Get Newsletter

Cheetahs bank on veterans for season opener

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs will rely on a couple of Springbok veterans when they start their campaign in the new Super Rugby Unlocked competition.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Cheetahs face the Pumas in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Ruan Pienaar will captain the team.

Pienaar, 36, has 88 Test caps for South Africa and more than 250 first-class games between the Sharks, Ulster, Montpellier and the Cheetahs.

He will get great support from two-time World Cup winner Frans Steyn, who will make his Cheetahs debut.

Steyn, 33, has 67 Bok caps and more than 250 first-class games for the Sharks, Racing Metro, Montpellier and Brave Lupus.

Also making their Cheetahs debuts are Andisa Ntsila and Louis van der Westhuizen.

ADVERTISEMENT

Players not available due to injury include Wilmar Arnoldi (cheek bone), Reniel Hugo (knee), Aranos Coetzee (ankle), Rhyno Smith (quad) and Duncan Saal (hamstring).

As defending Currie Cup champions, collecting points in the first half of the season – Super Rugby Unlocked – is vital if their want to be in running when the Currie Cup comes to a conclusion in January.

The Cheetahs face the Bulls in their next match – Friday, October 16, in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Aidon Davis, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 William Small-Smith.

ADVERTISEMENT

Date: Saturday, October 10
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein’
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby and Ben Crouse
TMO: Stuart Berry

Join free

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Edinburgh vs Glasgow | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Boks Office | Episode 31 | Investec Champions Cup Review

Global Schools Challenge | Day 2 Replay

The Backyard Bunch | The USA's Belmont Shore

AUSTRALIA vs USA behind the scenes | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E04

South Africa v France | HSBC SVNS Cape Town 2024 | Men's Final Match Highlights

Two Sides - Behind the scenes with the British & Irish Lions in South Africa | E01

Write A Comment