2019–20 Cheetahs season explained

Season:	2019–20
League Result:	4th
Record:	Played 13, Won 6, Lost 7
Try Scorer:	Rhyno Smith (10)
Points Scorer:	Ruan Pienaar (73)
Prevseason:	2018–19

In the 2019–20 rugby union season, the participated in the 2019–20 Pro14 competition, their third appearance since joining the competition in 2017–18. They remained in Conference A of the competition, which in 2019–20 featured Irish sides and, Italian side, Scottish side and Welsh sides and .

Personnel

Coaches and management

The Cheetahs coaching and management staff for the 2019–20 Pro14 season are:

2019–20 Cheetahs coaches and management
Position	Name
Head coach
Lineout coach	Corniel van Zyl
Defence coach	Charl Strydom
Assistant coach	Melusi Mthethwa
Skills and kicking coach	Albert Keuris
Conditioning coach	Quintin Kruger
Team manager	Ashwell Rafferty
Performance analyst	Renaldo Meyer

Squad

The Cheetahs squad for the 2019–20 Pro14 is:^[1]

2019–20 Cheetahs squad
Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	Pro14		Cheetahs
Apps	Pts	Apps	Pts<	-- Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	All Appearances	All Points	Cheetahs Appearances	Cheetahs Points-->
	Hooker	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Wing	September 28, 2019	9	20	9	20
	Lock	September 28, 2019	25	0	25	0
	Fullback	September 28, 2019	21	35	15	30
	Fullback	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Prop	September 28, 2019	43	0	43	0
	Centre / wing	September 28, 2019	1	0	1	0
	Loose forward	September 28, 2019	4	0	4	0
	Prop	September 28, 2019	13	5	13	5
	Scrum-half	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Prop	September 28, 2019	8	0	8	0
	Lock	September 28, 2019	20	0	20	0
	Hooker	September 28, 2019	19	30	19	30
	Fly-half / fullback	September 28, 2019	14	27	14	27
	Prop	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Fullback	September 28, 2019	18	35	18	35
	Centre	September 28, 2019	25	39	20	35
	Prop	September 28, 2019	1	0	1	0
	Flank	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Flank	September 28, 2019	10	15	10	15
	Fullback	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Lock	September 28, 2019	14	5	14	5
	Prop	September 28, 2019	39	0	39	0
	Flank	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Wing	September 28, 2019	28	95	28	95
	Scrum-half	September 28, 2019	32	15	32	15
	Flank	September 28, 2019	17	10	17	10
	Prop	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Prop	September 28, 2019	38	25	38	25
	Flank	September 28, 2019	16	10	16	10
	Flank	September 28, 2019	19	10	19	10
	Scrum-half	September 28, 2019	100	659	–	–
	Flank	September 28, 2019	27	20	27	20
	Wing	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Fly-half	September 28, 2019	21	134	21	134
	Wing / centre	September 28, 2019	34	51	34	51
	Centre	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Outside back	September 28, 2019	4	5	4	5
	Lock	September 28, 2019	20	10	20	10
	Centre	September 28, 2019	8	5	8	5
	Hooker	September 28, 2019	9	0	9	0
	Prop	September 28, 2019	1	5	1	5
	Flank	September 28, 2019	24	10	24	10
	Hooker	September 28, 2019	12	15	12	15
	Fullback / wing	September 28, 2019	6	5	–	–
	Fly-half	September 28, 2019	–	–	–	–
	Eighth man	September 28, 2019	10	5	10	5
Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 28 September 2019, the date of the opening round of the competition. Pro14 appearances only.

