The Cheetahs have named flyhalf prodigy Johan Goosen to start in the number 10 jersey against the Sharks this weekend, with Sias Ebersohn his understudy on the bench. Both players were missing in action due to injury last week, with Tewis de Bruyn forced to take on the unfamiliar flyhalf role against Griquas.
Coach Naka Drotske seems to have taken a leaf out of the Sharks’ book in moving his regular blindside flank – Philip van der Walt – into the second row this week, in place of Francois Uys. Ash Johnson moves from the back of the scrum to number 7, with Boom Prinsloo coming in to start at 8. The Cheetahs have, in this combination, a set of big, mobile forwards who like to challenge the gain line and will be looking to beat the Sharks at their own game, to some extent.
Impressive young Piet van Zyl is retained at scrumhalf, relegating de Bruyn to the bench, while Rayno Benjamin comes in for Nico Scheepers in the only other change to the backline that played last week.
Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Rayno Benjamin, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Cameron Jacobs, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Piet van Zyl, 8. Boom Prinsloo, 7. Ashley Johnson, 6. Pieter Labuschagne, 5. Izak van der Westhuizen, 4. Philip Van der Walt, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Marcel Van Der Merwe
Replacements: 16. Hercu Liebenberg, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19. Johan Wessels, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Nico Scheepers
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We need to stay out of “potential drop-goal” situations for the Cheetahs!
GO SHARKS!
Going to be interesting, one of their strong points (midfield) is our weakpoint. 🙁
@Ice Ice Bokkie (Comment 1) :Goosen can also kick 67 metre penalties
Francois Uys must be injured?
Think that 10-12 combination will strengthen the Cheetahs, and make this a good semi!!!
@hendrikp (Comment 4) : The returning boks and the form of kanko will be too much for the cheetahs to handle.
@Muzi (Comment 5) : The form of Kankowski? He’s had a pretty average season.
henkdrip (yes I know) Is just hoping that the Sahrks don’t make the final, but I’m not sure why ‘coz the Lions won’t be there anyway. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : I think he meant the return to form from Kanko. Looked like he was returning to form against the Lions. Hope he can keep it up.
KSA shark atleast kanko showed last week he is returning to his best.Sadly i can not believe how poor spies has been this year 4 the bulls.
If we stay in the Cheetahs half, okay Cheetahs half and beyon of the field, or just don’t give away too much penalties, I don’t see much else Goosen can challenge the Sharks with.
I watched the Lions/Cheetahs game yesterday. Yes, he is a very accurate kicker with power too boot, but as far as his general flyhalf play is concerned, I feel he is pretty predictable and easy to contain.
He does give crisp ball to his backs, but he tends to stand pretty deep in recieving the ball and I don’t think will be much of an attacking threat to the Sharks.
I can see what all the hype is about, he has a pretty special kicking ability, but we can nulify that and his influence on the game.
I’m so happy that Goosen is fit for this one. I hope he can somehow have a huge game and still be on the losing team.
I get a feeling we may need to try and slow this game down as much as possible. Keep it tight. Make it a battle of the rucks and around the fringes. Squeeze the life out of their forwards.
I think the key man for the Sharks will be Freddy Michalak. When he’s come to the party, we’ve been the winning team.
Ben kanko is in the mood he always plays well in bloemfontein.
Letgo goosen is a game breaker forget about that massive boot he has some toe.
@Letgo (Comment 9) : Sjoe! Lots of positive energy flowing from that post.
Good thing you didn’t watch the tape of the Vrystaat/Sharks game yesterday
@Muzi (Comment 11) : Bloemfontein?
Ben yes bloemfontein and in the shark tank.Kanko always plays well against the cheetahs he thrives when the game is open.
@Muzi (Comment 12) : Where’d the Bulls go? 😉
@Muzi (Comment 11) : Game is in Durban though. 🙂
Jarson X hehe i know the bulls did not qualify and it hurts i can not stomach this.
Thats a pretty useful Cheetahs team. Definitely a few areas to exploit though. Goosen has never played the Sharks in Durban…and he hasnt had to tackle Willem Alberts or Bismarck yet! If that Cheeatahs lineup was for a Super rugby game I wonder how people’s views would differ…
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : I watched him play probably his worst game of 2010 at KP vs our u19 team last year. Anyone else who saw him that day vs this CC season wud struggle to believe it’s the same youngster.
Sharks supporters are worried about goosen and rightfully so hehe he is the talk of the town.His popularity is growing..on twitter..facebook…the papers…super pat aint got nothing on goosen hehe.
Beet its called confidence!
C’mon Cheetahs!! You can do this!! 😈
@Muzi (Comment 21) : ploeg me jou eie kalwers.
