Willie le Roux has been shifted to left wing to make place for Hennie Daniller at fullback, in one of a number of changes to the Toyota Cheetahs team that will play the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
The players wore the opposite jerseys against the Crusaders last week and it remains to be seen whether the switch will yield any rewards against the Sharks – the thinking clearly being to employ Daniller’s big boot at fullback to counter the hosts’ territory-based game. The other change to the starting backline sees Elgar Watts start at flyhalf in place of the injured Johan Goosen.
The big news is the selection of fit-again Heinrich Brüssow at openside flank, with Boom Prinsloo moving from 6 to 8 and Jean Cook from 8 to 7 in a comprehensive loose trio reshuffle. Lappies Labuschagne drops out injured this week.
On the bench, Riaan Smit and Raymond Rhule come in, meaning a weekend off for Howard Mnisi. There is still no sign of Bok prop Coenie Oosthuizen, though.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Rossouw de Klerk, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Riaan Smit, 23 Raymond Rhule.
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Well at least we can expect a higher penalty count from Brussow for Frans to convert to points!
Willie le Roux is number 7 in missed tackles according to the Vodacom Rugby Stats app. They might be looking to shore up the last line of defense too.
Goosen is injured? Noooooo that can’t be true!!!
@Seth101 (Comment 3) : not really injured he’s concussed so can’t play this week. But I do get your point.
Think Sharks must put pressure on their 10/12 combo as I’m not sure how effective they’ll be on attack and defence. Having Steyn, Alberts and Deysel running at them could prove effective.
@JD (Comment 4) : Yea I know, just in a trolling mood :P.
Wow, that means Willie will be far from the action during phase play. I can’t see that working for them.
@JD (Comment 5) : Agree, and attack their outside backs, Willie cant tackle for Shyt this season, and Hennie is slower then a cruise ship. Our 4 wing backline should show them flames.
Willie at wing doesn’t hurt them, it is where he made his mark. He isn’t one to sit on his wing and wait, he will slot in at 10 when the situation demands and come into the line on attack when you least expect. Good move by the cheetahs coaches for a change. Also Brussow can single handedly disrupt an opponent’s momentum. Even rusty he will be a handful.
Form and names on paper go out the window in local derbies but I cant help but feel the sharks should be too strong. Watts isnt the highest percentage kicker so even the Sharks giving away plenty of penalties like they tend to do shouldnt be too costly. If Sharks maintain discipline they should win comfortably…but this is rugby
The Sharks must keep their shape and not let the game become a loose sevens affair – that will suit the Cheetahs perfectly.
Just remember who the ref is this weekend and where he was born and raised? as it is he always blows against the Sharks.
@sharks_lover (Comment 12) : I’m not too worried about him blowing against the Sharks necessarily – more the fact that he just lets so much go at the breakdown.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : I am just plain worried 😆 😆
@Seth101 (Comment 8) : @Bokhoring (Comment 11) : for sure the Sharks must play structured rugby and hitting with a couple of crash balls on their 10/12 before swinging the ball wide should unlock their defence. Kicking on the back three should be done as to get Daniller to catch the ball (and not Le Roux) as the chances of him hurting us on the counter is way less.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : That just confirms he is a KAK ref lol,
@robdylan (Comment 13) : @sharks_lover (Comment 14) : the Sharks must be able to adapt their style of play to what the ref blows. If he lets stuff go at rucks they must adapt and play in the same way. Cleaning at rucks also becomes that much more important in these game and Sharks must just ensure that he’s not able to become a pest at every ruck.
Fullback’s always look awful when playing in weak squads. The best fullbacks in the world miss one on one tackles. Willie has been asked to make a lot of last line of defence decisions that are really 50/50 calls. Overexposed maybe?