{"209":{"title":"Six Nations","uri":"six-nations","id":"108","oid":"209","order":0,"hasData":1},"210":{"title":"Rugby World Cup","uri":"rugby-world-cup","id":"111","oid":"210","order":1,"hasData":1},"3":{"title":"International","uri":"internationals","id":"107","oid":"3","order":3,"hasData":1},"201":{"title":"Gallagher Premiership","uri":"premiership","id":"101","oid":"201","order":4,"hasData":1},"204":{"title":"United Rugby Championship","uri":"united-rugby-championship","id":"138","oid":"204","order":5,"hasData":1},"203":{"title":"TOP 14","uri":"top-14","id":"102","oid":"203","order":6,"hasData":1},"217":{"title":"U20 Six Nations","uri":"u20-six-nations","id":"217","oid":"217","order":7,"hasData":1},"211":{"title":"Pro D2","uri":"pro-d2","id":"119","oid":"211","order":8,"hasData":1},"208":{"title":"Bunnings NPC","uri":"bunnings-npc","id":"105","oid":"208","order":9,"hasData":1},"242":{"title":"Investec Champions Cup","uri":"european-champions-cup","id":"110","oid":"242","order":10,"hasData":1},"243":{"title":"Challenge Cup","uri":"challenge-cup","id":"118","oid":"243","order":11,"hasData":1},"340":{"title":"PWR","uri":"premiership-womens-rugby","id":"127","oid":"340","order":12,"hasData":1},"205":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby","id":"104","oid":"205","order":13,"hasData":1},"207":{"title":"Currie Cup","uri":"currie-cup","id":"106","oid":"207","order":14,"hasData":1},"248":{"title":"Women's Six Nations","uri":"womens-six-nations","id":"125","oid":"248","order":16,"hasData":1},"274":{"title":"Women's Internationals","uri":"womens-internationals","id":"274","oid":"274","order":17,"hasData":1},"249":{"title":"Women's Rugby World Cup","uri":"womens-rugby-world-cup","id":"126","oid":"249","order":18,"hasData":1},"365":{"title":"Autumn Nations Series","uri":"autumn-nations-series","id":"124","oid":"365","order":19,"hasData":1},"2000":{"title":"Nations Championship","uri":"nations-championship","id":"2000","oid":"2000","order":20,"hasData":1},"1":{"title":"Rugby Hybrid Friendlies","uri":"rugby-hybrid-friendlies","id":"1","oid":"1","order":21,"hasData":1},"269":{"title":"Rugby Europe Championship","uri":"rugby-europe-championship","id":"269","oid":"269","order":22,"hasData":1},"221":{"title":"British & Irish Lions 2025","uri":"british-irish-lions","id":"113","oid":"221","order":23,"hasData":1},"214":{"title":"The Rugby Championship","uri":"the-rugby-championship","id":"109","oid":"214","order":24,"hasData":1},"141":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby-pacific","id":"141","oid":"141","order":25,"hasData":1},"216":{"title":"World Rugby Junior World Championship","uri":"world-rugby-u20-championship","id":"216","oid":"216","order":25,"hasData":1},"219":{"title":"Pacific Nations Cup","uri":"pacific-nations-cup","id":"219","oid":"219","order":26,"hasData":1},"120":{"title":"Pacific Four Series","uri":"pacific-four-series","id":"120","oid":"120","order":27,"hasData":1},"862":{"title":"WXV 1","uri":"wxv-1","id":"862","oid":"862","order":29,"hasData":1},"863":{"title":"WXV 2","uri":"wxv-2","id":"863","oid":"863","order":30,"hasData":1},"864":{"title":"WXV 3","uri":"wxv-3","id":"864","oid":"864","order":31,"hasData":1},"151":{"title":"Major League Rugby","uri":"major-league-rugby","id":"131","oid":"151","order":32,"hasData":1},"116":{"title":"Premiership Cup","uri":"premiership-cup","id":"116","oid":"116","order":34,"hasData":1}}
38 - 19
FT
51 - 25
FT
24 - 25
FT
54 - 28
FT
24 - 34
FT
29 - 14
FT
17 - 27
FT
36 - 36
FT
27 - 27
FT
7 - 38
FT
21 - 43
FT
33 - 40
FT
14 - 39
FT
27 - 47
FT
56 - 20
FT
21 - 40
FT
23 - 48
FT
49 - 12
FT
45 - 36
FT
31 - 14
FT
47 - 14
FT
33 - 25
FT
14 - 32
FT
14 - 26
FT
38 - 28
FT
29 - 27
FT
57 - 19
FT
41 - 17
FT
43 - 40
FT
18 - 9
FT
28 - 12
FT
Thursday
21:00
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
21:00
Friday
21:00

