Kavaliers change 10 ahead of Cheetahs

Sibusiso Sangweni and Godlen Masimla are named in the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting lineup for the first time in this year’s Carling Currie Cup when the Wellington side face the Toyota Cheetahs on Sunday in Bloemfontein.

The match kicks off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Channel 211.

“A few players sustained injuries against the Lions; up front, there are Dayan [van der Westhuizen] and Darnell Osuagwu,” says Hawies Fourie, head coach of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers. “Darnell is out for about a week. Khwezi Mafu is sidelined for a week or two; Sibusiso will replace him in the starting lineup.”

This game holds a significant milestone for Fourie; it will be his 50th match as head coach of the Kavaliers since reuniting with his old team in January 2024.

“In the backline, Chris Smit has recovered from bronchitis and is ready to go; he will start at inside centre. Domenic Smit has recovered from the flu that kept him out last week, so he will start at fullback, with Jayden Bantom moving back to the left wing. We have had a good week of preparation and are looking forward to the match in Bloemfontein.”

Masimla will team up with Ashlon Davids while Chris Smit and Lunathi Nxele will form the centre combination.

Alistair Vermaak returns to the starting lineup for the first time since Round Two. Vermaak, who joined the Kavaliers after spending 15 years at neighbouring DHL Stormers and Western Province, will pack down with Joshua Eras (hooker) and Heiko Pohlmann (tighthead).

Pohlmann comes into the starting lineup after Dayan sustained an injury within seconds of last week’s kick-off. Sidney Tobias will get his first taste of this year’s Currie Cup should he be introduced off the bench. Tobias, Mthokozisi Gumede, and Dewald Maritz have all been named among the replacements providing front row cover.

Sangweni will don the number eight jersey, and teams up with Gift Dlamini and Kwanda Dimaza to form a new-look loose trio with Khwezi Mafu sidelined with a thigh injury, and Dimaza shifts from number eight to openside flank.

Marlyn Williams, who will be making his 99th appearance for the Kavaliers, will once again team up with Johnré Stopforth in the second row. Michael Benadie is named in the match-day 23 for the first time in this year’s Currie Cup; he, along with Jeandré Leonard and Thurlow Marsh, provides cover for the rest of the forward pack.

Ceres hero Bentley Geldenhuys and James Tedder will provide the cover on the bench, which head coach Hawies Fourie has gone for a 6-2 split.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Cornell Engelbrecht, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Johnré Stopforth, 3 Heiko Pohlmann, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Alistair Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Michael Benadie, 21 Thurlow Marsh, 22 Bentley Geldenhuys, 23 James Tedder

Toyota Cheetahs v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Date: Sunday, 23 August
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Time: 15:00
Referee: Morne Ferreira
AR1: Dylen November
AR2: Stiaan Marx
TMO: Marius v d Westhuizen