Cheetahs Challenge - teams and predictions
The Cheetahs will field a new-look team when Round Two of the Challenge Series takes place on Sunday.
After suffering a 24-38 loss against the Western Force this past Wednesday, the Cheetahs are ready to bounce back against a Griffons team fielding their Currie Cup collection.
It is Round Two of the Challenge series, with Emerging Ireland and the Western Force going head-to-head in the early match on Sunday.
That is followed by the Free State derby – Cheetahs versus the Griffons.
Cheetahs Director of Rugby Frans Steyn admitted he expected more from the group that faced the Force. Still, he pointed out that with the short turnaround between matches – they also face the touring Emerging Ireland team on Wednesday – they had no option but to change up the team.
“We need to be more consistent,” the retired Springbok said.
“Our squad is very good, but I need the players to start believing they are.
“Little mistakes are costing us, as it did in the Currie Cup.
“Somewhere along the line, we need to learn from our mistakes and stop repeating those mistakes.”
The Cheetahs boss pointed to the line-outs as a cause for concern.
“Our forwards are working hard on our set pieces,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “We demolished them [the Force] in the scrums, but we lost our line-outs.
“If we want to compete against the best we can’t have the lapses that appeared against the Force.
“We need to grow up and do it pretty fast.
“The EPCR [Challenge Cup] is just around the corner.”
The Cheetahs still have a lengthy injury list – Cameron Dawson (calf), Louis van der Westhuizen (knee), Daniel Maartens (hand), Jeandre Rudolph (AC joint), Raegan Oranje (knee), Marko Janse van Rensburg (knee), Ali Mgijima (jaw), Banie Britz (arm), Banele Mthenjane (hamstring), James Verity-Amm (knee), Teboho Mohoje (knee), Jooste Nel (shoulder) and Aidon Davis (allergic reaction) all unavailable.
* Following this past Wednesday’s victory against the Pumas in Bloemfontein, Leinster’s Rob Russell (hand) will play no further part in the tour.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden will link up with the squad, ahead of the game against Western Force on Sunday, as cover for Mark Donnelly (ankle).
Coach Simon Easterby was pleased with the opening match win and the manner in which the team came together in such a short space of time.
“The Pumas had a Currie Cup campaign to prepare for this game and we’ve had six or seven days,” Easterby said.
“However, I think, to a man, our guys stepped up to the challenge.
“I think these tours are always going to be challenging, they’re always going to put us under pressure for the time, but we certainly wouldn’t look for any excuses in terms of our preparation.
“I thought, on the whole, we were outstanding and everyone showed up well. We got good minutes out of those guys that started, and we got a good hit out of the guys who came off the bench and they added as well.”
Sunday’s teams and predictions follow below …
Emerging Ireland v Western Force
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 13.00; 12.00 Ireland time; 11.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Emerging Ireland by 12 points
Teams
Emerging Ireland: 15 Andrew Osborne, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Sean O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Alex Kendellen (captain), 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 4 Cormac Izuchukwu, 3 Ronan Foxe, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Alex Usanov.
Replacements: 16 Danny Sheahan, 17 Scott Wilson, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Sean Edogbo, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Charlie Tector, 23 Hugh Gavin.
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Justin Landman, 13 Harry Potter, 12 Sio Tompkinson, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey, 9 Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Reed Prinsep (captain), 7 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Replacements: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Titi Nofoagatotoa, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Coby Miln, 23 Divad Palu.
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant referees: Scott Oliver, Clearance Khumalo
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys
Cheetahs v Griffons
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 15.45; 13.45 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 12 points
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Andell Loubser, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Neels Volschenk (captain), 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Ulrich Stander, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dux Manyama, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 20 Friedle Olivier, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Litha Nkula, 23 Shaun Ray.
Griffons: 15 Keanu Vers, 14 Quan Eymann, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Christiaan Nel, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Cheslin Arendse, 8 Mingo Piti, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Rian Olivier, 4 Lungi Mbiko, 3 Mthokozisi Gumede, 2 Willem van den Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Simon Westraadt, 18 Moango Ngundue, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Jared Kruger, 22 Raven Smith, 23 Gilroy Philander.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Ashton Ockhuys, Tiaan Engelbrecht
TMO: Ben Crouse
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