Player movements

Player movements between the 2018–19 Pro14 season and the end 2019–20 Pro14 season are as follows:

transfers 2018–19 — 2019–20
Pos	2018–19 squad	Out	In	2019–20 squad
style="text-align:center;"	PR	Aranos Coetzee^[2] Luan de Bruin Erich de Jager Günther Janse van Vuuren^[3] Johan Kotze Charles Marais^[4] Ox Nché^[5] Boan Venter^[6] Quintin Vorster	Johan Kotze (released) Quintin Vorster (to)^[7]	Neethling Fouché (on loan from)^[8] Khwezi Mona (on loan from)	Aranos Coetzee^[9] Luan de Bruin Erich de Jager Neethling Fouché (on loan) Günther Janse van Vuuren Charles Marais Khwezi Mona (on loan) Ox Nché^[10] Boan Venter
style="text-align:center;"	HK	Jacques du Toit^[11] Joseph Dweba Elandré Huggett^[12] Jannes Snyman Marnus van der Merwe Reinach Venter	Jacques du Toit (to)^[13] Elandré Huggett (released)^[14] Jannes Snyman (to)^[15]	Wilmar Arnoldi (from)^[16]	Wilmar Arnoldi Joseph Dweba Marnus van der Merwe Reinach Venter
style="text-align:center;"	LK	Justin Basson Louis Conradie JP du Preez Sintu Manjezi^[17] Sibabalo Qoma Walt Steenkamp Dennis Visser	Louis Conradie (to Asia Pacific Dragons)^[18] Sibabalo Qoma (to) Dennis Visser (released)		Justin Basson JP du Preez^[19] Sintu Manjezi Walt Steenkamp
style="text-align:center;"	FL	Daniel Maartens Stephan Malan Oupa Mohojé^[20] Abongile Nonkontwana^[21] Gerhard Olivier^[22] Luigy van Jaarsveld Henco Venter Ntokozo Vidima Jasper Wiese	Stephan Malan (to Lazio)^[23] Luigy van Jaarsveld (released) Ntokozo Vidima (to)^[24]	Sias Koen (on loan from) Chris Massyn (from)	Sias Koen (on loan) Daniel Maartens Chris Massyn Oupa Mohojé^[25] Abongile Nonkontwana Gerhard Olivier Henco Venter Jasper Wiese
style="text-align:center;"	N8	Aidon Davis Niell Jordaan Junior Pokomela^[26]	Niell Jordaan (to)^[27]		Aidon Davis Junior Pokomela
style="text-align:center;"	SH	Dian Badenhorst Ruben de Haas^[28] Tian Meyer Zee Mkhabela Rudy Paige Shaun Venter	Zee Mkhabela (to)^[29] Rudy Paige (to)^[30] Shaun Venter (Ospreys)	Rewan Kruger (from) Ruan Pienaar (from)^[31]	Dian Badenhorst Ruben de Haas Rewan Kruger Tian Meyer Ruan Pienaar
style="text-align:center;"	FH	Ryno Eksteen Louis Fouché Tian Schoeman^[32] Niell Stannard Ernst Stapelberg	Ryno Eksteen (released) Niell Stannard (to) Ernst Stapelberg (released)	George Whitehead (on loan from)	Louis Fouché Tian Schoeman George Whitehead (on loan)
style="text-align:center;"	CE	Lloyd Greeff Benhard Janse van Rensburg Tertius Kruger Nico Lee Ali Mgijima William Small-Smith Dries Swanepoel^[33]	Lloyd Greeff (released) Tertius Kruger (to)^[34] Nico Lee (to)^[35] Ali Mgijima (released)	Chris Smit (from)	Benhard Janse van Rensburg William Small-Smith Chris Smit Dries Swanepoel
style="text-align:center;"	WG	Darren Adonis^[36] Carel-Jan Coetzee Vuyani Maqina Rabz Maxwane	Darren Adonis (to South Africa Sevens Academy)^[37] Vuyani Maqina (released)	Craig Barry (from)^[38] Duncan Saal (from)	"> New player alert! . Cheetahs . 23 July 2019 . 23 July 2019.	Craig Barry Carel-Jan Coetzee Rabz Maxwane Duncan Saal
style="text-align:center;"	FB	Adriaan Carelse^[39] Malcolm Jaer Tapiwa Mafura Rhyno Smith (on loan)		Clayton Blommetjies (from) Anthony Volmink (on loan from)	Clayton Blommetjies Adriaan Carelse Malcolm Jaer Tapiwa Mafura Rhyno Smith Anthony Volmink (on loan)
style="text-align:center;"	Coach	Franco Smith		Hawies Fourie (from)^[40]	Hawies Fourie Franco Smith^[41] ^[42]

