Naka Drotské has named squad of 26 players for the Cheetahs Super 14 away games.
Rugbyweek reports that the Cheetahs will start their Super 14 campaign on February 13 against the Lions at Coca Cola Park, before departing to fulfil their overseas commitments. The Cheetahs first home game will only be in the eighth round.
Drotské who has included eight Boks in his squad, told OFM’s KFC Sports Cage that it was a difficult decision to leave the Bok full back, Bevin Fortuin at home.
“But we are fortunate to have versatile players like Fabian Juries and Jacques-Louis Potgieter who can cover in more than one position,” he said.
Drotské will tour without some of his young guns like Wilton Pietersen (fullback), Coenie Oosthuizen (prop, who are both injured), Robert Ebersohn (centre) and Philip Snyman (centre) who are both touring with the Bok sevens team in New Zealand.
However, it is clear that Drotské has picked all of the in-form players and that he based his selections clearly on merit. The Cheetahs, build-up – prior to the Lions game – has gone off without a hitch.
Griquas were like lambs to the slaughter as they were trounced 57-7, but the Bulls were no pushovers, losing by a mere four points, 20-16.
The Cheetah touring party is:
Fullback: Hennie Daniller.
Wings: Danwel Demas, Jongi Nokwe, Fabian Juries, Bjorn Basson.
Centres: Piet van Zyl, Corné Uys, Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Flyhalf: Meyer Bosman.
Scrumhalfs: Tewis de Bruyn, Sarel Pretorius.
Loose forwards: Frans Viljoen, Juan Smith, Hendro Scholtz, Heinrich Brussow, Kabamba Floors.
Locks: Flip van der Merwe, Nico Breedt, David de Villiers, Wayne van Heerden.
Props: Wian du Preez, Kobus Calldo, Bees Roux.
Hookers: Richardt Strauss, Adriaan Strauss.
Tweet
Drotské who has included eight Boks in his squad
Looking at the squad and the talk about how the Cheetahs will perform this year, i am shocked that they have eight Boks in their squad.
I can’t believe the Cheaters have not contracted a decent scrumhalf from another union.
Tertius Carse
Paul Delport (before he decided to play sevens)
JP Joubert
Warren Malgas
Francois Hougaard
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 2) :
You’ll find a few of those guys might actually be earning more money as backups at their own provinces and are happy to sit around an earn money rather than get exposure. 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) :
Well, I think Hougaard is on a junior contract at the Bulls isn’t Warren Malgas with EP??
You might have a point though…
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 4) :
it is particularly Hougaard and Joubert I was refering to.
JP Joubert was in the media a week or so ago saying his “my world has fallen apart” after his deal with Saracens fell through.
Either his agent or the Cheetahs are fast asleep. Surely here was a golden oppertunity for him to have a full season of S14 in his twilight?
it’s actually not a terrible squad, this
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
They have some cack centers and their scrumhalves are useless.
Daniller is solid but not spectacular and no real flyhalf cover. I’d say this is a cack squad. 😈
Is 26 the usual number taken on tour? This squad just seems small.
Only three props?
@wpw – Take that Chelsea!!! (Comment 7) : it’s only really Uys that’s not up to scratch. van Zyl and JLP are fine. The latter is their flyhalf cover.
You don’t really have much scope in a 26-man squad anyway.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : yeah – crazy, isn’t it? How can you honestly go on a four or five week tour with only 26 players?
Where is Fortuin?
@PaarlBok (Comment 11) : back in Bloem playing Vodacom….
Drotské will tour without some of his young guns like Wilton Pietersen (fullback), Coenie Oosthuizen (prop, who are both injured), Robert Ebersohn (centre) and Philip Snyman (centre) who are both touring with the Bok sevens team in New Zealand
You CAN’T call Ebersohn a Cheetah!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! He has signed a contract with the Boks 7s team and isn’t available to any 15man teams.
@PaarlBok (Comment 11) :
the best I can find on it is that it was a difficult decision to leave the Bok full back, Bevin Fortuin at home.
So in short, I have no idea.
Vokken madness. 😯
KSA any idea when they are announcing the Sharks squad? They haven’t even named their squad for tomorrow’s game. I know there will not be many surprises but it would be nice to know the official squad for S14 2009.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 16) :
6 or 9 Feb was the scheduled announcement date for all the SA squads.
it seems the Cheetahs felt it was to expensive to wait until then and have decided to do it now 😉
@PaarlBok (Comment 15) :
I agree.
Fortuin is solid and can cover 15 and center.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 16) :
FLIP THAT TOOK ME LONG.
I have found the article and the squads are due to be announced on 6 Feb.
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2009/01/14/sa-super-14-squads-to-be-named-on-6-february/
the thing doesn’t say how many players per squad or per touring squad though.
I have heard that Plum is busy conducting one-on-ones with the players… they all know who is in and who is out. Guess we’ll still have to wait for the official announcement, though.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : @robdylan (Comment 20) :
Check your SW mail
@MorneN (Comment 21) : fokin unbelievable. What’s the point?
Going to put up an article now.
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
Yup, thought the same thing.
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Waiting… … …
@blackshark (Comment 24) :
Rob is a slow typist.
@MorneN (Comment 25) :
Either that or he is going to lay into a franchise because it is not good news for the Sharks… 🙂
@MorneN (Comment 26) : I guess the tears are slowing him down then…
@MorneN (Comment 26) : you know me faaaar too well
@MorneN (Comment 26) :
Hey the Cheetahs can beat the Reds, Highlanders and maybe the Force while on tour.
Bevan Fortuin is lank slow and kicks every farking ball away. He is the 2nd Johan Roets.
@Loosehead (Comment 30) : Hope you right, any win for them will be a bonus.
The only positions they look good is Wing and Hooker and loosies…
The rest I cannot say will do to well…
Wayne van Heerden is a good hard player though and def will beef up the forwards…
Midfield is the place to attack against the Cheetahs…
Tewis De Bruyn must have been one of the worst Super 14 players…he was awful. Decent pace on the wings but they won’t see the ball with those scrummies and centres!!
And no Trompie…only realised that now @^##&&@##@@ tweet tweet tweet….
The LIONS should stick their pride in the pocket and recruit him for the S14…