Cheetahs v Western Force - Teams and Prediction

01/09/2023 10:54

PREVIEW: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie admitted it is difficult to simulate European conditions in Bloemfontein and Perth, so he will use Saturday's game to give a whole batch of different players some much-needed game time. The Cheetahs edged the Force 31-27 in the first of four outings last Friday. Apart from giving a group of players game time, against a young and under-strength touring team from Australia, Fourie got some early answers ahead of a second season in the European Challenge Cup. The Cheetahs coach feels the real value of this challenge series will only come to fruition when they travel to Pert for rounds three and four, in late September and early October. There were a few injury concerns after last Friday's hit-out - with Evardi Boshoff (shoulder), Sibabalo Qoma (hamstring) and Hencus van Wyk (hamstring) main concerns. Having left a substantial number of their quality players back in Perth, sending a very inexperienced - albeit enthusiastic - team to Bloemfontein, the Cheetahs are also using the game as a trial. *Article continues below... "When we get to Perth, we will face a very different team," Fourie told @rugby365com. "We will field a very different team [for Saturday's return fixture] and afterwards select a 27-man touring squad for the trip to Perth." He said they will have to improve in a lot of areas, especially on defence. "That [defence] is an attitude thing," the coach said. Given the contrasting conditions they face in Bloemfontein and Perth, it won't be ideal preparation for their second stint in Europe. "We will play according to the conditions. We will work on our attack and continuity, while our skills have to improve. "We also missed a lot of tackles, because we did have the linespeed we required." The Cheetahs will look for a much-improved performance on Saturday. All four of the Cheetahs tries in the round one encounter came from mauls, while the Force were much better in playing an expansive game. "We were not happy with the performance, but we are glad that we could pull it through," said Fourie. Prediction @rugby365com: Cheetahs by five points Teams Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Raegan Oranje, 13 David Brits, 12 Abner van Reenen, 11 Marcell Muller, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (Captain), 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Zito Victor Sekekete, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Friedle Olivier, 22 Ruan Pienaar, 23 Robert Ebersohn Western Force: TBC Date: Saturday, September 2 Venue: Venue: Bloemfontein Stadium, Free State Kick-off: 15.00 (21.00 AWST, 13.00 GMT) Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni. Assistant referees: Christopher Allison and Griffin Colby TMO: Quinton Immelman.