The Toyota Cheetahs will play in their 24^th Currie Cup semi-final when they take on the Vodacom Bulls in Toyota Stadium on Saturday, 17 June.

This will be the two team’s fourth Currie Cup semi-final encounter. The Free State’s first Currie Cup semi-final was against the Northern Transvaal on 21 August 1954 when Northern Transvaal beat the Free State 9-8 at Springbokpark in Bloemfontein. Fifty-four years later, the sides met in a semi-final on 13 October 2007 when the Cheetah beat the Bulls 11-6 in Bloemfontein, and the following year the Bulls were victorious, winning 31-19 at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria. A 19-year-old Robert Ebersohn was part of the Cheetah team in 2008.

Gates open at 11:00 with a curtain raiser between Trio u.9 and Jim Fouche u.9 at 13:00. The main game starts at 15:00 and will be live on SuperSport.   

After the match, supporters can enjoy a live performance by Adam Tas at the Castle Deck while watching the Currie Cup semi-final between the Cell C Sharks and Airlink Pumas on a big screen.

Tickets are R150 for the main stand, R100 for the open stand, and R50 for students and kids.

To celebrate  Youth Day, buy a ticket for a child (age 3 – 18) and get one free. The offer is only valid until Friday, 16 June 2023, and only when purchasing tickets from the ticket office. Tickets are available online at www.ticketpro.co.za.

Free parking is available inside Toyota Stadium if you drive a Toyota and have a valid match ticket at hand. It is important to note that the entrance is only from Att Horak Avenue. First come, first served. This is to allow traffic around the stadium to run smoothly. Ample parking is available at the Loch Logan Waterfront and around the stadium.

Supporters are urged to come early to avoid waiting in line.

“Engo Blikkie vir Bloem”

Not only will the Toyota Cheetahs put their bodies on the line for the fans, but they will also be opening their hearts for a good cause.

Supporters are encouraged to bring a can of food to the game on Saturday. There will be points at all the gates where donations can be dropped off. The proceeds will go to Engo. Engo is a non-profit and non-governmental welfare organisation that works mainly in the Free State and provides care and counselling to children, families, the elderly, the disabled, and patients in need. 

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  • Not allowed into Toyota Stadium:
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• Weapons or objects which can compromise public safety, liquor or drugs, raw meat, cameras (still or video), animals, fireworks, no excessive noise, megaphones, hooters or gas-powered horns, vuvuzelas not allowed. 

Toyota Cheetahs' flyhalf marks his 50^th game

On Saturday, Reinhardt Fortuin will run onto the field in his 50th match for the Toyota Cheetahs against the Bulls. 

“Well, after joining the Cheetahs in 2020 during Covid, it was kind of strange starting my professional career and not knowing when we would be playing again, especially after losing our spot in PRO14. My journey did not start as envisioned, but I am very happy at the Cheetahs. So, to be here playing my 50^th game for the team after three years is surreal,” said the flyhalf.

“I feel fortunate to play the game I loved from when I was a young boy and to make friends that would last a lifetime.”

Reinhart had the unique distinction of representing the University of Stellenbosch Maties in the Varsity Cup in rugby and cricket (2017).

Team Announcement

Coach Hawies Fourie on last week’s match against the Bulls:

“The biggest thing was the number of penalties we conceded. We must be sharp and well-disciplined this week. There will always be penalties, and there will always be mistakes, but how we react to those will determine the outcome of the game.”

“Last weekend, we conceded penalties and had to defend our try line with our lives, which we did. That gave us a lot of confidence. I’m pretty sure the Bulls will devise plans to try and break our defence. This will be a new game, and we start from scratch,”

“I feel if we have a full Toyota Stadium and with the support behind us, we will not have a slow start. The way we trained this week, we want to do things a bit faster and be switched on from the start.”

“We would love it if we could fill the stadium. It is a special game against the Bulls. Semi-finals don’t come often, so we must make the most of it as a team. We want our support to come in thousands, dressed in orange and behind the team.”

The only change to the starting line-up is Ruan Pienaar, who will be starting on flyhalf. Siya Masuku is suffering from an injury.

Toyota Cheetahs

15.       Tapiwa Mafura

14.        Daniel Kasende

13.        David Brits

12.        Reinhardt Fortuin

11.        Cohen Jasper

10.        Ruan Pienaar                                                      

9.           Rewan Kruger

8.           Friedle Olivier

7.           Siba Qoma

6.           Gideon van der Merwe

5.           Victor Sekekete (C )

4.           Rynier Bernardo

3.           Conraad van Vuuren

2.           Marnus van der Merwe

1.           Schalk Ferreira

16.        Louis van der Westhuizen

17.        Alulutho Tshakweni

18.        Hencus van Wyk

19.        Jeandre Rudolph

20.        George Cronje

21.        Daniel Maartens

22.        Evardi Boshoff

23.        Robert Ebersohn

The referee for the match is Cwengile Jadezweni. He will be assisted by Amiee Barett-Theron and Dylen November. TMO is Egon Seconds.

Players not available: Enver Brandt (knee), Frans Steyn (knee), Aranos Coetzee (quad), Munier Hartzenberg (knee), Branden de Kock (knee), Siya Masuku (calf)

Results of previous Free State / Cheetahs Currie Cup semi-finals

1.   21/8/1954    – Bloemfontein: N-Tvl 9 FS 8

2.   15/9/1973    – Cape Town: FS 19 WP 15

3.   26/9/1981    – Springs: FS 28 O-Tvl 15

4.   29/9/1984    – Durban: KZN 26 FS 15

5.   19/10/1996  – Durban: KZN 35 FS 20

6.   18/10/1997  – Durban: FS 40 KZN 22

7.   4/9/1999      – Durban: KZN 45 VS 8

8.   21/10/2000  – Durban: KZN 29 VS 15

9.   20/10/2001  – Cape Town: WP 40 Cheetahs 18

10.   19/10/2002  – Bloemfontein: Lionss 43 Cheetahs 29

11.   16/10/2004  – Cape Town: Cheetahs 17 WP 11

12.   15/10/2005  – Cape Town: Cheetahs 16 WP 11

13.   7/10/2006    – Bloemfontein: Cheetahs 30 KZN 14

14.   13/10/2007  – Bloemfontein: Cheetahs 11 BB 6

15.   11/10/2008  – Pretoria: BB 31 Cheetahs 19

16.   17/10/2009  – Durban: Cheetahs 23 KZN 21

17.   16/10/2010  – Cape Town: WP 31 Cheetahs 7

18.   22/10/2011  – Durban: KZN 20 Cheetahs 13

19.   19/10/2013  – Durban: KZN 33 Cheetahs 22

20.   17/10/2015  – Johannesburg: Lions 43 Cheetahs 33

21.   15/10/2016  – Bloemfontein: Cheetahs 55 Lions 17

22.   31/8/2019    – Bloemfontein: Cheetahs 51 KZN 30

23.   18/6/2022    – Bloemfontein: Pumas 38 Cheetahs 35

So far, the Free State /Toyota Cheetahs have won 10 of their 23 Currie Cup semi-finals. This will be their eighth Currie Cup semi-final hosted in Bloemfontein. They have a good home record, winning four of the eight.

STATISTICS BY FRIKKIE JANSE VAN RENSBURG