Cheetahs out to turn the tables against Lions

By @rugby365com
Friday 22 Aug 2025

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs are on a quest to change history when they host the Lions in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

History favours the Lions, who’ve won all three of the most recent meetings, including a 43–34 victory at Ellis Park last September, as well as two away wins in Bloemfontein.

The Cheetahs’ last triumph over the men from Johannesburg came back in April 2023, a convincing 52–15 result at Ellis Park.

The Cheetahs currently top the log with 16 league points, while the Johannesburg outfit sits third on 15 points.

After a tough opening-round defeat to Boland in Wellington, Frans Steyn’s Cheetahs have bounced back strongly with three consecutive wins, the latest a nail-biting 31–24 triumph over Western Province.

The Lions, meanwhile, edged the Pumas by a single point last week. Their only setback so far came against the in-form Bolanders, who beat them 29–10 in Wellington.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jandre Nel has scored four tries so far, the most by a Cheetah player, while Rabz Maxwane has collected three tries in four games for the Lions.

Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn has brought in the evergreen Clayton Blommetjies at fullback, Prins Nkabinde makes a return at wing and Carel-Jan Coetzee replaces Marco Jansen van Vuren, who is attending his sister’s wedding this weekend.

In the front row Frankie dos Reis comes in for Aranos Coetzee and at hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg is in for Louis van der Westhuizen.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgjijima, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Franco Smith, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Juan Venter, 3 Frankie dos Reis, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Cameron Dawson
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Thabang Mahlase, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Banie Britz, 23 Michael Annies

ADVERTISEMENT

Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Free State Stadium; Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT
Referee: Dylen November
Assistant Referees: Paul Mente, Daniel Canhenga
TMO: Ben Crouse

World Rugby Rankings now in the RugbyPass App

NEW IN THE APP: Official World Rugby Rankings hub! Compare team rankings side-by-side, with data going back 20 years.

Download the RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

1
Wallabies' Bledisloe crash reaffirms Boks, All Blacks as only real RWC 2027 contenders
2
Lions show courage after tragedy in defeat to Stade Rochelais
3
Stormers sweating over captain's injury

Join free

KOKO Show | 13 October 2026 | WALLABIES BROUGHT CRASHING BACK TO EARTH! All Blacks Deliver Bledisloe Reality Check!

What Rugby Fans Don't See: Ben O'Keeffe on Life Under Pressure | ARP Extra

What Did the All Blacks’ Big Win Prove? | Episode 35 | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Canada v England | WXV Global Series

MLR Weekly: New England Owner Errik Anderson re expansion/future, MLR News, College Rugby Corner

Spain v South Africa | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

Chile v Hong Kong China | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Belgium v Portugal | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Recommended

European Cup

LIVE: Bulls v Stade Francais - Champions Cup

1d
267
European Cup

LIVE: Lyon v Sharks - Challenge Cup

1d
103
Australia

'Unacceptable': Kiss blasts Wallabies' woeful performance against All Blacks

1d
50
Canada

Canada end England's unbeaten run in Toronto thriller

1d

Write A Comment

Trending

1
Wallabies' Bledisloe crash reaffirms Boks, All Blacks as only real RWC 2027 contenders
2
Lions show courage after tragedy in defeat to Stade Rochelais
3
Stormers sweating over captain's injury