Official Pro14 Match Thread - Cheetahs vs Munster

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 2:47 pm

Venue: Free State Stadium Bloemfontein

Cheetahs

Coach: Rory Duncan
Captain: Francois Venter
Team: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Niel Marais, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tian Meyet, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha, 19, Rynier Bernardo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 AJ Coertzen

VS

Munster

Coach: Johann van Graan
Captain: Peter O’Mahony
Team: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Dan Goggin, 11 Darren Sweetnam, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 James Hart, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Billy Holland, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Brian Scott

Substitutes: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Dave O’Callaghan, 20 Conor Oliver, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Rory Scannell

Officials:
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Lloyd Linton (Scotland), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Kick off: Friday 13 April 2018 19h35 (local)

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:23 pm

Munster have secured their place in the Pro14 play-offs with a bonus point 39-22 win over the Southern Kings over the weekend.

By the same token, the Cheetahs need just a victory this week against Munster or next week against the Kings to advance to the knockout rounds.

Wins over both teams, and a Munster loss to Ulster next week, could mean that the Cheetahs will get to play at home.

The last time these two sides met was on 9 September at Thomond Park in Limerick, in what was just the Cheetahs' second ever game in the Pro14, after making their European debut a week prior against Ulster in Belfast.

On the day the winger Alex Wootton scored four tries a ruthless Munster thrashed the Cheetahs 51-18.

The South African-born Irish loose-forward, CJ Stander, says this time it will be a different story as the Cheetahs won’t be a walk-over in Bloemfontein.

“It will be another physical battle, only one team has been able to beat them up there (Glasgow Warriors). They know how to use the pitch and the stadium to their advantage.

“At altitude, it is going to be a challenge, so we have a big game up there next week. We know that they are physical and their backs can punish you.

“To be on top of our game we must make sure that we sort out the injuries and get the bodies sorted out for next week."

Munster are spending the week in Cape Town again, as was the case before their game against the Kings in George.

They will be arriving in Bloemfontein on Thursday ahead of the all-important fixture. There is a very good chance that Stander as well as a few of the other senior players won’t be playing against the Cheetahs due to their European Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92 at Stade Chaban-Delmas, in Bordeaux.

Sards · Post by **Sards** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:32 pm

Tough one for Cheetahs
Good luck lads

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 4:34 pm

Sards wrote:Tough one for Cheetahs
Good luck lads

Not so sure about that. Munster will rest most of their first teamers with the Euro semi final the following week. They wont want them playing a tough game at altitude the week before.

ticketlessinseattle · Post by **ticketlessinseattle** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 5:42 pm

We'll give you the win if you don't break any of our lads.....signed, Munster management and supporters

Wilson's Toffee · Post by **Wilson's Toffee** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 5:54 pm

Thank you Average Joe, nice match Fred. High time somebody call attention to these teams, too.

Tough game coming up. Hope Cheetahs can swing it.

saffer13 · Post by **saffer13** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:07 pm

Cheetahs making it to the playoffs in their debut season can only be a good thing. Hoping for a win.

Chilli · Post by **Chilli** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:25 pm

I've sort of been following this. Cheetahs have been good value for money.

Hak Vrystaat Hak!

Munster-fogs · Post by **Munster-fogs** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:38 pm

Coach: Johann van Graan
Captain: Dave O’Callaghan
Team: TBA

Eh?

Jensrsa · Post by **Jensrsa** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 10:14 pm

Johan Goosen to start for the Cheetahs apparently

saffer13 · Post by **saffer13** » Tue Apr 10, 2018 10:43 pm

Jensrsa wrote:Johan Goosen to start for the Cheetahs apparently

Draad is that you?

Chilli · Post by **Chilli** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:02 am

saffer13 wrote:Cheetahs making it to the playoffs in their debut season can only be a good thing. Hoping for a win.

Jensrsa · Post by **Jensrsa** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:39 am

saffer13 wrote:
Jensrsa wrote:Johan Goosen to start for the Cheetahs apparently
Draad is that you?

https://www.netwerk24.com/Sport/Rugby/g ... d-20180410

redderneck · Post by **redderneck** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:30 am

This should be another home win for the Cheetahs. Just don't break any of our young lads, pretty please. At the rate we've been shipping injuries this season we're going to be raiding kindergartens for players.