Oh Sorry you don’t have any. 🙂
omg someone pinch this dude KSA
@Muzi (Comment 15) : Won’t be playing the Cheetahs again in Bloemfontein this year. 😕
@beet (Comment 20) : A lot of players struggle in Durban. Not sure what it is as ive never had the chance to play at Kings Park but guys like Morne Steyn, Dan Carter, Quade Cooper etc have all struggled in Durban.
Later on in the game goosen will move to fullback ,he should have started there with sias at 10 imo! Go sharks
@Talent (Comment 28) : Can you tell my future for me as well please? Only 5 years ahead or so. 🙂
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : It’s called in your face defence
@Talent (Comment 28) : You reckon. Why wouldn’t they straight sub him in about the 60-65min. He’s had some issues with crap at about that stage of the game + now he’s returning from injury (be it concussion)as well.
Scheepers can cover no.15 from the bench as well.
@Ben (Comment 29) : har har 🙂
@beet (Comment 30) : Possibly…although I havnt been too impressed with the Sharks defense this year…line speed is too slow and too many 1 on 1 front on tackles are missed. The stands at Kings Park are right on the field so it may get intimidating…well thats if a crowd pitches up. Also think Kings Park is a lot heavier under foot than other places in the country.
@beet (Comment 31) : all im going to say is you cant leave players with the calibre of sias and goosen of the field for the likes of daniller and sooner or later the cheetahs will stumble upon that .Now I have an exam today 🙁 got to go
@beet (Comment 31) : @Talent (Comment 34) : Sorry, meant to say CRAMP not crap. 😳
@Muzi (Comment 21) : Now I’d like Lambie to start at 10 so he can make Goosen his b!tch 😈
THE MERCURIAL JOHAN GOOSEN RETURNS 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : 😆
@JarsonX (Comment 36) : hehehehe his “b!tch” hehehe 😆
@beet (Comment 13) : I deleted that one, but wanted to watch it yesterday. It would have been way more impressive if I could haved talked this way about Goosen after watching that game.
I’m sure I would have been able to come up with some sort of excuse.
This should be a good game. Very happy that Goosen has returned from injury!
@Muzi (Comment 12) : He still has to proove himself to me. Clearly everyone else loves him, but I’m not cinvinced… and that’s the most important thing!
@Muzi (Comment 21) : I don’t like that comment. Rob, do something about this. 😕 🙁
@beet (Comment 31) : @beet (Comment 35) : 😆
@JarsonX (Comment 36) : Me too! And I actually think he can do it.
We’ll have to keep an eye on Goosen and also Johnson, but I’m sure Plum and advisors are aware of that.
GO SHARKS. WE NEED TO GET THE CHEETAHS OFF OUR BACKS AND CONVINCE THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT THEY ARE NOT OUR EQUAL!!!!!
Letgo 3D pat can jol at 10 BUT Goosen is better !
@Muzi (Comment 47) : what do you knoe, you support the Bulls? 😆 😉
If super 3D Pat wants to be a permanent fixture in the bok team then he should stay at full because that number 10 jersey is Goosens.
Letgo go ahead i know we did not make the semi finals and that makes me mad hehe
Sharks in the same mood as last weekend will take them easily.
@Letgo (Comment 43) : ❓
@Megatron (Comment 37) :
Johan Goosen > Pat ‘Cougar loving’ Lambie 😈
@KSA Shark © (Comment 52) : It’s a joke. Couldn’t you hear my tone. 😉 😉 😉
@Letgo (Comment 54) : 🙂
The Sharks have too much talent and experience from 1-22 for this Cheetahs team to live with.
One 19-year-old, regardless of how good he is, isn’t going to swing that argument in their favour.
@wpw (Comment 53) : amazing how the supporters of the teams who would give their left nut to have a Lambie in their ranks take such pleasure in talking him down.
I guess if my first-choice flyhalf was Morne Steyn or Demetri Catrikilis I’d also be a little jealous of the Sharks 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 57) :
How about next time you wait a few minutes before posting your comment??
What ever happened to allowing some visvang to liven up the site?? 😕 😉
@Muzi (Comment 21) : not really dude 3DPat got the chicks locked down, after the Samoan game lots of my FB female friends were updating their statuses and eyeing him as a “hot boy”..Pat got the ladies
@wpw (Comment 53) : ag toe bangat! You are just scared we beat you again in the finals…
@Muzi (Comment 3) : When he was on something
Fred > Pat and Goosen
@robdylan (Comment 57) :
Easy on Morne Steyn! Still the best in SA at the moment.
@hendrikp (Comment 63) : best what?
