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Cheetahs team to take on Scarlets

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    Posted: 22-Feb-2019 at 2:19pm
The Toyota Cheetahs will be facing Scarlets on Sunday afternoon in a crucial Guinness PRO14 match at the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli in Wales. 

The action kicks off at 13:00 (SA time 15:00) with live broadcast on SuperSport 1, Premier Sports, and eir Sport.

In stark contrast to the Toyota Cheetahs, who suffered their first defeat after a four-match winning run last week, the Scarlets have battled to find their rhythm, which has seen them register only one victory in their last six matches. But the Welshmen will draw inspiration from the fact that they have suffered only one defeat at home this season.

The sides will enter the match equal on log points (36) with the Scarlets boasting seven victories to the Toyota Cheetahs’ six, but while the visitors have been more effective on attack with 57 tries to the home side’s 45, the Scarlets will rely on their solid defence to keep the visitors at bay after conceding 18 fewer tries in their 15 matches.

With a number of top performers in the competition in the Toyota Cheetahs’ team, including try-scoring machine Rabz Maxwane (most tries in the competition) and Junior Pokomela (most lineout steals), the visitors have the manpower to return to their winning ways.

Coach Franco Smith said: “We expect a tough match on Sunday. Statistics show that the Scarlets score most of their points in the second half and we expect a big finish from them. It will be a hard fight for 80 minutes.”

“It is important for us to follow up with a good performance this week. We did well last week and fell short against a very good team. This week we’ll have to go a step further and be more clinical in the execution of our plans, but I feel that we took a lot of confidence from our performance against Connacht.

“The players are more used to the circumstances and conditions in Europe and we are looking forward to improve on our performance.”

“Wayne Pivac is a very experienced coach, who will be coaching the national team next year. Even without some of their players, they are well prepared and an organised group. We anticipate a huge onslaught from them.”

Coach Franco Smith has announced his team for the clash with only two changes:

· Jasper Wiese and Walt Steenkamp switch places with Steenkamp in the starting line-up.
· Dries Swanepoel and Benhard Janse van Rensburg will be the centre pair.

The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Oupa Mohoje (knee), Jamba Ulenga (neck), Joseph Dweba (hamstring), Malcolm Jaer (knee), Aidon Davis (broken leg).

Toyota Cheetahs

1. Ox Nche (36)
2. Marnus van der Merwe (3)
3. Aranos Coetzee (37)
4. Walt Steenkamp (14)
5. JP du Preez (14)
6. Abongile Nonkontwana (10)
7. Junior Pokomela (26)
8. Gerhard Olivier (15)

9. Shaun Venter (30)(C)
10. Tian Schoeman (15)
11. Rabz Maxwane (13)
12. Dries Swanepoel (2)
13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (14)
14. William Small-Smith (30)
15. Louis Fouche (9)

16. Jacques du Toit (24)
17. Reinach Venter (7)
18. Luan de Bruin (7)
19. Sintu Manjezi (8)
20. Jasper Wiese (6)
21. Henco Venter (18)
22. Rudy Paige (5)
23. Tian Meyer (26)

· Guinness PRO14 caps indicated next the player’s name.

The referee for the match is John Lacey (IRFU, 77th competition game). He will be assisted by Adam Jones (WRU) and Chris Busby (IRFU). The TMO is John Mason (WRU).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Transvaal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22-Feb-2019 at 2:22pm

Halfpenny returns to Scarlets side for crucial Cheetahs clash 

Leigh Halfpenny is set to make his first Scarlets appearance since October after being named in the side to face Toyota Cheetahs in a crucial Guinness PRO14 clash at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday (1pm kick-off).

Halfpenny has recovered from a concussion suffered on international duty with Wales during the autumn series and has been released from the national camp to play this weekend.

He is joined in the match-day 23 by fellow Wales squad members Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Jake Ball and Rhys Patchell as head coach Wayne Pivac makes four personnel changes to the side that was beaten 25-19 by Benetton last weekend.

Halfpenny’s return at full-back sees Johnny McNicholl switch to the wing in place of Steff Evans in the only change behind the scrum. Evans remains in the Welsh camp.

Up front, Jones and Elias replace Phil Price and Marc Jones, while Ball - who will captain the side - comes in to partner Josh Helps in the second row. 

The back row is the same as the one that took the field at the Stadio Monigo with South African No. 8 Uzair Cassiem going up against his former side.

On the bench, Javan Sebastian comes in to provide tight-head cover, Tom Phillips has recovered from a hamstring injury, while Sam Hidalgo-Clyne replaces Jonathan Evans, who is set to miss the rest of the season because of an ankle injury.

The Scarlets sit fifth in the Conference B standings.

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac:

“It’s a must-win game for us. I am expecting a response this weekend. It is a home game and we have a proud record at home and we want that to continue.

“I am pretty sure the boys will be up for the game and fully motivated because a lot of them are disappointed with individual performances from last weekend.

“If you look at our run-in, it isn’t too bad when you compare to other teams. Of course, we still have difficult opponents to play, but we are in Wales which is in our favour. Everyone likes playing at home and we have four out of our last six games at home and one at a neutral venue.

“The Cheetahs kick the ball the least so they like to play, they have some genuine speed, they score a lot of points and they concede a lot of points.

“For us, it is about being disciplined; our defensive effort has to be better than it was against Benetton and we have to make sure we win those physical exchanges when we have ball in hand so we can unleash our backs who we believe are pretty potent.”

SCARLETS v Cheetahs (Sunday, February 24, 2019; Parc y Scarlets 1pm KO)

Leigh Halfpenny; Johnny McNicholl, Kieron Fonotia, Paul Asquith, Ioan Nicholas; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Werner Kruger, Jake Ball (capt), Josh Helps, Josh Macleod, Dan Davis, Uzair Cassiem.

Replacements: Marc Jones, Phil Price, Javan Sebastian, Lewis Rawlins, Tom Phillips, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Rhys Patchell, Steff Hughes.


Players unavailable because of injury

Jonathan Evans (ankle); James Davies (foot), Steve Cummins (shoulder), Blade Thomson (concussion), Angus O’Brien (knee), Aaron Shingler (knee), Taylor Davies (hamstring), Corey Baldwin (ankle), David Bulbring (ankle/knee).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote valie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22-Feb-2019 at 2:50pm
Sjo, twee scrummies op die bank... lyk my hulle wil die pap dik aanmaak...LOL
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