On the other hand, if someone could provide us with a list of kindergartens in the area we'd be very grateful.

assfly · Post by **assfly** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:33 am

Yea must be pretty tough going for Irish rugby fans. Under-performing in Europe, under-performing in 6N. Let's hope a win against South Africa's finest will lift their spirits.

Wilson's Toffee · Post by **Wilson's Toffee** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:43 am

assfly wrote:Yea must be pretty tough going for Irish rugby fans. Under-performing in Europe, under-performing in 6N. Let's hope a win against South Africa's finest will lift their spirits.

Saffer coach for Munster. Johan van Graan.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:54 am

fogerty wrote:
Coach: Johann van Graan
Captain: Dave O’Callaghan
Team: TBA
Eh?

He was the last captain or so I read. I might have gotten it wrong.

Chilli · Post by **Chilli** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:13 am

assfly wrote:Yea must be pretty tough going for Irish rugby fans. Under-performing in Europe, under-performing in 6N. Let's hope a win against South Africa's finest will lift their spirits.

They are indeed South Africa's finest in this competition.

saffer13 · Post by **saffer13** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:20 pm

Jensrsa wrote:
saffer13 wrote:
Jensrsa wrote:Johan Goosen to start for the Cheetahs apparently
Draad is that you?
https://www.netwerk24.com/Sport/Rugby/g ... d-20180410

Your source is a lot more reliable than draad's.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:52 am

So far this new venture has done very little to stem the tide of players leaving. In fact its seems to have just made it easer I mean even Blommetjies got a contract.

assfly · Post by **assfly** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 9:08 am

Average Joe wrote:So far this new venture has done very little to stem the tide of players leaving. In fact its seems to have just made it easer I mean even Blommetjies got a contract.

Yes it does appear to make going for interviews a lot easier.

Jensrsa · Post by **Jensrsa** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 10:17 am

Average Joe wrote:So far this new venture has done very little to stem the tide of players leaving. In fact its seems to have just made it easer I mean even Blommetjies got a contract.

It has increased it with more players going to NH clubs

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 10:33 am

Blommetjies leaving is a win for SA Rugby.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:28 pm

So far from the Cheetahs camp: Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Uzair Cassiem, Tom Botha and Rory Duncan the coach.
The Kings have managed to steal back Super Sarel from Newport Gwent Dragons though. Have they lost any players so far?
Even the Bulls have joined the migration with Dries Swanepoel joining Munster on a short term deal (subject to him getting a valid work permit)

Jensrsa · Post by **Jensrsa** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:52 pm

Toyota Cheetahs

15 Clayton Blommetjies
14 William Small-Smith
13 Francois Venter ( C)
12 Niel Marais
11 Sibahle Maxwane
10 Johan Goosen
9 Tian Meyer

1 Ox Nche
2 Torsten van Jaarsveld
3 Johan Coetzee
4 Carl Wegner
5 Reniel Hugo
6 Paul Schoeman
7 Oupa Mohoje
8 Uzair Cassiem

16 Jacques du Toit
17 Charles Marais
18 Tom Botha
19 Rynier Bernardo
20 Henco Venter
21 Zee Mkhabela
22 Clinton Swart
23 AJ Coertzen

saffer13 · Post by **saffer13** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:54 pm

Goosen is baaaaccckkkkk!

Wish he was staying in SA though.

Jensrsa · Post by **Jensrsa** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:54 pm

Average Joe wrote:
So far from the Cheetahs camp: Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Uzair Cassiem, Tom Botha and Rory Duncan the coach.
The Kings have managed to steal back Super Sarel from Newport Gwent Dragons though. Have they lost any players so far?
Even the Bulls have joined the migration with Dries Swanepoel joining Munster on a short term deal (subject to him getting a valid work permit)

The Cheetahs on Tuesday announced that they have finalised and signed 23 player contracts.

New names added to the PRO14 franchise’s list include flyhalves Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Louis Fouche and loose forward Aidon Davis.

