Cheetahs unveil team for Warriors clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: It will be a case of do or die for the Cheetahs in the fourth-last pool round of the Pro14 on Saturday.
The Cheetahs meet Glasgow Warriors in Scotland in a match that could seal their fate in the competition. This match will mark the teams’ final tour game of the season.
The teams have met three times before with Glasgow winning all of those encounters, but with their backs against the wall coach Franco Smith’s men will be desperate to change this.
The Cheetahs will be buoyed by the fact that they have scored only four tries fewer than the hosts this season, but they will have to be sharp in defence after conceding 28 more tries in their 17 matches.
Captain Tian Meyer said: “Glasgow are a good team. It’s definitely going to be a tough task out there but the energy around our squad is good.
“We demand better quality at training, better quality in the matches, we can see that. We haven’t got the results in the last three games on tour but we’ve really been putting in hard work and it is small things that will make the difference.”
Charles Marais will be starting at prop, while Marnus van der Merwe will be the starting hooker with Joseph Dweba providing cover on the bench. Reinach Venter is also on the bench.
Sintu Manjezi will be starting in the second row with Walt Steenkamp wearing the No.5 jersey. Justin Basson and JP du Preez will be providing cover on the bench.
Daniel Maartens will be starting in the back row
Henco Venter will be wearing the No.8 jersey with Gerhard Oliver in the reserves. Junior Pokomela has been sidelined due to a back injury.
Malcolm Jaer returns from injury and will be starting at fullback with Louis Fouché on the bench.
The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Oupa Mohoje (knee), Jamba Ulenga (neck), Aidon Davis (broken leg), Junior Pokomela (back), Schalk van der Merwe (groin).
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ruaridh Jackson, 14 Niko Matawalu, 13 Kyle Steyn, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Rory Hughes, 10 Pete Horne, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Callum Gibbins (captain), 6 Rob Harley, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Siua Halanukonuka, 19 Bruce Flockhart, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Adam Hastings, 22 Paddy Kelly, 23 Robbie Nairn.
Cheetahs: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Henco Venter, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Reinach Venter, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Justin Basson, 20 JP du Preez, 21 Gerhard Olivier, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Louis Fouche.
Date: Saturday, March 23
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19.45 (19.45 GMT; 21.45 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Dunx McClement (Scotland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
