Livewire winger Rene Ranger will return to the Blues side for Friday’s match against the Cheetahs but Josh Blackie faces a lengthy layoff after suffering a sprained ankle in last week’s loss to the Sharks.
The official Blues website reports that Blackie is expected to be out for a minimum of four weeks and winger Paul Williams will join him on the sidelines after pulling a quad during the warm up last week.
The duo add to an already worryingly long injury list, with Rudi Wulf, Benson Stanley, Tasesa Lavea and Anthony Boric already ruled out of Friday’s match.
Young second five eighths Michael Hobbs has been rewarded for impressive performances off the bench and will get his first start in a Blues jersey this year.
Justin Collins returns to the starting side after a well needed break to partner Chris Lowrey in the flanks, while Jerome Kaino returns to the back of the scrum at number eight.
The team to play the Cheetahs at 7:35pm (Local time) at North Harbour Stadium on Friday is:
Starting XV:
15. Isaia Toeava
14. Rene Ranger
13. Anthony Tuitavake
12. Michael Hobbs
11. Joe Rokocoko
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Taniela Moa
8. Jerome Kaino
7. Justin Collins
6. Chris Lowrey
5. Ali Williams
4. Kurtis Haiu
3. John Afoa
2. Keven Mealamu (c)
1. Tony Woodcock
Reserves:
16. Tom McCartney
17. Tevita Mailau
18. Jay Williams
19. Onosa’i Auva’a
20. Chris Smylie
21. Jamie Helleur
22. Winston Stanley
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Cheetahs side.
Starting XV
15. Hennie Daniller,
14. Danwel Demas,
13. Corné Uys,
12. Meyer Bosman (V/Capt.),
11. Jongi Nokwe,
10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter,
9. Tewis de Bruyn,
8. Hendro Scholtz (Capt.),
7. Wayne van Heerden,
6. Heinrich Brüssow,
5. David de Villiers,
4. Nico Breedt,
3. Bees Roux,
2. Adriaan Strauss,
1. Wian du Preez
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss,
17. Kobus Calldo,
18. Francois Uys,
19. Kabamba Floors,
20. Sarel Pretorius,
21. Piet van Zyl,
22. Fabian Juries
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) :
How did JLP go at 10 last week?
Go Cheetahs!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : well the half i watched he was solid. he like the rest of the guys couldn’t finish off what they started though. so they would get out their half and as they were about to attack someone would stuff it up. demas was shocking, and nokwe did a stefan with poor distribution. that probably lost them the game. the forwards though were impressive.
Isn’t Rene a girls name?
@McLovin (Comment 5) : no a stormers name. oh thats the same thing. 😆
@try time (Comment 6) : Gay and female are two different things.
@McLovin (Comment 7) : ha ha.
Rangers! oh.. not the team