Milestone for South Africa and Toyota Cheetahs’ Aranos Coetzee

Johan (Aranos) Coetzee will be the first South African player to earn his 50^th Guinness PRO14 cap for a South African side when the Toyota Cheetahs take on Leinster on Saturday.  

Coach Hawies Fourie believes that Coetzee is a key member of his side at the moment and the calmness he gives the side in the setpiece has seen it become one of their attacking weapons, and certainly one they will need to use on Saturday in Dublin.  

Action at the RDS Arena in Dublin kicks off at 16:30 (SA time) with a live broadcast on SuperSport 2, Premier Sports, eir sport, DAZN and pro14.tv

Fourie only made one change to the Toyota Cheetahs team with Gerhard Olivier returning from injury, replacing Daniel Maartens on the bench.  

While they will be firm underdogs given Leinster’s form, Fourie believes that the key factor for his team is their attitude and whether they give themselves a chance against a Leinster side missing some Irish internationals.

“We are going there with the knowledge they are the strongest team in the competition, but we know if we pitch up on the day, then we will have a chance to win. And if you don’t think you have a chance to win, then you might as well not be in this competition.”

Leinster vs Toyota Cheetahs, Saturday, 15 February 2020, 14:30 (16:30 SA time)

1 Charles Marais; 2 Joseph Dweba;  3 Aranos Coetzee;  4 Walt Steenkamp;  5 JP du Preez;  6  Chris Massyn;  7 Junior Pokomela;  8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Ruan Pienaar (Captain);  10 Tian Schoeman; 11 Rabz Maxwane; 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg; 13 William Small-Smith; 14 Clayton Blommetjies; 15 Rhyno Smith.

Replacements: 

16 Wilmar Arnoldi;  17 Boan Venter;   18 Luan de Bruin; 19 Aidon Davis; 20 Gerhard Olivier; 21 Tian Meyer; 22.Louis Fouche; 23.Chris Smit.

Players not available:  The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury:  Justin Basson (knee), Marnus van der Merwe (knee), Oupa Mohoje (knee) and Sintu Manjezi (shoulder).

Match officials:  The referee for the match is Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 65^th Championship Appearance).  He will be assisted by Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU) and Gwyn Morris (WRU).  The TMO is Ian Davies (WRU).      

Next match:  Ulster vs Toyota Cheetahs, Saturday, 22 February 2020 at 21:35 (SA time) at The Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.