It’s Carling Currie Cup semi-final time and the Toyota Cheetahs will be facing the Airlink Pumas on Saturday, 18 June in an epic clash in Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein. The action kicks off at 13:30 with a live broadcast on SuperSport.
Gates open at 10:30 with Wilgerivier u.13 taking on Aliwal North u.13 in a curtain-raiser at 11:30.
Fans can enjoy a wide variety of food from the food trucks behind the main stand and enjoy some refreshments at the Castle Deck, where Jay will be performing after the match.
Tickets are only R50 for adults and R20 for kids and students.
Match tickets are available at the ticket office or online at www.ticketpro.co.za. Supporters have to show a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid test to enter the stadium.
Arrie Nel Pharmacy will be doing rapid Covid tests at Gate 8 outside the stadium from 09:30 on Saturday. Visit www.cheetahs.rugby for more details.
Coach Hawies Fourie announced his team.
Gideon van der Merwe is included in the starting line-up, wearing the nr. 6 jerseys with Andisa Ntsila providing cover on the bench. Reinhardt Fortuin returns from injury and is on reserve.
“We want to be disciplined tomorrow and the team will be focused on that. We are all excited. You don’t always get the opportunity to play in a Currie Cup semi-final. It is a big game for both teams. I’m sure it will be a great game,” said Captain Ruan Pienaar.
“We have a lot of players getting their first experience of Currie Cup semi-final and I think we just want to stick to our DNA and the way we play. Just do everything 5% or 10% better than what we’ve done throughout the season. Hopefully, it will be enough to take us through to next week.”
“I think both teams are excited to be part of the semi-final. It’s a special day to be part of.”
“The Currie Cup is a prestigious tournament. We take it really seriously so hopefully, we can make the supporters proud and the staff who’s put in a big shift to make this happen.”
Toyota Cheetahs
15. Clayton Blommetjies
14. Daniel Kasende
13. David Brits
12. Chris Smit
11. Rosko Specman
10. Siya Masuku
9. Ruan Pienaar (C)
8. Jeandre Rudolph
7. Aidon Davis
6. Gideon van der Merwe
5. Victor Sekekete
4. Rynier Bernardo
3. Aranos Coetzee
2. Louis van der Westhuizen
1. Cameron Dawson
16. Marnus van der Merwe
17. Alulutho Tshakweni
18. Marne Coetzee
19. Ockie Barnard
20. Andisa Ntsila
21. Rewan Kruger
22. Reinhardt Fortuin
23. Robert Ebersohn
The referee for the match is Morne Ferreira. He will be assisted by Paul Mente and Ruhan Meiring. The TMO is Marius Jonker.
The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Branden de Kock (knee), Malcolm Jaer (ankle), Craig Barry (knee), Evardi Boshoff (groin), Duncan Saal (hamstring), Wilmar Arnoldi (hamstring) and Frans Steyn (hamstring).