A trio of Griquas players – two of them midweek Boks – are expected to make the Cheetahs side against the Crusaders this weekend as an increasingly desperate Naka Drotske looks to avoid yet another massive defeat on tour.
Davon Raubenheimer, who hardly covered himself with glory as the midweek SA team were beaten badly by Leicester last year, will come into the vacant number 8 jersey, last worn by the suspended Kabamba Floors. The latter, unable to train or play for five weeks due to a spear tackle, has been sent home in disgrace and may not be replaced. The continued non-availability of Bok Juan Smith means Barend Pieterse, a lock who only came out of retirement about 5 minutes ago, will again play on the flank. At least the Cheetahs won’t have to name their fitness trainer on the bench this week, but it must be pretty tempting for manager Helgaard Muller to pick himself in midfield, since at least he knows how to tackle.
Among the backs, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, who everybody apart from Drotske could tell is the best nine in the Cheetahs region and has been all season, will start alongside another Bok tourist in Riaan Viljoen. The latter, now picked at flyhalf, is more often a fullback, but has a huge educated boot and will look to keep his forwards moving, well, forward.
Not a lot to write home about, really, when you’re coming up against the Crusaders. I’d like to day that I truly believe these three will help the Cheetahs avoid a 50-point drubbing, but I would struggle to really mean it.
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Good opportunity for the Crusers to rest their first team players for that all important final against the Flou Nulle . . .
Jeez, how many other spear tackles went unpunished ❓
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 2) : good point, it’s no use making an example out of floors if other dangerous tackles go unpunished. Floors deserved to be carded and maybe even the 5 week ban, but it should work the same for all teams, hips above shoulders, at least a penalty.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 2) : I think Floors got an extra bad punishment because the guy he tackled was Julian Huxley, you could hear the crowd holding their breath when Huxley took that tackle.
It wasn’t any worse than some of the other tackles made this week, but it was made on a guy who had a brain tumor removed only two years ago. It’s not really fair to Floors, but you can kind of understand why it happened.
When he made the tackled, I immediately knew he would be in big trouble making a tackle like that, on Huxley, in Australia.
If i remember rightly the Cheetahs beat the Saders last year.
The Saders also rested half their side against the Lions and when they led by only 6 points at half time had to empty their bench to get home.
I don’t expect the Crusdaders to rest anyone.
They will be looking to put down a serious marker in their last home game before going on tour.
Crusaders by 50 and then maybe some.
won’t make any difference I’m afraid. 🙁
Saders by 30+ EVEN if they field a B side (which they will)
well i feel bad for me hubby’s team but the sport must go on and maybe which i really don’t think at all will happen the cheetahs might win
gee and we are going to hear about it all week-end from Megatron 👿 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : I don’t think they will rest to many ❗
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 8) :
My FL team certainly hopes they don’t 😉