@robdylan (Comment 64) : best kicker…
@Megatron (Comment 65) : Well it’s NOT best defender or best attacker, so that is all that is left. 😛
@Honey Badger (Comment 61) : what huh steroids thats what you wanted to say isn’t it. 👿 😥
@robdylan (Comment 64) :
Best flyhalf! I have yet to see anybody else perform consistently at Super rugby level, and the rest haven’t exactly had to play at test level have they?
If Morne had spent the season playing for the Bulls, they’d probably be heading for another final.
@robdylan (Comment 64) : Rob do u remember what Morne Steyn was like as a youngster at the Bulls playing off the bench behind Hougaard? He hardly ever kicked the ball and ran from everywhere and could tackle…what did the Bulls do??
@SheldonK (Comment 69) :
They turned him into a better player, who won titles!
Now they just need to help him rewind the clock a little. He’s not incapable of being an all-round flyhalf. He just needs to pick his moments better, and have players around him who run better support lines for him to offload to.
Well Venter seems the new edition Olivier…with a little more skill I think, just wonder how he will combine with Sadie? I know u may think its madness…but what about sending Steyn to play 7s for a few months?
@SheldonK (Comment 71) :
Doubt sevens would help him. What he needs is specialist coaching. He needs to be put in a position where he takes control, has the opportunities and self-belief/vision to have a run, and have the weapons outside him to make it work.
Take it easy on the kicking training for a few weeks, and work on his decision making. Not when he’s got the ball in his hands – but seeing what to do when you’re in certain parts of the field.
@hendrikp (Comment 72) : But isnt what u just explained from a training perspective exactly what 7s is about? Ball in hand, making decisions, 1on1 defense…
@SheldonK (Comment 69) : I just remember him having no BMT
@SheldonK (Comment 73) :
Hmm looks to me like they just try spot a gap, and if it’s not there they pass to the next guy. Not quite sure where the decision making comes in.
I don’t see how it would help him at all, and I doubt he’s got the ability to play Sevens. Treu wouldn’t go for it.
I actually don’t believe Sevens helps players as much as they claim. A lot of the time it’s just a promising youngster getting called up before he makes it to senior rugby. Sevens doesn’t suddenly make them great players.
@robdylan (Comment 74) : Yeh i recall that too! @hendrikp (Comment 75) : Look i dont think that 7s will make a player a great player in the 15man game but I do think that it does help with certain skills and adopting a way of thinking of backing yourself and running for the gap rather than looking for contact. Having said that there are a few guys id like to see playing 7s before Steyn..and before some of the kids Paul is picking.
@hendrikp (Comment 75) : Good point about 7s there imho. Not much help to the modern day rugby player.
What do you about altitude. Does it still play a role or are those days a thing of the past particularly for foreign teams? I ask coz it’s something I’ve always associated with the success of the Loftus team and their 2 flyhalves Steyn and Hougaard before that.
@beet (Comment 77) :
You know much about the reason playing at altitude is tough? I’m no PT, but something to do with your blood-cells. That’s why some athletes generally train at high altitudes, and stay there until right before they compete… those blood cells generally disappear within 3-4 days from what I remember – if you go back to sea-level, or close to it.
If what I’m saying is correct, travelling coastal teams will always struggle at altitude.
I’ll have to read up more about it. Must’ve been a good 10 years ago since I learnt that stuff… and didn’t pay much attention in my early years of High School 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 78) :
People living and training at altitude develop blood-cells that process oxygen better.
Others struggle, which is why you get players who say their lungs are on fire etc.
I’ll read up on it tomorrow. I’ve completely forgotten the specifics
@hendrikp (Comment 79) : Sorry it was a bit of a scientific question. Even the high school coach that I talked to this year, incorporates this into this 1st team’s preparations when they travel to the Hoeveld.
I’m really just wondering if it’s even a psychological advantage anymore coz visitors are so well aware and prepared for it.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : Thanks Rob, I wanted to reply with something like that, but the got to me too much. That’s why I needed your help, because you stay calm and bite back.
@beet (Comment 80) :
I’m sure there is an advantage, yes.
But not enough of an advantage to make a weaker team clear favorites at home, or change the bounce of the ball
@beet (Comment 80) : It’s definitely scientific, but teams have ways of preparing for that nowadays. And for Highveld guys going to sea level, physically it should actually be an advantage. The psychological advantage has more of an effect in my opinion.
It’s a matter of being used to your surroundings. The Sharks are at home. Don’t you even sleep better when you’re sleeping on your own pillow in your own bed? I think the same principal applies here. Their guests in our house and everything they do as soon as they arrive comes through us first.
Even if we’re great hosts, it’s still not home.
That’s my theory.
@hendrikp (Comment 82) : In a way the bounce of the ball does change, since we’re more used to the way the ball will react on our turf and since it’s so much different from Bloem, it must have a relative effect.
As you say, not if the All Blacks came to play us, but this will be a close game and every little thing will help.