Standings

The final Conference A log standings were:^[43]

2019–20 Pro14 Conference A
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts<	-- Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts-->
1		15	15	0	0	531	216	+315	74	28	9	0	69
2		15	8	1	6	385	306	+79	50	40	7	3	44
3		15	8	0	7	364	329	+35	53	42	5	1	38
4		13	6	0	7	342	280	+62	48	32	5	2	32
5		15	5	1	9	283	415	–132	32	49	1	1	24
6		15	3	1	11	230	399	−169	29	56	4	3	21
7		15	2	2	11	205	375	−170	21	45	1	4	17

Round-by-round

The table below shows the Cheetahs' progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the conference position:

Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	R20	R21	QF	SF	Final
Opposition	style="background:#CCFFCC;"		style="background:#CCFFCC;"		style="background:#CCFFCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#CCFFCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#CCFFCC;"		style="background:#CCFFCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"
Cumulative Points	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	5	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	10	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	15	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	16	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	17	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	17	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	21	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	21	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	26	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	31	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	31	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	31	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32	style="background:#ECECEC;"	32
Position	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	1st	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	1st	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	1st	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	2nd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	3rd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	3rd	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	3rd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	4th	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	3rd	style="background:#CCFFCC;"	3rd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	3rd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	4th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th
Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Matches

The fixtures for the 2019–20 Pro14 were:^[44]

Following round 13 the league was suspended until 22 August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however due to travel difficulties surrounding the pandemic, the Cheetahs were unable to complete their fixtures.

Player statistics

The Pro14 appearance record for players that represented the Cheetahs in 2019–20 is as follows:

2019–20 Cheetahs player statistics
Player name																							App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Ox Nché	1	1	1	1																			4	1	0	0	0	5
Joseph Dweba	2	2	2	2	2	2		16	2	2	2	16	16										12	7	0	0	0	35
Erich de Jager	3	3			18	18	18	17	17														5	0	0	0	0	0
Sintu Manjezi	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4			4	4										11	2	0	0	0	10
Walt Steenkamp	5	5	5	5	19	5	5	5	5	4	4	5	5										13	0	0	0	0	0
Gerhard Olivier	6	6	6	6	20	6	20	21	8		20		6										11	0	0	0	0	0
Junior Pokomela	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7										13	3	0	0	0	15
Henco Venter	8	8	8																				3	0	0	0	0	0
Ruan Pienaar	9	9	9	9	21	9	9	22	21	9	9	9											12	1	25	6	0	73
Tian Schoeman	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	23	10	10	10	10	10										12	0	8	3	0	25
Anthony Volmink	11	11	11	11	23	11			11														6	3	0	0	0	15
Dries Swanepoel	12	12		13																			3	0	0	0	0	0
Benhard Janse van Rensburg	13	13	13	12	13	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12										13	0	0	0	0	0
William Small-Smith	14	14	14	23	14	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13										13	2	0	0	0	10
Rhyno Smith	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	14	14										13	10	0	0	0	50
Reinach Venter	16	16	16				17																4	1	0	0	0	5
Boan Venter	17	17	17	17	1	17	1	1	1	17	17	1	1										13	0	0	0	0	0
Luan de Bruin	18		3	18	17	1	3	18	18	18	18	3	3										12	1	0	0	0	5
JP du Preez	19	19	19	19	5	19	19	19	19	5	5	19	19										12	0	0	0	0	0
Sias Koen	20	20	20	20	6	20							20										7	1	0	0	0	5
Jasper Wiese	21	21	21	8	8	8				8	8	8											9	2	0	0	0	10
Tian Meyer	22	22	22	21	9	21	21	9	9	21	21	21	9										12	2	0	0	0	10
	23	23	12		12	23				22	22	22	22										9	2	2	0	0	14
Neethling Fouché		18	18																				2	0	0	0	0	0
Clayton Blommetjies			23	14	11	14	11		14	14	14	15	15										10	4	0	0	0	20
Aranos Coetzee				3	3	3		3	3	3	3	18	18										9	0	0	0	0	0
Wilmar Arnoldi				16	16	16	2	2	16	16	16	2	2										10	3	0	0	0	15
				22	22	22	22	10	22														4	0	0	1	0	3
Chris Massyn							6	6	6	6	6	6											6	1	0	0	0	5
							8	8	20	19	19	20	8										7	1	0	0	0	5
							14	14				11	11										4	0	0	0	0	0
							16	20															2	0	0	0	0	0
							23		23	23	23	23	23										5	0	0	0	0	0
								11		11	11		21										3	0	0	0	0	0
										1	1	17	17										4	0	0	0	0	0
										20													1	0	0	0	0	0
																							–	1	–	–	–	7
Total																							13	48	35	10	0	342
(c) denotes the team captain. For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Con" to the number of conversions kicked, "Pen" to the number of penalties kicked, "DG" to the number of drop goals kicked and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player. Dian Badenhorst, Justin Basson, Adriaan Carelse, Carel-Jan Coetzee, Ruben de Haas, Malcolm Jaer, Günther Janse van Vuuren, Rewan Kruger, Tapiwa Mafura, Oupa Mohojé, Khwezi Mona, Abongile Nonkontwana and Duncan Saal were named in the squad for the season, but never included in a matchday squad.

