Sekekete, Cronjé move up in Toyota Cheetahs’ ranks

Victor Sekekete and George Cronjé will earn Carling Currie Cup honours for the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday when they line up against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in their opening match of the competition.

The defending Carling Currie Cup champions, who had a bye last week, will be determined to hit the ground running to claw their way closer to the three leading teams on the standings in the match which kicks off at 16h30. The action will play out live on SuperSport.

Sekekete, formerly of the Xerox Lions, Eastern Province and Tafel Lager Griquas, will earn his first Carling Currie Cup start for the Free Staters in a talented loose trio, while Cronjé (flank), who still played for the SA Schools side last year, is set to make his senior debut for the Toyota Cheetahs if he takes the field.

George Cronje in action for the SA Schools side last year

Carl Wegner will again lead the Free Staters after he was a late captaincy replacement for Junior Pokomela in their last match, with the latter ruled out shortly before their clash against Tafel Lager Griquas due to injury.

Toyota Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie made two injury-enforced changes to his side from their last outing late in November, with Sekekete filling the void left by Springbok Oupa Mohoje and Khutha Mchunu (prop) coming in for Hencus van Wyk.

Both of Mohoje and Van Wyk are nursing hamstring strains.

Mchunu’s call-up to the starting team made way for Erich de Jager among the replacements, while Cronjé’s inclusion sees JP du Preez, who has opted to further his career in England, drop out of the matchday squad.

Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Victor Sekekete, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Chris Massyn, 20 George Cronjé, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 William Small-Smith.

Match information – Vodacom Bulls v Toyota Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 5 December 2020
Time: 16h30
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Paul Mente
TMO: Johan Greeff
TV: SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand

Toyota Cheetahs Carling Currie Cup

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