Preview: Cheetahs v Connacht
Ireland second-row Ultan Dillane has returned to the Connacht starting line-up to take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The inclusion of centre Pita Ahki is the only other change to the side that beat Benetton in Treviso last weekend. Ahki will form a centre partnership with Eoin Griffin who scored a 74th minute try against the Italians.
The back three remains unchanged with wingers Matt Healy and Cian Kelleher and full back Tiernan O’Halloran all being retained.
O’Halloran, Denis Buckley, Jarrad Butler, and Niyi Adeolokun, all featured last weekend after returning from respective injuries and all four are fully fit to face the Cheetahs this time out.
With an extended squad of 25 players, Connacht travelled from Italy last Sunday on to Bloemfontein in South Africa where they have been training this week and acclimatising to soaring temperatures of up to 30 degrees.
Having previously coached in Super Rugby, Connacht head coach Kieran Keane, has faced the Cheetahs on a number of occasions and is well aware of how difficult it is to beat the South African side on home soil.
“I think everyone is familiar with their style of play. They play some really exciting and attacking rugby. They played like that when they came to the Sportsground and they were hard to beat. They are even harder to beat when they are playing at home and only one team has managed it since they joined the PRO14," said Keane.
“It’s a massive challenge but one we are really relishing. We will be focusing on our game plan and what we can control and hopefully delivering a winning performance on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Cheetahs head coach Rory Duncan has made three changes to his run-on side that lost to Glasgow Warriors last week.
Two of the alterations are in the back-line with Luther Obi replacing the injured Malcolm Jaer on the left wing while Rabs Mazwano will be providing cover on the replacements bench.
The other change amongst the backs is at scrum-half where Zee Mkhabela comes in for Shaun Venter, who has been sidelined due to an injury. Returning from injury, Tian Meyer will be providing cover on the bench.
Meyer will be playing in his 50th match for the Cheetahs if he goes onto the field.
The final change sees Ox Nche taking over from Charles Marais at loosehead prop. Aranos Coetzee will be the other starting prop with Charles Marais and Tom Botha on the bench. Coetzee will be also playing in his 50th match for the Cheetahs.
The teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 Nico Lee, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Zee Mkhabela, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Renier Bernardo, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Sibhale Maxano
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Cian Kelleher, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 James Cannon, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Denis Coulson, 18 Dominic Robertson McCoy, 19 Gavin Thornbury, 20 Eoghan Masterson, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Niyi Adeolokun
Date: Saturday, March 3
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19:35 local (17:35 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)