Sekekete, 20. Pierre Raymond Uys, 21. Raegan Oranje, 22. Jandre Nel, 23. Banie Britz.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
