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Smith announces two changes ahead of thrilling Currie Cup final

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The Toyota Cheetahs will come out on Saturday with hopes of reliving their last Currie Cup victory in 2016.

The 2019 Currie Cup final will take stage on Saturday with the Cheetahs hosting the Xerox Golden Lions at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Flanker Abongile Nonkontwana and Gerhard Olivier switch places, Olivier will now start on the number six flank.

Olivier has been playing as a lock for most of the cup campaign. Charles Marais returns from injury and will provide cover from the bench.

This is the Cheetahs 15th Currie Cup final and the eighth hosted in Bloemfontein. The two teams meet for the third time in the Currie Cup final. Coach Franco Smith has more on some of the injured players.

The sides met in the final in October of 1994 and it was the Lions known at the time as Transvaal who lifted the cup after beating the Cheetahs 56-33.

In 2007 the Cheetahs were the victorious side beating the lions 20-18 in the finals. Both matches were played in Bloemfontein. Smith has more on the mood in the camp ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Last week the Cheetahs progressed to the finals after beating the Cell C Sharks 51-30 in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs Captain Tian Meyer reiterates that communication in the field will be vital tomorrow. The stadium capacity is 46 000 and is expected to be filled to the brim on Saturday.

Saturday night’s game will be Smiths final official game at the helm of the Cheetahs. From January 2020 he joins Italy’s National Team as Head Coach.

Former University of Stellenbosch Coach, Hawies Fourie will take over the reins. Smith had this to say about the side’s upcoming Guinness Pro 14 campaign.

The match is scheduled for 17:00pm.

Report by Tshenolo Meruti

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