Cheetahs select macro pack
Posted by Boertjie - 08/02/10 at 09:02 pm under Super 14Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské opted for the macro pack that gave the Bulls a run for their money in last year’s Currie Cup Final, when he named the team to face the same Bulls outfit in the opening round of the Super 14 in Bloemfontein on Friday.
rugby365
The only change to the Cheetahs pack is the return of Springbok stalwart Juan Smith, who takes over the captaincy from hooker Adriaan Strauss and replaces Frans Viljoen at blindside flank.
The backline has been significantly bolstered by some Griquas imports – with Springbok tourists Riaan Viljoen at fullback ahead of Hennie Daniller and Naas Olivier at flyhalf in place of Jacques-Louis Potgieter, after the latter transferred to the Bulls.
Olivier, who has been making steady progress after pre-season knee surgery, will play his first game of the year on Friday, after only just rejoining the team last week.
There is one other change in the backline, from the team that started the Currie Cup Final, Tewis de Bruyn at scrumhalf in place of JP Joubert – the latter having won an arbitration fight against the Cheetahs to join the Lions.
It is a well-balanced team that will be keen to get off to a winning start against the defending champions and prove the pre-season predictions wrong.
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Frans Viljoen, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Danwel Demas.
Date: Friday, February 12
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referee: Marius Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
February 8th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
yip the cheetahs is looking good all over the park, even the bench looks good, i reckon there might just be an upset in bloem on friday night.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Eish Cab
Lets sEE how the ChEEtahs were able to rectify some of last years iSSues and some new ones:
1- Play as an unified regional team, wrt cohesion;
2- Adapt to the “new” interpretation of the laws;
3- Have a 50 % stake in the possession;
4- utilise that baLL eFFectively; and
5- how weLL they have closed the revolving barndOOrs at the back.
Sure they have a pack- eish they have some pace outwide
can they score more than they wiLL leak?
StiLL its goNNa be fun to watch
Huge priviledge to watch Super Rugby in me hometown- gOOde stadium
CHEETAHS!
February 9th, 2010 at 8:15 am
I sEE Lionel Cronje is shaping at the Stormers
Eish- there are things I just do not understand- besides – the english tenses.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Reply to WiLLem @ 8:03 am:
Hehehe – Bring it ON!!!
Nou die Blou!!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Reply to Minora @ 10:55 am:
AH Lemstes
Yip
WiLL be an interesting game.
lOOking forward to sEE Kuhn doing the Skinstad!