Head coach Frans Steyn has rejigged his starting XV for the Cheetahs’ last outing of the Toyota Challenge against Black Lion in Tbilisi on Sunday.
The Free Staters head into the clash with one win and one narrow defeat, having beaten Lusitanos 38-26 before going down 22-19 to Iberians.
It will be the fourth meeting between the Cheetahs and Black Lion in the competition, with the men from Bloem holding a 2-1 head-to-head record.
Louis van der Westhuizen takes over the captaincy and starts at hooker, with Dux Manyama alongside him at loosehead and Ben Pitout retained at tighthead.
Carl Wegner partners Aidon Davis in the second row, while Arno van der Merwe and Siya Ningiza flank a loose trio completed by Sisonke Vumazonke at No 8.
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Erich Visser continues at scrumhalf, paired with Tiaan Swanepoel at flyhalf. Shaun Ray switches to inside centre alongside Marco Jansen van Vuren, with Ethan Wentzel moving back to fullback.
Steyn said the tour remains about building depth. “The focus is primarily on match fitness and allowing players to get valuable game time, particularly those returning from injury,” he said.
“These matches are vital for us to assess where we are as a squad and to measure our squad depth. Every player will have an opportunity to put their hands up, while we continue preparing for the important EPCR Challenge Cup matches that lie ahead.”
CHEETAHS – 15 Ethan Wentzel, 14 Litha Nkula, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Shaun Ray, 11 Ntokozo Makhaza, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Erich Visser, 8 Sisonke Vumazonke, 7 Arno van der Merwe, 6 Siya Ningiza, 5 Aidon Davis, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Ben Pitout, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (c), 1 Dux Manyama.
Bench: 16 Juandre Schoeman, 17 Tebogo Nkosi, 18 John-Kelly Okonkwo, 19 Juan Venter, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Jandrè Nel, 22 Duncan Basson, 23 Daniel Maartens.
Photo: Danie Van Der Lith/Gallo Images
The post Frans flips the Cheetahs script for finale appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Head coach Frans Steyn has rejigged his starting XV for the Cheetahs’ last outing of the Toyota Challenge against Black Lion in Tbilisi on Sunday.
The post Frans flips the Cheetahs script for finale appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