See also

• Cheetahs
• Pro14

Notes and References

1. Toyota Cheetahs squad for Guinness PRO14 . Cheetahs . 11 September 2019 . 12 September 2019.
2. Toyota Cheetahs in Guinness PRO14 and Currie Cup . Cheetahs . 15 August 2018 . 16 August 2018.
3. News: Rudy wil 'n nuwe bladsy by Cheetahs omslaan . Netwerk24 . 30 July 2018 . 30 July 2018 . Afrikaans . registration.
4. Charles Marais and Justin Basson sign for another two years . Cheetahs . 22 May 2018 . 22 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522152437/http://fscheetahs.co.za/News.aspx?newsid=5560 . 22 May 2018 . live . dmy-all.
5. Ox Nche commits for another year . Cheetahs . 6 July 2018 . 7 July 2018.
6. Player Movement . Cheetahs . 4 April 2018 . 4 April 2018.
7. Web site: Squad: Griffons . South African Rugby Union . 25 August 2019.
8. News: Nóg 'n Pro14-eerste vir Cheetahs? . Netwerk24 . 4 October 2019 . 17 October 2019 . Afrikaans . registration.
9. Johan Coetzee commits for another two years . Cheetahs . 9 April 2018 . 4 September 2019.
10. News: Franco Smith bly vir eers aan in Bloem . Netwerk24 . 9 September 2019 . 11 September 2019 . Afrikaans . registration.
11. Jacques du Toit and Malcolm Jaer secured for next season . Cheetahs . 13 March 2018 . 19 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180319203915/http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/News.aspx?newsid=5519%2FJacques-du-Toit-and-Malcolm-Jaer-secured-for-next-season- . 19 March 2018 . live . dmy-all .
12. CheetahsRugby . 968461869701877760 . Bright future for @CheetahsRugby. FS Rugby is delighted to announce that William Small-Smith, Nico Lee, Elandré Huggett, Ernst Stapelberg, JP du Preez, Lloyd Greeff, Sibabalo Qoma and Dennis Visser have committed their future with the @CheetahsRugby until 2019. #OrangePride . 27 February 2018 . 28 February 2018.
13. News: Cheetahs hooker jumps ship to rivals Kings . Sport24 . 2 September 2019 . 4 September 2019.
14. News: Cheetahs se Stapelberg soek rugbytuiste . registration . Netwerk24 . 10 May 2019 . 12 June 2019 . Afrikaans.
15. Web site: Squad: Valke . South African Rugby Union . 6 July 2019.
16. Four new players for Toyota Cheetahs in Guinness PRO14 . Cheetahs . 16 July 2019 . 16 July 2019.
17. New players joins Toyota Cheetah squad . Toyota Cheetahs . 17 October 2018 . 23 October 2018.
18. Web site: Teams Global Rapid Rugby . Global Rapid Rugby . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903142837/https://www.rapidrugby.com/rapid-rugby/teams/ . 3 September 2019 . live . dmy-all . 3 September 2019 .
19. JP du Preez, committing to the Cheetahs for a further three years. . Toyota Cheetahs . 1 March 2019 . 4 September 2019.
20. News: Oupa voer Cheetahs dié seisoen aan . Netwerk24 . 26 July 2017 . 26 July 2017 . Afrikaans . registration.
