Unbeaten Ulster have a chance to extend their slim lead at the top of Conference B of the GUINNESS PRO14 when they finish off their early season South Africa tour by visiting the Toyota Cheetahs.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, September 21
TOYOTA CHEETAHS (7th, Con A) v ULSTER (1st, Con B), Toyota Stadium, 7.15pm local time/6.15pm Irish time (live SuperSport 1/Premier Sports/BBC Radio Ulster 1341 MW/deferred eir Sport 1&2)
Team News: Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy players Eric O’Sullivan and Angus Kernohan are set to make their first starts for Ulster after producing impressive performances off the bench in recent weeks, including in last Sunday’s 28-7 win over the Isuzu Southern Kings.
The four other newcomers to the team this week are tighthead prop Wiehahn Herbst, blindside flanker Matthew Rea, scrum half David Shanahan and full-back Will Addison, who was a late withdrawal before the Kings game due to illness.
O’Sullivan and Herbst will pack down in the front row alongside captain Rob Herring, while Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell are retained in the second row. The selection of Rea sees a slight reshuffle in the back row, with the in-form Marcell Coetzee moving to number 8, while Sean Reidy stays in the number 7 jersey.
Shanahan comes in at scrum half for John Cooney, who sustained a head injury during the three-try victory in Port Elizabeth, and he will partner Billy Burns at half-back. Henry Speight shifts to the centre to play alongside Stuart McCloskey, so the 19-year-old Kernohan, who scored his first senior try as a replacement against the Kings, gets an opportunity from the start. Addison and Craig Gilroy complete the starting back-line.
Forwards John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Jean Deysel and Nick Timoney will hope to provide head coach Dan McFarland with plenty of impact off the bench. Jonny Stewart is poised to make his first appearance of the season if called upon, while fellow backs Angus Curtis and Darren Cave are also in the matchday 23.
Meanwhile, head coach Franco Smith has made two personnel changes for the visit of Ulster. Prop Ox Nche and number 8 Niell Jordaan are both promoted from the bench following last week’s 52-24 home loss to Glasgow Warriors.
The Cheetahs picked up a point in that game thanks to tries from backs William Small-Smith, Malcolm Jaer (2) and Nico Lee. Loosehead Nche swaps place with Charles Marais who provides cover this time around, while the injured Aidon Davis makes way for Jordaan at the base of the scrum.
Stephan Malan and Louis Fouche are poised to make their PRO14 debuts off the bench, while captain Oupa Mohoje, who suffered an ACL tear in his right knee against Munster, heads up a lengthy injury list for the Cheetahs. Dries Swanepoel (shoulder), Erich de Jager (bicep), Quintin Vorster (ankle), Jasper Wiese (shoulder) and Lloyd Greeff (ankle) are also currently sidelined.
TOYOTA CHEETAHS: Malcolm Jaer; William Small-Smith, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Nico Lee, Rabz Maxwane; Tian Schoeman, Tian Meyer (capt); Ox Nche, Jospeh Dweba, Aranos Coetzee, Walt Steenkamp, JP du Preez, Gerhard Olivier, Junior Pokomela, Niell Jordaan.
Replacements: Jacques du Toit, Charles Marais, Günther Janse van Vuuren, Justin Basson, Stephan Malan, Shaun Venter, Louis Fouche, Ryno Eksteen.
ULSTER: Will Addison; Craig Gilroy, Henry Speight, Stuart McCloskey, Angus Kernohan; Billy Burns, David Shanahan; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee;
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Jean Deysel, Nick Timoney, Jonny Stewart, Angus Curtis, Darren Cave.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Television Match Official: Johan Greeffe (South Africa)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Toyota Cheetahs to win: 11/5; Draw: 19/1; Ulster to win: 4/11
Pre-Match Quotes: Wiehahn Herbst (Ulster) – “I never thought I was going to be at a provincial team in Ireland and then come to play against fellow South African teams in South Africa, so it’s been a nice change. All the South African guys really like it and it’s a chance to see family and friends that are close by.
“I think (touring) is really good. You get a lot of time to get to know each other in different ways and in a different environment, especially around the fire in the evening – everyone is sitting around talking and getting to know each together and learn from each other a bit more..
“We have a couple of Academy players on the trip and quite a few others who have just graduated out of that system, so it’s a chance for us to get to know them and vice-versa. The new signings have also found it very beneficial too.
“It’ll be an interesting game. The Cheetahs are always a class side when they’re at home. At altitude when they start throwing the ball around, it’ll be tough. It’s difficult for any team that comes here, they’re not used to the altitude and then the Cheetahs play that expansive rugby. But we’re well prepared, so hopefully we can do the job.”
Tian Meyer (Toyota Cheetahs) – “Toyota Stadium is our home ground and pride and we really don’t want to disappoint at home. We want to play the supporters back into the stands. We’ve grown a lot since the first match of the season and have a lot of potential. We grow in different aspects of the game. We hope that this time things will come together and that we will put out a good performance on Friday.”
Top Scorers – 2018/19 GUINNESS PRO14: Toyota Cheetahs – Points: Malcolm Jaer 2; Tries: Malcolm Jaer 2; Ulster – Points: John Cooney 44; Tries: Craig Gilroy, Will Addison, John Cooney, Marcell Coetzee, Angus Kernohan, Angus Curtis 1 each
2018/19 TEAM FORM: Toyota Cheetahs – Played 3, Lost 3, 1 Point; L 38-0 v Munster (away), L 46-14 v Ospreys (away), L 52-24 v Glasgow Warriors (home); Ulster – Played 3, Won 3, 12 Points; W 15-13 v Scarlets (home), W 30-29 v Edinburgh (home), W 28-7 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETING:
Friday, September 1, 2017 – Ulster 42 Toyota Cheetahs 19, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– The Toyota Cheetahs have lost their last four GUINNESS PRO14 matches since they beat local rivals, the Southern Kings, in Port Elizabeth in April
– The Cheetahs have lost successive home games, against Munster in April and Glasgow last week, but have not lost three in a row in Bloemfontein since they were in Super Rugby in 2017
– Ulster have made their customary good start to a new campaign in winning their first three matches, last year they won their first four and in 2016/17 their first five
– Ulster are unbeaten in their last eight PRO14 matches, their best run since the 2012/13 season
– Ulster have won all four previous matches thy have played against South African opponents in the PRO14
– The two sides have met once before in the Championship with Ulster winning 42-19 at Belfast in the Cheetahs’ first ever match in the competition
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