BLOEMFONTEIN – After a three-week tour to Wales and Scotland, the Toyota Cheetahs will be facing Connacht from Ireland on home soil in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The two sides met in Galway earlier this season with Connacht winning 23-15. The Cheetahs would want to gather points at home after for three defeats on tour. The Cheetahs have lost just once at home this campaign.
“Our approach is to take each game as it comes. Obviously, we prepare to win the game and a win will contribute to a play-off position,” said coach Rory Duncan.
Duncan has announced his team with some changes from last week. Luther Obi will be replacing the injured Malcolm Jaer and Rabs Mazwano will be providing cover on the bench.
Zee Mkhabela will be replacing Shaun Venter. Venter has been sidelined due to an injury.
Returning from injury, Tian Meyer will be on the bench. Meyer will be playing in his 50th match for the Cheetahs as soon as he sets foot on the field.
Ox Nche and Aranos Coetzee will be the starting props with Charles Marais and Tom Botha on the bench. Coetzee will be playing in his 50th match for the Cheetahs.
The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: William Small-Smith (knee), Dennis Visser (knee), Niell Jordaan (ankle), Elandré Huggett (knee) Ruan van Rensburg, (knee), Lloyd Greeff (shoulder), Luan de Bruin, Shaun Venter (groin), Malcolm Jaer (hand).
The Cheetahs team to play Connacht is:
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 Nico Lee, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Zee Mkhabela, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche
Reserves16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Renier Bernardo, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Sibhale Maxano