Cheetahs ready for EP challenge

The Toyota Cheetahs will face Eastern Province on Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. The main game starts at 3pm and will be streamed live on DSTV, channel 244.

Gates open at 10.30am with lots of schoolboy rugby to look forward to, at 11am Brandwag Under-13A will play against Onze Rust Under-13A, at 12pm Universitas Under-13A will face Bloemfontein Primary Under-13A with Willem Postma Under-13A and Truida Kestell Under-13A finishing the curtain raisers at1pm.

Free parking is available inside Toyota Stadium if you drive a Toyota and have a valid match ticket. Enter from Att Horak Avenue. Supporters are urged to come early.

Tickets are R50 for the main stand, R30 for the open stand, and only R20 for students and kids. Tickets are available online at www.ticketpro.co.za or at the ticket office in Toyota Stadium.

Ticket sales for the historic Test between the Springboks and Portugal on 20 July in Toyota Stadium are available from the ticket office in Toyota Stadium. It is the perfect opportunity to secure tickets and enjoy an evening out with the family.

No 8 Siba Qoma said: “Being given an opportunity in the SA Cup is golden because it kind of gears you up to try a few things you maybe haven’t tried before. This can give you confidence to become a better player.”

Coach Izak van der Westhuizen added: “The plan is still to give as many of these players as possible a chance to play. Some guys here haven’t played in a long time, so we want to get as many of them as possible to play in the way we want.

“Against Pumas, we blooded a bunch of players, some of whom were still at school last year and several showed that they can stand their ground. So, there will be some of them playing this weekend.”

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Andell Loubser, 11 Litha Nkula; 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Rewan Kruger; 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Andisa Ntsila; 5 Victor Sekekete (capt), 4 Mzwanele Zito; 3 Justin Forwood, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Alulutho Tshakwani, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Thabang Mahlasi, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Marko Janse van Vuren, 23 George Lourens.

The referee for the match is Paul Mente. He will be assisted by Clearance Khumalo and Ashton Ockhuys.

The Free State Women will also be in action on Saturday when they face the Sanlam Boland Dames in the Women's Premier Division at Boland Stadium, Wellington from 3pm.