Carling Currie Cup Semi-Final

On Sunday, 6 September, the Toyota Cheetahs will welcome the Airlink Pumas to Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein for the Carling Currie Cup semi-final. The match kicks off at 15:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The Toyota Cheetahs finished second on the table with five wins from seven matches, securing home-ground advantage at Toyota Stadium for Sunday's semis.

The Free Staters remain one of the competition's most experienced playoff outfits. Over the past five Carling Currie Cup seasons, the Toyota Cheetahs have been regular semi-finalists and tasted championship success in 2023, when they beat the Pumas 25-17 in Bloem to clinch the Currie Cup.

The Airlink Pumas won semi-finals in both 2022 and 2023 and advanced to consecutive finals, including their triumph in 2022 when they defeated Griquas in Kimberley.

Interestingly, recent history between the teams generally favours the Toyota Cheetahs. Before last weekend's result, the Free Staters had won four of the previous five meetings between them, with last weekend's big win at Mbombela Stadium snapping a four-game losing run.

Supporters can once again look forward to an exciting matchday experience. Stadium gates open at 13:00 with kiddies entertainment at Cheetah Lane and a variety of food and beverage stalls catering for a top-class Sunday afternoon lunch. DJ Wim die Blixem provides live entertainment from 14:30 on the deck next to the field.

Toyota owners can enjoy free parking in the designated Toyota parking area at Gate 1 on Att Horak Avenue. Parking is limited, and supporters are encouraged to arrive early.

During the match, four lucky supporters will have the opportunity to participate in the Kloppers Expert Kick to Win competition, where contestants attempt to land a rugby ball into one of eight bins to reveal a hidden prize.

Tickets are available online via Ticketpro or from the Toyota Stadium ticket office. Prices are R30 for kids 12 years and younger, R90 for the open stand and R130 for the main stand.

Please note that Toyota Stadium is a cash-free facility.

Milestone:

Sisonke Vumazonke will be running onto the field for his 50^th match for the Toyota Cheetahs.

Coach Frans Steyn announced his team.

Toyota Cheetahs

1. Tebogo Nkosi

 2. Marko Janse van Rensburg

3. Frankie Dos Reis

4. Carl Wegner,

5. Victor Sekekete

6. Ramon Uys

7. Simon Miller

8. Neels Volschenk (C)

 9. Faf de Klerk

 10. Jaco van der Walt

11. Prince Nkabinde

12. Zander du Plessis

13. Carel-Jan Coetzee

14. Michael Annies

15. Cohen Jasper

Replacements

16. Stefan Venter

17. Tielman Niewoudt

18. John-Kelly Okonkwo

19. Arno van der Merwe

20. Sisonke Vumazonke (50th cap)

21. Daniel Maartens

22. Litha Nkula

 23. Marco Jansen van Vuren

Match Officials

The referee for the match is Christopher Allison. He will be assisted by Hanru van Rooyen and Jonathan Lottering. The TMO is Marius Jonker.

Players unavailable due to injury

Players unavailable due to injury: Ntokozo Makhaza (knee), Vice Hofmeyr (shoulders), Louis van der Westhuizen (ankle), Gideon van der Merwe (lower leg), Munier Hartzenberg (knee), Henry Immelman (knee), Ben Pitout (shoulder), Ethan Wentzel (shoulder), Juan Venter (chest), Juan Smal (ankle), Clayton Blommetjie (upper leg) Shaun Ray (ankle), Erich Visser (ankle).