Four Springbok players will make their Currie Cup debut for coach Frans Steyn’s Cheetahs against Boland in Wellington on Sunday.
Four players will make their Currie Cup debut for coach Frans Steyn’s Cheetahs against Boland in Wellington on Sunday.
Steyn has stuck with the match 23 that beat Georgia 24-20 two weeks ago, with wings Ntokozo Makhaza and Banie Britz and props Frankie dos Reis and Ben Pitout set to make their first appearances in the domestic competition.
Makhaza, the 2025 Varsity Cup Player of the Season, scored two tries against Georgia.
You can see there is something special about Makhaza, he is an awesome asset to have in our squad,” Steyn said. “The biggest thing for me is his mindset off the field. I’m very happy that we can have someone special like him here with us
Backs Munier Hartzenberg (hamstring), George Lourens (forearm), Prince Nkabinde (thumb) and Michael Annies (foot), as well as forwards Carl Wegner (hamstring), John Kelly Okonkwo (knee), Dux Manyama (hamstring) and Tielman Niewoudt (back) were not considered due to injury.
CHEETAHS – 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Frankie dos Reis, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Bench: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jandré Nel, 22 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Under Steyn’s guidance, the Cheetahs have adopted a style of play that blends high-paced attacking flair with a strong, structured forward game — a combination that proved lethal during their recent Currie Cup run. With a squad that thrives on cohesion and continuity, Steyn believes that consistency in strategy and personnel will be key to maintaining momentum.
“We’ve built a culture of trust and simplicity,” said Steyn. “The players know the system inside out. Our focus now is to fine-tune, not overhaul.”
The Cheetahs have retained the core of their squad, including key players like Ruan Pienaar, Andisa Ntsila, and captain Victor Sekekete, while integrating younger talent like Cohen Jasper and Rewan Kruger. This blend of experience and youth ensures depth and adaptability across all positions.
Steyn has also emphasized the importance of physical fitness and mental resilience during preseason. Conditioning sessions have intensified, with the coaching staff prioritizing sharpness and discipline in both attack and defense.
