Cheetahs out to defend early Currie Cup lead as Round 3 line-ups confirmed

Free State Cheetahs will aim to stay top of the Currie Cup table when they travel to face Griquas on Friday night, as all fixtures and team sheets for Round 3 of the competition have been confirmed.

The Kimberley clash (19:00 SA time on Friday, 31 July) opens a weekend that also features a Stormers XXIII v Sharks XV encounter at 15:00 on Saturday, followed by Lions v Bulls at 17:05, before Boland Cavaliers host Pumas on Sunday, 2 August.

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has resisted the temptation to start Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk for the trip to Griquas, keeping faith with Rewan Kruger in the No 9 jersey despite De Klerk’s inclusion on the bench. The decision comes with the Bloemfontein side looking to maintain their strong start to the campaign.

Griquas v Cheetahs – team news

Griquas have named Stefan Coetzee at full-back for Friday’s fixture in Kimberley, with Connor Mahoney and Gurswin Wehr on the wings. Zane Bester and Mnombo Zwelendaba line up in the centres, while George Whitehead directs play from fly-half and Bobby Alexander starts at scrum-half.

In the pack, Carl Els wears the No 8 jersey, flanked by Marco de Witt at blindside and Lourens Oosthuizen at openside. Captain Albert Liebenberg and Lungisi Mbiko form the second-row pairing. Up front, Leon Lyons, Tiaan Lange and Ig Prinsloo complete the starting front row.

The Griquas bench features Janus Venter, Corne Lavagna, Ntobeko Shezi and Carel van der Merwe as forward cover, with Phumzile Maqondwana, Jack Hart, Damian Markus and Sako Makata among the replacements.

The Cheetahs respond with Henry Immelman at full-back, backed by wings Cohen Jasper and Prince Nkabinde. Carel Jan Coetzee and Jooste Nel start together in midfield. Ethan Wentzel is preferred at fly-half, with Kruger named to start at scrum-half ahead of De Klerk.

Neels Volschenk anchors the back row at No 8, supported by Juan Venter and Ramon Uys on the flanks. Captain Victor Sekekete partners Simon Miller in the second row, while Tebogo Nkosi, Juan Smal and Frankie Dos Reis form the front row.

On the bench, the Cheetahs include Marko Janse van Rensburg, Tielman Niewoudt, Ben Pitout and Daniel Maartens to bolster the forwards, with Sisonke Vumazonke, De Klerk, Jaco van der Walt and Michael Annies providing cover in the backline.

Stormers XXIII v Sharks XV – Saturday showdown

Saturday’s action begins at 15:00 when a Stormers XXIII side meets Sharks XV, with both franchises using the Currie Cup to broaden squad depth and give fringe players competitive game time.

For the Stormers XXIII, Dylan Miller starts at full-back with Suleiman Hartzenberg and Mfundo Ndhlovu occupying the wings. Markus Muller and Josh Boulle line up in the centres. Kyle Smith is selected at fly-half, while captain Stefan Ungerer takes charge at scrum-half.

In the forwards, Wandile Mlaba features at No 8, flanked by Louw Nel and Keke Morabe. Gary Porter and Tom Barnard are paired at lock. The front row consists of loose-head prop Hencus van Wyk, hooker Vernon Paulo and tight-head Herman Lubbe.

Their replacements bench includes Altus Rabie and Mhleli Khuzwayo in the front-row reserves, with Danie Kruger and Gerbrandt Grobler covering lock. Xola Nyali, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Gino Cupido and Kian Davis complete the match-day 23.

Sharks XV will field Luan Giliomee at full-back, with Christie Grobbelaar and Lyle Matthews on the wings. Marnus Potgieter and Janco Purchase combine in the centres. Experienced playmaker Tim Swiel starts at fly-half, partnered by scrum-half Ross Braude.

Captain Thomas Dyer packs down at No 8, with Danio Botha and Luaan Olivier on the flanks. Deon Slabbert and Johan Momsen start in the second row. The Sharks XV front row features Cameron Dawson at loose-head prop, Bryce Calvert at hooker and Simphiwe Ngobese at tight-head.

Among the replacements are Liam van Wyk and Rambo Kubheka for the front row, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Hanu Pieterse in the second and back row, plus Jean-Henri Smit, Juan Loots, Albie Bester and Khuthi Rasivhaga covering the backline and loose forwards.

Lions, Bulls, Boland and Pumas still to confirm line-ups

The later matches of the round are set, although team selections remain to be finalised.

Lions are scheduled to host Bulls at 17:05 on Saturday, 1 August, in a traditional Gauteng derby, but both provinces have yet to announce their 23-man squads for the fixture.

On Sunday, Boland Cavaliers will welcome Pumas, with kick-off set for 15:00. As with the Ellis Park clash, both Boland and Pumas have their line-ups listed as to be announced.

The third round therefore opens with the Cheetahs’ bid to hold on to first place and offers a platform for several union combinations to impress, particularly within the Stormers and Sharks set-ups, ahead of the remaining domestic calendar.