Toyota Cheetahs vs Munster Rugby

The Toyota Cheetahs will face Munster Rugby in their last home game of the year on Friday, 11 October.

The action kicks off at 18:15 (SA time) with a live broadcast on SuperSport 6, Premier Sports, eir Sport and DAZN. Gates open at 14:30 with a curtain raiser between the Amateur sides of the Free State and Leopards at 15:15.

The two teams have met on four previous occasions in the Guinness PRO14 with Munster successful each time. The Toyota Cheetahs have won their last four Guinness PRO14 encounters but have never before won five in succession since they joined the competition in 2017. Munster’s only defeat in their last four away games in all tournaments was to Leinster in last season’s Guinness PRO14 semi-final.

“Munster are a well organised, well-disciplined and well coached team with an excellent and experienced support staff and they’ll know what needs to be done to be competitive.” said Coach Franco Smith. “Johann van Graan and I know each other well, working together at the Springboks, so he’ll have his plans ready and know what to expect from us.”

Club Captain, Tian Meyer said: “It is a team we haven’t beaten, so we see it as a challenge. There is confidence, but it is how you convert the confidence and momentum that you’ve worked up over the last few months.”

“We’ve put our challenges out there and what we want to keep improving in the squad and we keep pushing and challenging each other to be better. We can’t focus on what is said out there. At the end of the day we have to play the game and put our best game out there. Our aim is to win on Friday evening and we know that it is going to be tough one.”

Franco Smith announced the team for his last match as coach of the Toyota Cheetahs before handing over to Hawies Fourie, with some changes. Luan de Bruin returns from injury replacing Erich de Jager. Louis Fouche will start at centre due to Dries Swanepoel being side-lined by a calf injury. Clayton Blommetjies will provide cover on the bench.

The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Justin Basson (knee), Marnus van der Merwe (foot), Charles Marais (bicep) and Dries Swanepoel (calf).

Rugby World Cup – Ruben de Haas (USA), Aranos Coetzee (Namibia). SA Sevens – Darren Adonis.

Toyota Cheetahs vs Munster Rugby 11 October 2019. Kick-off: 18:15 (SA Time) Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

1 Ox Nche
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Luan de Bruin
4 Sintu Manjezi
5 Walt Steenkamp
6 Gerhard Olivier
7 Junior Pokomela
8 Henco Venter

9 Ruan Pienaar (C )
10 Tian Schoeman
11 Anthony Volmink
12 Louis Fouche
13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg
14 William Small-Smith
15 Rhyno Smith

16 Reinach Venter
17 Boan Venter
18 Neethling Fouche
19 JP du Preez
20 Sias Koen
21 Jasper Wiese
22 Tian Meyer
23 Clayton Blommetjies

The referee for the match is Mike Adamson (SRU, 37th competition game). He will be assisted by Griffon Colby and Paul Mente (both SARU). The TMO is Lourens van der Merwe (SARU).