Cheetahs ready to run wild in Kimberley

With the four sides having secured qualification for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division following the completion of the league phase, attention now shifts to the weekend’s two play-off games to see who will fight it out next week in the final of the SA Cup.

In Saturday’s second semi-final in Kimberley, Suzuki Griquas go into their play-off with two SA Cup victories against the Toyota Cheetahs. While the 2023 result was a comfortable 39-17 win in Bloemfontein, last week’s final league encounter between the two Central South African sides finished in a 31-29 win for the hosts in the Diamond City, thanks to two late tries.

Pieter Bergh’s Griquas team will feel confident of a repeat against their close rivals, while Frans Steyn’s rebuilt Toyota Cheetahs side will be determined to go one step better and reach their first SA Cup final, dethroning the defending champions in the process.

The match at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley kicks off at 3pm and will be streamed live onto DSTV OTT channel 951 (app and website).

The referee for the match is Dylen November.

Director of rugby and Cheetahs head coach Steyn announced his team with four changes in the backline from the last week’s game. The wings are Michael Annies and Prince Nkabinde while the centres are Ali Mgijima and Carel-Jan Coetzee.

The following players are not eligible for team selection: Ethan Wentzel (back), Munier Hartzenberg (hamstring), Andell Loubser (hip), Litha Nkula (thigh), Clayton Blommetjies (calf), Carl Wegner (hamstring), James-Verity Amm (flu) and Marco Jansen van Vuren (hip)

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Ali Migijima, 11 Michael Annies; 10 George Lourens, 9 Jandre Nel; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe; 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren; 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (capt), 1 Hencus van Wyk. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Raegan Oranje, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Cohen Jasper.