In a surprise move, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has not dropped Sias Ebersohn, and the young flyhalf will get to start another match for the Bloemfontein side.
The team has seen a bit of a shuffle amongst the loose forwards, with news that Heinrich Brüssow is out of action for six months, and has replaced the Springbok with a lock in Francois Uys, on the side of the scrum.
The young Carl Wegner will take Uys’ spot in the second row, forming a partnership with Izak van der Westhuizen. The loose trio is made up of Lappies Labuschagne, Uys and Philip van der Walt, while Davon Raubenheimer is the only remaining fit loose forward in the Free State.
In the backline, Andries Strauss, who is on his way to the Kings at the end of the season, gets a start with Raymond Rhule moving back to wing.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Lappies Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Substitutes: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Rayno Benjamin.
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Anything can happen against the Cheetahs. I hope our boys pitch.
In a surprise move, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has not dropped Sias Ebersohn
Rich, you’re a legend bro. Not sure how many other people will get or appreciate that one, but I certainly did
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
its actually terrible, why he don’t pick a scrummy at FH against the Sharks.. Looks like he actually wants to win this game 
I must say I’m surprised that Devon Raubenheimer doesn’t start in an already depleted Cheetah’s front row.
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : Raubenheimer was only acquired to weaken Griquas, not to bolster the Cheetahs. Same can be said for Barry Geel and Sarel Pretorius to a lesser extend. The Cheetahs management doesn’t realize this way they are ruining their own franchise in the long-term plans. In stead of working together, they are poaching.
@ rob: I loved the Sias reference!!!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : or back row
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
oops!
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
My moment of brilliance for the month of October..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 8) : Lets not speak to soon..Sias has a way of playing his absolute best against the Sharks, as do all Cheetahs players for some reason! Sias is a good player but is trying to do something magical everytime he touches the ball! He seems an experienced backline player/fh to get hold if him and let him know that he doesnt have to do something amazing everytime he touches the ball and that sometimes just the basic good pass or strong straight run is good enough. He will come good, but perhaps needs a season overseas to grow up a bit…much like frans steyn
@SheldonK (Comment 9) : If we give Sias a few face to faces early he will fall apart like he usually does.
Apparently Sias had a blinder when he came on against the Lions two weeks ago.
Fortunately for the Sharks Brussow (damn sad for the player though) is out – he has a habit of causing havoc against us.
Rhule to mark JP I hope?
@Big Fish (Comment 12) : haha
That would be awesome, wouldn’t it?
@Big Fish (Comment 12) : but no… looks like Rhule against Odwa and Scheepers to face JP.
Mismatch both sides
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
Odwa has been playing some fantastic rugby. Great rugby brain. Sbu has a mountain to climb to pass him.