The Cheetahs side to face the log-leading Lions in Bloemfontein this weekend has been named, with Naka Drostke’s outfit showing just two changes to the unit that won at Newlands in the previous round, both in the pack.
Both changes, it must be said, seem somewhat surprising. Lineout specialist Wilhelm Steenkamp loses his place in the second row to Francois Uys, with the latter a far more robust player, but a full 6cm shorter than the man he replaces, in a second row not exactly boasting a lot of height as it is. In the other change, the impressive Boom Prinsloo loses his place at blindside flank to Philip van der Walt.
A win against the Lions will do the Cheetahs no end of good and may even catapult them right into the top two, depending on how other results go. With two easier games to follow, Drotkse’s charges will want to throw everything into this game and will hope that teenage flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen will be able to put up a good showing against one of the tournament’s pace-setters, Lions pivot Elton Jantjies. The latter will be keen to show that the position of “incredibly talented and precocious flyhalf and next in line to the Bok jersey” has already been taken this Currie Cup season.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss.
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Lions pivot Elton Elton Jantjies
And just why can’t your middle name be the same as your first name? 😀 I like it.
Steenkamp heading to Pretoria so I guess it’s understandable. Where is Waltie Vermeulen? He’s their only real 5 lock ahead of the S15.
Not sure what the story is with the loose-forwards. Maybe wants to have a look at Philip van der Walt (if he can get through 5 mins without getting injured). Bit dissapointed they didn’t keep Pieter Myburgh on, and Johan Wessels is out of the picture as an openside/fetcher?
Only one I 😕 at is Andries Strauss being on the bench.
This must suck for Sias. I thought he’s been playing really well.
@Letgo (Comment 3) :
Shouldn’t be that big a deal for him. It’s a 22-man game, and he’s getting plenty of game-time as a sub.
@hendrikp (Comment 4) :
Sias will play the entire Currie Cup next year as Goosen will be playing for the Boks….
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : Or the sharks 😆
@Greg (Comment 7) :
Goosen signed a two year contract with the Cheetahs, he ain’t going anywhere..
@Greg (Comment 7) :
We will be buy him when he reaches 34 and he has been playing 2nd division club rugby in Romania
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 4) : Still
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 8) : And contracts with the cheetahs(or the Lions, for that matter), in sharks eyes, are binding ❓ 🙄
@Greg (Comment 12) :
Well.. good point.. Can’t argue that..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : 😯 You auditioning for Volksblad now? 😉
@Greg (Comment 7) : PLEASE NO!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 14) :
You should really develop a sarcasm smiley…
Man there are some things in life that I battle to say and there are some things in life that just can’t get myself to say no matter HOW hard I try.
But let me see if I can express the words needed.
GO CHee
Nope, I’m sorry I just can’t seem to manage. 🙁
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) : 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : Rather say ‘GO LIONS’, it rolls off the tongue so much easier 😆