Rugby
Cheetahs geared for Clermont challenge─── MORGAN PIEK 15:06 Fri, 05 Apr 2024
“We know that the tackle-fight is going to be huge for us, especially of the set piece to stop that initial momentum to get us into places where we can use our line-speed.”
The Toyota Cheetahs are braced for their biggest game of the season when they face Clermont in France on Saturday in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The Cheetahs named a near full strength team with plenty of experience for the game against the French Top14 team.
Daniel Kasende and Munier Hartzenberg are back from suspension and will play on the wing and outside centre respectively. Litha Nkula in turn will start on the left-wing.
Upfront, Jeandré Rudolph, is back from playing for the Ospreys, but he will play on the blindside flank, while Gideon van der Merwe will play from the bench.
Aranos Coetzee will start at tighthead prop at the expense of Hencus van Wyk. The hooker, Chucky van der Westhuizen will be playing in his 50th game for the Cheetahs.
The winner of Saturday’s game will face either Montpellier or Ulster next week in the quarter-finals.
The Cheetahs assistant coach, Charl Strydom, told OFM Sport they know what needs to be done.
“We know that the tackle-fight is going to be huge for us, especially of the set piece to stop that initial momentum to get us into places where we can use our line-speed,” said Strydom.
“It's a weapon of ours and we get a lot of turnovers from that, but we've just got to use our turnovers smartly. It's something we've been working on and it will give us opportunities to strike.
“The kicking game is important and we have Ruan Pienaar back, who is probably one of the best contestable kickers in the world.”
Kick-off is at 13:30 on Saturday afternoon, while at 18:30 Benetton will host the Lions in Treviso, and on Sunday at 15:00 the Sharks face Zebre in Durban.
Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements - 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Gideon van der Merwe, 22 Andell Loubser, 23 Rewan Kruger
Morgan Piek OFM Sport
