Carling Currie Cup:  Toyota Cheetahs vs Sigma Lions

The Toyota Cheetahs will be taking on the Sigma Lions this Saturday at 17:00 in Toyota Stadium, and Free State Rugby is excited to welcome supporters back in the stand.

Gates open at 13:00 with a club rugby match between Mangaung Rugby Club en Welkom Rovers at 13:30.

Tickets are R50 for adults and R20 for kids and are available from the ticket office.  The ticket office will also be open from 10:00 on match day.

Free parking for supporters with tickets inside the stadium.  Remember to have your vaccination certificate with QR code (you have to be fully vaccinated), ID or drivers’ licence and rugby ticket ready when you enter. 

Regulations, as prescribed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and SA Rugby’s “Guidelines for the return of spectators to sport events”, limit spectator numbers in the stadium to 2 000. 

Please note that the following has to be presented to gain entrance to the Toyota Stadium on a matchday:

• A valid rugby ticket
• A vaccination certificate (the one with the QR code) - Spectators must be fully vaccinated.
• ID document or driver’s licence
• Wear a mask at all times

MATCH DAY PROCEDURES:

• Spectators are requested to arrive early.  Gates open will close one hour after the final whistle.
• Spectators can gain entrance to the Toyota Stadium from Kingsway or Att Horak Avenue to stadium perimeter parking (“First come, first served”)
• Access points are at Gate 5 and Gate 8 and vehicle entrances in Kings Way and Att Horak with four points of control.  Spectators have to show a valid vaccination certificate, ID, match ticket and have to wear a mask.  Spectators without the required documents or without a mask will not be allowed in.
• Officials will accompany spectators to their reserved seats on the grandstand to maintain social distance.  Suite holders may only use 50% of the venue’s capacity.
• If a spectator feels ill or shows any of the Covid-19 symptoms, he/she is advised not to come to the stadium.
• Individuals that are considered high risk or are in close contact with others who are considered high risk should not attend games.
• Spectators are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitisers. 
• Spectators should be aware that all the risks posed by Covid-19 cannot be eliminated, including attending games as spectators but that essential control measures have been put in place to reduce risks for them. 
• Spectators should be advised to keep their own record of contacts at a match for potential tracing purposes.  Where practical, all spectators and attendees must download the COVID Alert SA app, for contact tracing in the event of post-event infection.
• The consumption of alcohol is not allowed inside the arena.

Visit http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/match-day for more information.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT

Coach Hawies Fourie announced his team with changes.

“Most of the changes are rotational. There is a lot of guys who trains well and we want to keep the bigger group interested and give some guys game time.  I want the guys to be sharp if we get injuries later on in the competition.  Only Rosko is out due to injury.” 

Cameron Dawson returns from injury and will be wearing the number 1 jersey, with Wilmar Arnold next to him.  Chucky van der Westhuizen will be providing cover on the bench.

Jeandre Rudolph and Andisa Ntsila switch places, with Rudolph in the starting line-up.  Malcolm Jaer replaces Rosko Specman.  The outside center is Robert Ebersohn with David Brits on reserve and Cohen Jasper on fullback.   

“I think the Lions are a really quality side.  Obviously, they’ve gone through a difficult patch but we expect a strong team to come to Bloemfontein. I think a lot of the URC guys will get the opportunity to get game time.  They play a similar brand of rugby.  It is exciting – they like to keep the ball in hand. It will be a tough test for us but we trained really well the last two weeks and I think the boys are ready for the 80 minutes on Saturday,” said Ruan Pienaar.

Toyota Cheetahs

15.          Cohen Jasper

14.          Daniel Kasende

13.          Robert Ebersohn

12.          Frans Steyn

11.          Malcolm Jaer

10.          Siya Masuku

9.            Ruan Pienaar (C) 

8.            Mihlali Mosi

7.            Jeandré Rudolph

6.            Gideon van der Merwe

5.            Victor Sekekete

4.            Aidon Davis

3.            Marne Coetzee

2.            Wilmar Arnoldi

1.            Cameron Dawson

16.          Louis van der Westhuizen

17.          Alulutho Tshakweni

18.          Conraad van Vuuren

19.          Ockie Barnard

20.          Andisa Ntsila

21.          Rewan Kruger

22.          Reinhardt Fortuin

23.          David Brits

The referee for the match is Cwengile Jadezweni. He will be assisted by Morne Ferreira and Philip Kotze.  The TMO is Ben Crouse. 

Players not available:  The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury:  George Cronjè (knee), Branden de Kock (knee), Aranos Coetzee (bicep), Rynier Bernardo (shoulder), Duncan Saal (bicep), Enver Brandt (groin) and Rosko Specman (ankle).