The Toyota Cheetahs have received all three of their loan players back from Ospreys ahead of their entry into the EPCR Challenge Cup this weekend and have set their sights on the quarterfinals.
Coach Hawies Fourie lent the three players to the Welsh franchise in a new player loan agreement between the franchises, and all three are expected to play this weekend when the Cheetahs face Zebre Parma in their opening fixture.
Hooker Marnus van der Merwe, winger Daniel Kasende and scrumhalf Rewan Kruger all joined the side from Swansea where they trained with the Ospreys and two of them played in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship for the side.
Re-united with Marnus van der Merwe and Rewan Kruger in Parma! 😃🤝#EPCRChallengeCup @ToyotaSA @ChallengeCup_ pic.twitter.com/WVxrn3uJjy
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) December 6, 2023
Considering the Cheetahs used the Italian side’s base as their home for last season’s Challenge Cup, they are sure to be well-versed with the field and conditions and should make their task a bit easier.
“It was our home field last year, so we are used to the hotel, the field and the training facilities there,” Fourie said.
While the Cheetahs have not had the same level of competition as the URC sides, they have faced the Western Force in four exhibition games and won the Currie Cup last year and Fourie admits it will be a more difficult task to make the playoffs, but that this is their minimum ask this season.
“We made it to the round of 16, so I believe that will be the minimum we will be satisfied with this season.”
“It’s probably going to be a bit more difficult than last time, but we’re ready for it and will approach it week by week.”
Once again veteran Springbok Ruan Pienaar will play a massive role for the side in the fixtures.
Toyota Cheetahs' travelling squad for their first match of the 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup against Zebre Parma on Saturday.💪🐆
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) December 4, 2023
🔗: https://t.co/lYGUiZa1X8#EPCRChallengeCup@ToyotaSA @ChallengeCup_ pic.twitter.com/GkyFZA0WpK
CHEETAHS TOURING SQUAD
FORWARDS: Rynier Bernardo, Schalk Ferreira, Justin Forwood, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Daniel Maartens, Friedle Olivier, Sibabalo Qoma, Jeandre Rudolph, Victor Sekekete (captain), Alulutho Tshakweni, Henus van Wyk, Gideon van der Merwe, Marnus van der Merwe, Louis van der Westhuizen, Laurence Victor, Carl Wegner.
BACKS: Evardi Boshoff, Reinhardt Fortuin, Cohen Jasper, Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger, George Lourens, Tapiwa Mafura, Ali Mgijima, Ruan Pienaar.