21. Toyota Cheetahs vs Edinburgh . Toyota Cheetahs . 4 October 2018 . 23 October 2018.
22. Olivier and Wiese commits to Toyota Cheetahs . Cheetahs . 3 May 2018 . 4 May 2018.
23. I biancocelesti per sfidare in trasferta Calvisano . S.S. Lazio Rugby 1927 . 2 March 2019 . 23 March 2019 . Italian.
24. Web site: Squad: Border . South African Rugby Union . 25 August 2019.
25. News: Oupa Mohoje ná jaar gereed vir rugby . Netwerk24 . 10 September 2019 . 11 September 2019 . Afrikaans . registration.
26. Junior Pokomela commits for another two year . Cheetahs . 20 March 2018 . 20 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180320111232/http://fscheetahs.co.za/News.aspx?newsid=5523 . 20 March 2018 . live . dmy-all.
27. Web site: Squad: Tafel Lager Griquas . South African Rugby Union . 20 July 2019.
28. Promising scrumhalf signs with Toyota Cheetahs . Cheetahs . 28 May 2018 . 29 May 2018.
29. Getting Up for the Challenge . Sharks . 6 June 2019 . 4 September 2019 . 6 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190606132417/http://sharksrugby.co.za/getting-up-for-the-challenge/ . dead .
30. Les quatre premiers jokers Coupe du Monde ont donné leur accord . ASM Clermont Auvergne . 3 July 2019 . 21 July 2019 . French.
31. Toyota Cheetahs welcomes Ruan Pienaar . Cheetahs . 10 July 2019 . 10 July 2019.
32. Tian Schoeman joins Toyota Cheetahs . Cheetahs . 11 June 2018 . 12 June 2018.
33. Dries Swanepoel joins Toyota Cheetahs . Cheetahs . 16 July 2018 . 16 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180716105132/http://fscheetahs.co.za/News.aspx?newsid=5612 . 16 July 2018 . live . dmy-all.
34. News: Cheetahs se Kruger Kings toe ná CB-reeks . Netwerk24 . 2 August 2018 . 2 August 2018 . Afrikaans . registration.
35. Nico Lee s'engage avec le CA Brive . CA Brive . 9 July 2019 . 4 September 2019 . French.
36. Toyota Cheetahs vs Connacht – Guinness PRO14 Round 10 . Cheetahs . 30 November 2018 . 1 December 2018.
37. News: Darren wil in Blitsbok Branco se spore volg . Netwerk24 . 24 July 2019 . 17 October 2019 . Afrikaans . registration.
38. Craig Barry signs three year contract . Cheetahs . 25 July 2019 . 25 July 2019.
39. News: Carelse wil nie 'nuwe Blommetjies' wees . registration . Netwerk24 . 17 July 2018 . 17 July 2018 . Afrikaans.
40. Toyota Cheetahs welcomes Hawies Fourie . Cheetahs . 27 June 2019 . 4 September 2019.
41. Franco Smith coach for first three Guinness PRO14 games . Cheetahs . 11 September 2019 . 17 October 2019.
42. Position: Franco Smith, Director of Rugby and the New Head Coach Going Forward . Cheetahs . 14 May 2019 . 4 September 2019.
43. Web site: Tables . Guinness Pro14 . 30 September 2018.
44. Web site: Fixtures - Guinness PRO14 . PRO14 . 17 July 2019 . 17 July 2019.