Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made four changes to the run-on side that ran the Crusaders close, with the front row in particular getting a proper makeover ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Hurricanes.
Out goes Lourens Adriaanse completely, after a less-than-satisfactory scrummaging display against the Franks brothers, with his loosehead companion Trevor Nyakane dropped to the bench. Coenie Oosthuizen and WP Nel are fit again this week and will start at 1 and 3 respectively.
Two further changes in the back line see Tewis de Bruyn make way for Piet van Zyl at scrumhalf and Cam Jacobs fall out of the 22 as Bok Sevens flyer Ryno Benjamin comes back in at right wing.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earle, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Andries Ferreira, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.
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“Less than satisfactory scrumming performance against the Franks brothers” is something most props will have to deal with after playing the Crusaders….
Ashley being benched so much really baffles my mind! ❓
@Ben (Comment 2) : Phillip van der Walt has been playing good rugby at number 8… Ashley might be battling with fitness or maybe Naka likes the impact he provides off the bench…
Rob, I have a headline ready for you should the Cheetahs take this one: “Cheetahs whip the Canes!” 😉
@vanmartin (Comment 4) : and if not
“Cane creamed cheets”