EDINBURGH – The Toyota Cheetahs have announced their Pro14 team to play Edinburgh at Murrayfield Stadium in Scotland on Friday evening.
They are highly-motivated to record their first victory of the season on Friday.
“It’s a great honour for the team to play at Murrayfield. Murrayfield is an icon in world rugby with lots of history and tradition,” said coach Franco Smith. “We’ve made changes to the team due to Gerhard Olivier’s return back home and Ryno Eksteen’s injury.
"We are glad to have Abongile Nonkontwana who joined the team on tour. He joined the Cheetahs earlier this year without a contract but proved himself worthy by working himself up through the SuperSport Rugby Challenge and Currie Cup.
Captains Run | #EDIvCHE @CheetahsRugby vs. @EdinburghRugby
🗓5 October
⏰ 20:35
📺 Live on @SuperSportTV201 @PRO14Official #GUINNESSPRO14 #CrossingHemispheres #TeamHilux pic.twitter.com/42iS3g3FBv
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) October 4, 2018
"It proves again that Free State Rugby is a breeding ground of opportunity and that we will always keep on producing talent.”
“Changes to the starting line-up with Justin Basson and Jacques du Toit bring new excitement and energy to the team, the same with Stephan Malan.”
Neill Jordaan moves to flank and will be representing the Cheetahs in his 50th match.
The Cheetahs team is:
15 Louis Fouche, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Stephan Malan, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Neil Jordaan, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes:
16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 19 Walt Steenkamp, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Abongile Nonkontwana, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Ali Mgijima