The Cheetahs could receive a huge boost ahead of their clash against Griquas this weekend, with the possible return of Johan Goosen to boost the side. The question the coaches are asking though, is how long will he be available to them?
The return of Goosen could not come at a better time following the season ending injuries to both Piet van Zyl and Riaan Smith, the halfback pair who started the first game of the Currie Cup against the Lions together. Van Zyl dislocated his collarbone while Smit has an elbow injury, both of whom will only see rugby again next year.
In the case of van Zyl, he was sitting on the bench playing second fiddle to Sarel Pretorius, and the Cheetahs will now have to call the fit again Tewis de Bruyn onto the bench. Smit though, is both a flyhalf and a wing, and played on the wing against the Bulls when he got injured. He is likely to be replaced by Ryno Benjamin, while the returning Goosen will take over the kicking duties.
Sport24.com reports that Goosen has been training with the squad since last week, and should receive the go ahead from his specialist to take the field this weekend. Goosen has been out of action for four months following a shoulder injury picked up during Super Rugby.
The biggest concern for the coach now is whether Goosen will be able to play for the remainder of the Currie Cup season, as they have apparently heard mutterings of the young pivot being called up to the Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship.
In other injury news at the Cheetahs, Heinrich Brüssow is four weeks away from returning to action, while Coenie Oosthuizen will also need another month to recover. Boom Prinsloo will miss the rest of the season, being ruled out for at least four months.
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I would not worry too much about the availability of Goosen if I was Naka. Although he is a great player with a lot of talent, I cannot see him being called up to the bok squad just yet. He should be there for the end of year tour if he delivers the goods in the CC.
Damn I have both Piet van Zyl and Riaan Smit in my FL team.
@Pokkel (Comment 2) :
Bloody injuries and Bok call ups are killing me..
I have both Tiaan Liebenberg and Craig Burden as hookers?!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : Me too. My first thought when I saw he had been called up to the Boks was… dammit. Then I was stoked for him. Not that I do well in fantasy league anyways.
@lostfish (Comment 4) :
I’m happy for him, but I do think he is in Argentina to carry tackle bags with no real chance of making the team, so it is a shame for the Sharks to lose him..
Seems like the Cheetahs are hemorrhaging players
Id like Goosen to go trough a season uninjured first maybe .. but lets wait and see
I’m so curious to see how the Boks would do with a different pivot that at this point I honestly wouldn’t care if either Jantjies, Lambie or Goosen gets called up to start a game at flyhalf. As long as Morne isn’t starting for a change. Not likely to happen but one can dream