Challenge Cup: The injury-ravaged Cheetahs are forced to make adjustments

For Friday’s Challenge Cup encounter against Scarlets, Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has made many changes to his starting eleven.

The Cheetahs are in Europe for two Challenge Cup matches, but their preparation for these matches has been hampered by significant player injuries.

Additionally, the Cheetahs realize they have their backs against the wall in the Challenge Cup.

Three changes have been made to the backline, where rookie fullback Andell Loubser will make his senior debut in place of Tapuwa Mafura. Dan Kapepula replaces Daniel Kasende on the wing, and Rewan Kruger wears the No. 9 shirt in place of the injured Ruan Pienaar.

Siba Qoma is the starting blindside flank in the remodelled back row, while Friedle Olivier moves from the side of the scrum to No. 8 and Jeandre Rudolph moves from eighthman to openside flank for this Challenge Cup match. Daniel Maartens gets removed from the loose trio and transferred to the bench.

Louis van der Westhuizen replaces Marko Janse van Rensburg in the front row as the favoured hooker for this week. Marko Janse van Rensburg will serve as an impact player.

Additionally, the Cheetahs have lost three Springboks for their European Challenge Cup tour.

Cheetahs: 15 Andell Loubser, 14 Dan Kapepula, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Subs: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Branden de Kock, 22 Robert Ebersohn, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.

15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Joe Roberts, and 12 Jonathan Davies comprise the Scarlets (captain), 1 Kemsley Mathews, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Kemsley Mathews.
Shaun Evans (16), Wyn Jones (17), Sam Wainwright (18), Jac Price (19), Tomas Lezana (20), Gareth Davies (21), Sam Costelow (22), and Ioan Nicholas (23).