Janse van Rensburg, who joined the Cheetahs on Tuesday, was signed from the Sharks, while Fouche will join the Cheetahs at the start of July when he returns from the Kubota Spears in Japan.

Davis, a former Junior Springbok and Southern Kings player, will join from French club Toulon, also on July 1.

Besides the above-mentioned trio, 20 more players extended their contracts with the Cheetahs for the 2018/19 PRO14 season or beyond.

They are: Dian Badenhorst, Jacques du Toit, Luan de Bruin, JP du Preez, Lloyd Greeff, Elandre Huggett, Malcolm Jaer, Nico Lee, Daniel Martens, Sibahle 'Rabz' Maxwane, Tian Meyer, Ali Mgijima, Junior Pokomela, Sibabalo Qoma, William Small-Smith, Ernst Stapelberg, Boan Venter, Reinach Venter, Shaun Venter, Dennis Visser.

The Cheetahs also announced that more signings would be announced in due course.

“Currently more negotiations with senior players in the present group and from outside the province, are taking place and will soon be finalised,” the union said via a press statement.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/PRO14/c ... s-20180403

Coach will be Franco Smith

saffer13 · Post by **saffer13** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:56 pm

That's good news for the Cheetahs. The Kings better be signing a few players as well.

Read a rumor that they are interested in Scarra.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:16 pm

Jensrsa wrote:
Average Joe wrote:
So far from the Cheetahs camp: Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Uzair Cassiem, Tom Botha and Rory Duncan the coach.
The Kings have managed to steal back Super Sarel from Newport Gwent Dragons though. Have they lost any players so far?
Even the Bulls have joined the migration with Dries Swanepoel joining Munster on a short term deal (subject to him getting a valid work permit)

The Cheetahs on Tuesday announced that they have finalised and signed 23 player contracts.

New names added to the PRO14 franchise’s list include flyhalves Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Louis Fouche and loose forward Aidon Davis.

Janse van Rensburg, who joined the Cheetahs on Tuesday, was signed from the Sharks, while Fouche will join the Cheetahs at the start of July when he returns from the Kubota Spears in Japan.

Davis, a former Junior Springbok and Southern Kings player, will join from French club Toulon, also on July 1.

Besides the above-mentioned trio, 20 more players extended their contracts with the Cheetahs for the 2018/19 PRO14 season or beyond.

They are: Dian Badenhorst, Jacques du Toit, Luan de Bruin, JP du Preez, Lloyd Greeff, Elandre Huggett, Malcolm Jaer, Nico Lee, Daniel Martens, Sibahle 'Rabz' Maxwane, Tian Meyer, Ali Mgijima, Junior Pokomela, Sibabalo Qoma, William Small-Smith, Ernst Stapelberg, Boan Venter, Reinach Venter, Shaun Venter, Dennis Visser.

The Cheetahs also announced that more signings would be announced in due course.

“Currently more negotiations with senior players in the present group and from outside the province, are taking place and will soon be finalised,” the union said via a press statement.
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/PRO14/c ... s-20180403

Coach will be Franco Smith

Yep, this news is more than a week old though. We also have the great Springbok Rudi Paige joining us for three months.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:17 pm

Jensrsa wrote:
Average Joe wrote:
So far from the Cheetahs camp: Francois Venter, Clayton Blommetjies, Uzair Cassiem, Tom Botha and Rory Duncan the coach.
The Kings have managed to steal back Super Sarel from Newport Gwent Dragons though. Have they lost any players so far?
Even the Bulls have joined the migration with Dries Swanepoel joining Munster on a short term deal (subject to him getting a valid work permit)

The Cheetahs on Tuesday announced that they have finalised and signed 23 player contracts.

New names added to the PRO14 franchise’s list include flyhalves Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Louis Fouche and loose forward Aidon Davis.

Janse van Rensburg, who joined the Cheetahs on Tuesday, was signed from the Sharks, while Fouche will join the Cheetahs at the start of July when he returns from the Kubota Spears in Japan.

Davis, a former Junior Springbok and Southern Kings player, will join from French club Toulon, also on July 1.

