The Toyota Cheetahs welcome the Fidelity ADT Lions to Toyota Stadium on Saturday at 5pm. The game will be live on SuperSport.
Gates open at 1pm and supporters are encouraged to come early to enjoy two curtain raisers, the first at 1.30pm between UXI and BFN Academy, followed by the match between FS Amateur and Lesotho at 2.45pm. Stay behind after the game for live entertainment by Anton Botha at the Castle Deck.
Tickets are R70 for the main stand, R40 for the open stand, and only R30 for students and kids. Tickets are available online at www.ticketpro.co.za or the ticket office in Toyota Stadium.
If you drive a Toyota with a valid match ticket, free parking is available inside Toyota Stadium. Enter from Att Horak Avenue.
To ensure the safety of players and officials, Free State Rugby had to install temporary fences to prevent supporters from entering the field directly from the stands. However, supporters can still access the field after the match through the blue gates in the northwestern and southwestern corners and meet the Toyota Cheetah players behind the main stand.
Director of Rugby, Frans Steyn said: "I think we know the challenges they (the Lions) bring to the game and we need to match that. We look forward to this weekend's game – the big catfight in South African rugby. So, I think everybody knows it will be a big challenge but we are looking forward to it.
"We made a lot of mistakes last weekend against the Sharks. You must give credit to the Sharks. Their plan worked better than ours. We have to be better this weekend to win, and everyone worked hard this week to get to that point."
Schalk Ferreira, loosehead prop stated: "I think in South Africa, in general, we don't see a scrum as a set-piece just to get a ball out. It is a point of attack for us, like the rest of South Africa. I think Daan's (Human) impact in South Africa is that we don't just go through the motions. We don't just pick the guys on the bench because they are the second-best. They are there for impact. I think the combination of Vernon (Paulo), Cameron (Dawson)and Robert (Hunt) works really well.
"We have a small squad, but the pressure keeps everybody on their toes. Nothing is free, and you have to work for your spot. The pressure in our live sessions is brutal. It is because we are fighting for the position, and there is no dead weight."
Munier Hartzenberg returns from injury and will wear the number 14 jersey, with Daniel Kasende on left wing. Aidon Davis moves to No 8, replacing the injured Jeandrè Rudolph with Oupa Mohoje next to him.
Mzwanele Zito replaced Carl Wegner; the props are Ferreira and Robert Hunt. Hencus van Wyk and Aranos Coetzee will provide cover on the bench. Ulrich Stander and Sisonke Vumazonke are new on the bench.
The referee for the match is Morne Ferreira and he will be assisted by DJ Hefer and Ashton Ockhuys.
The TMO is Quintin Immelman.
Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende; 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger; 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe; 5 Victor Sekekete (capt), 4 Mzwanele Zito; 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Pierre Uys, 20 Ulrich Stander, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin.
Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane; 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Tiaan Wessels, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman; 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Asenathi Ntabakanye, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Luca Ribbens, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Marius Louw.
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