The Cheetahs need a win on Saturday, preferably with a bonus point, to secure a spot in the semi-finals. However, if the Sharks manage to beat the Pumas on Friday night in Durban and deny the Lowveld team any points, Free State could already be through to the playoffs before taking the field on Saturday. 

That said, the seven-time Currie Cup winners don’t want to leave anything to chance. While the Bulls have loaded their team with United Rugby Championship players, the Cheetahs have made a few changes.

Pierre Uys and Cameron Dawson. Photo: Morgan Piek

Up front, Pierre Uys will start at flank, Frankie Dos Reis at tighthead prop, and Cameron Dawson at loosehead prop.

In the backline, the only change is at scrumhalf, with the X-factor Jandré Nel taking over from Rewan Kruger.

On the bench, former Bulls loosehead prop Tielman Nieuwoudt will make his debut, while John-Kelly Okonkwo, who debuted against the Suzuki Griquas, will provide cover at tighthead prop. Sisonke Vumazonke returns to the bench, Raegan Oranje will get his first Currie Cup run of the season, and the exciting Banie Britz is also back in the mix.

Although the Cheetahs are under some pressure, they are no strangers to beating teams stacked with Springboks. They famously beat the Sharks 32-29 in the ECPR Challenge Cup nearly two years ago, when the Durban side fielded the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Jaden Hendrikse, Aphelele Fassi, and Francois Venter, among others.

The Cheetahs coach, Frans Steyn, told OFM Sport that the team simply needs to back themselves.

“We spoke about it, we need to be ‘lus’, as ons lus is, is ons altyd in met ‘n kans,” said Steyn.

Cohen Jasper beating Werner Kok to go in for the match-winning try against the Sharks in the EPCR Challenge Cup. Photo: Morgan Piek

“We just have to stay in the fight, and you never know. Rugby is a stupid game, and I don’t know why I stay involved with it. Look what happened over the weekend; I’m going to be bald one of these days,” the two-time Rugby World Cup winner chuckled.

“But despite all that, we fell in love with it, and I think that’s why we’re still involved. We want to make a difference, try to help where we can, and have a positive influence on people’s lives. That’s why we stay involved.

“Mindset-wise, if we pitch up and do our things, I’m so chuffed with the guys we have at the moment, the team, and how far we’ve come. I still think we’re a bunch of new coaches, no excuses, but we’ve changed our whole defensive system, our whole lineout system, and the players still show up every day and train hard.

Neels Volschenk. Photo: Morgan Piek

“So, like I said, I’m proud of the guys. If we do our best on the weekend, then win or lose, we’ll come back and fight again the next day.”

Saturday night’s crunch clash between the Bulls and Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:05.

Bulls – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Alfonso Isaacs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Abri van der Westhuizen, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni

Replacements – 16 Juann Else, 17 Ruan Swart, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Stedman Gans

Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Franco Smith Jr, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Uys, 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 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 John-Kelly Okonkwo, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Banie Britz, 23 Michael Annies

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh