Challenge Series - teams and predictions

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The Cheetahs have one last chance in a competitive match before their debut in the European Challenge Cup in December and they are determined to make the most of the opportunity.

The Challenge Series ends in Bloemfontein on Friday – with the Currie Cup champion Pumas ‘hosting’ the American Falcons in the early match and tournament hosts, the Cheetahs, facing off against central union neighbours Griquas in a not-so-friendly encounter in the main game.

Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete said it “good build-up” – from the pre-season training and into the games.

As a former Griquas player, he knows there will be nothing ‘friendly’ about the encounter – it will be a tough and brutal clash.

“We need to get [up to the standard] of what we had in the second half against the United States,” Sekekete said of a 53-25 win in Bloemfontein last Sunday – a second-half rout that saw the Cheetahs turn a three-point (17-20) half-time deficit into a convincing win.

“We need to continue with that momentum,” he said of their build-up towards their debut in the European Challenge Cup in December.

The Cheetahs team shows a number of changes – most significantly featuring Reinhardt Fortuin at inside centre in place of injured Springbok Frans Steyn.

Siyamthanda Masuku is back to start at flyhalf.

Ruan Pienaar will be the brains in the backline, as he starts at scrumhalf – forming a very formidable halfback combination with Masuku.

Changes in the pack will see Louis van der Westhuizen start at hooker, while Friedle Oliver will run out at lock alongside the captain, Sekekete.

Daniel Maartens has been released earlier by the Pumas and will start at flank.

The Cheetahs are still without a host of injured players – Gideon van der Merwe (knee), Andisa Ntsila (knee), Nqobisizwe Moxoli (neck), Alulutho Tshakweni (shoulder), George Cronje (knee), Enver Brandt (hamstring), Roelof Smit (shoulder) and Steyn (knee).

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Meanwhile, Griquas Coach Pieter Bergh named what he termed his ‘strongest available’ team, despite being forced into a couple of changes through injury and illness.

Malcolm Jaer is a long-term injury setback, only scheduled to return in January.

Johan Retief is still sidelined with a stomach bug that ravaged the Kimberley team last week.

Ashlon Davids starts at fullback in place of Jaer, while Mihlali Stamper will make his Griquas debut at lock in place of Godfrey Muzanargwo.

The loose forwards have also been ‘rotated – with Carl Els staring at No.8, Michael Amiras and No.7 and Niel Otto captaining the team from openside flank.

“We have a lot of first-choice players injured,” Bergh said of players not selected due to injury – like Andrew Beerwinkel, Andries Schutte, Derik Pretorius, Johan Retief, Hanru Sirgel, Malcolm Jaer, Janco Venter and Werner Gouws.

They have also loaned Zander du Plessis and Sango Xamlashe to URC franchises.

“We are expecting a massive set-piece onslaught from the Cheetahs,” the coach said, adding: “We will need to fight fire with fire on Friday.”

* In the early match the Currie Cup champions, the Pumas, will field a team very similar to that which edged Western Province 27-20 last week.

In the only backline change, Chriswill September starts at scrumhalf in place of Lucky Dlepu.

The pack shows four changes – Andre Fouche replacing Khwezi Mafu at No.8, Kwanda Dimaza at No.7 ahead of Francois Kleinhans and Jaco Labuschagne at openside flank in the spot vacated by Dimaza’s move to blindside.

Jacques Momberg is at hooker in place of LLwellyn Classen.

The United States team has been completely revamped from the side that lost to the Cheetahs – the entire starting XV changed.

Only one player remains from Sunday – captain Bryce Campbell, albeit moving from outside centre to No.12.

Paul Lasike, Nate Augspurger, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Cory Gilliland-Daniel and Dylan Fawsitt dropped down to the replacement bench.

Below are all the teams and predictions for Friday, October 12

Pumas v United States Falcons
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 17.00; ?? ; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Pumas by 15 points

Teams

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Aliqhayiya Mgijima, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Tinus De Beer (captain), 9 Chriswill September, 8 Andre Fouche, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Jacques Momberg, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Njabulo Gumede, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Llewellyn Classen, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Sihle Njezula.

United States Falcons: 15 Mitch Wilson, 14 Chris Mattina, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 12 Bryce Campbell (captain), 11 Conner Mooneyham, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 9 Ryan Rees, 8 Michael de Waal, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 6 Benjamin Bonasso, 5 Cam Dolan, 4 Siaosi Mahoni, 3 Angus Maclellan, 2 Kaleb Geiger, 1 Chance Wenglewski.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 Nathan Sylvia, 19 Keni Nasoqeqe, 20 Cory Gilliland-Daniel, 21 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 22 Nate Augspurger, 23 Paul Lasike.

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Dylen November, Darren Colby
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Cheetahs v Griquas
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Cheetahs by nine points

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siyabonga Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Friedle Olivier, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Andell Loubser.

Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Reagan Oranje, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Michael Amiras, 6 Niel Otto (Captain), 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Thabo Ndimande, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Vaughen Isaacs.

Referee: Christopher Allison
Assistant referees: Paul Mente and Dylen November
TMO: Quinton Immelman

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