Besides the above-mentioned trio, 20 more players extended their contracts with the Cheetahs for the 2018/19 PRO14 season or beyond.

They are: Dian Badenhorst, Jacques du Toit, Luan de Bruin, JP du Preez, Lloyd Greeff, Elandre Huggett, Malcolm Jaer, Nico Lee, Daniel Martens, Sibahle 'Rabz' Maxwane, Tian Meyer, Ali Mgijima, Junior Pokomela, Sibabalo Qoma, William Small-Smith, Ernst Stapelberg, Boan Venter, Reinach Venter, Shaun Venter, Dennis Visser.

The Cheetahs also announced that more signings would be announced in due course.

“Currently more negotiations with senior players in the present group and from outside the province, are taking place and will soon be finalised,” the union said via a press statement.
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/PRO14/c ... s-20180403

Coach will be Franco Smith

Yep, this news is more than a week old though. We also have the great Springbok Rudi Paige joining us for three months.

Lazy Couch potato · Post by **Lazy Couch potato** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:28 pm

Saffers has there been much of a drop off in local interest in the cheetahs since the pro14 move. Given how they had haenorraged players initially I think they’ve done well to be still going strong at this stage. They’ll add a decent amount to the league if they can keep players.

Wilson's Toffee · Post by **Wilson's Toffee** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:35 pm

Lazy Couch potato wrote:Saffers has there been much of a drop off in local interest in the cheetahs since the pro14 move. Given how they had haenorraged players initially I think they’ve done well to be still going strong at this stage. They’ll add a decent amount to the league if they can keep players.

This. It is their weakest point. That and sucking at the hind tit in SA rugby.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:37 pm

In personal circles there's not many that I know that follow the Cheetahs but then I'm in Bull's country and can’t speak for the Free State lot.

Lazy Couch potato · Post by **Lazy Couch potato** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:38 pm

Out of interest why do they struggle more than the stormer or bulls or sharks. Smaller local market? Sounds like a proper conveyor belt of local talent.

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:43 pm

Lazy Couch potato wrote:Out of interest why do they struggle more than the stormer or bulls or sharks. Smaller local market? Sounds like a proper conveyor belt of local talent.

Nepotism.

Average Joe · Post by **Average Joe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:45 pm

Lazy Couch potato wrote:Out of interest why do they struggle more than the stormer or bulls or sharks. Smaller local market? Sounds like a proper conveyor belt of local talent.

We cant compete financially. Some of the best players in SA rugby came from the Free State but unfortunately the bigger unions snap them up while they are still in their nappies.

assfly · Post by **assfly** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:20 pm

Lazy Couch potato wrote:Saffers has there been much of a drop off in local interest in the cheetahs since the pro14 move. Given how they had haenorraged players initially I think they’ve done well to be still going strong at this stage. They’ll add a decent amount to the league if they can keep players.

Chilli has done a great job of waving the flag for the Cheetahs. I admire his fortitude

saffer13 · Post by **saffer13** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:29 pm

assfly wrote:
Lazy Couch potato wrote:Saffers has there been much of a drop off in local interest in the cheetahs since the pro14 move. Given how they had haenorraged players initially I think they’ve done well to be still going strong at this stage. They’ll add a decent amount to the league if they can keep players.
Chilli has done a great job of waving the flag for the Cheetahs. I admire his fortitude

He's a Bulls fan now

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:31 pm

assfly wrote:
Lazy Couch potato wrote:Saffers has there been much of a drop off in local interest in the cheetahs since the pro14 move. Given how they had haenorraged players initially I think they’ve done well to be still going strong at this stage. They’ll add a decent amount to the league if they can keep players.
Chilli has done a great job of waving the flag for the Cheetahs. I admire his fortitude

Mostly a white flag tho...

Wilson's Toffee · Post by **Wilson's Toffee** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:47 pm

Average Joe wrote:In personal circles there's not many that I know that follow the Cheetahs but then I'm in Bull's country and can’t speak for the Free State lot.

Well, I am all alone here in Warmbad, lone Free State supporter in Bulls' paradise.

Edit: In Soup Rugby I support the Lions. And always the Boks. That is more than enough ..