Rory Duncan has named former Sharks under 21 flyhalf Willie du Plessis at pivot for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs as they prepare to face that team in a Currie Cup game in Durban on Saturday night.
Du Plessis, who joined the Sharks Academy after matriculating at Affies in Pretoria, went on to establish himself as a stalwart for the Sharks junior sides, but packed his bags for Pretoria some years later, when the likes of Paul Jordaan and a certain Fred Zeilinga where preferred at under 21 level. He went on to win two Varsity Cup title with Tukkies before moving to the Cheetas, by way of the Lions. The flyhalf will certainly feel he has a point to prove, playing directly opposite Zeilinga and against many former team mates including Tera Mtembu, S’bura Sithole, Jordaan and Monde Hadebe, who played with him for the Sharks under 21 side.
Other injury-enforced changes see Dolph Botha start at tighthead prop for the first time, replacing the injured Luan de Bruin, while Jean Cook returns at number eight for Boom Prinsloo, also out this week. There is no sign of Lappies Lubuschagne, who was rated as 50-50 for the game.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Neil Claassen, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Dolph Botha, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Kevin Stevens
Substitutes: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 George Marich, 18 Henco Venter, 19 Vincent Jobo, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 22 JP du Plessis
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Blommetjies played for the Bulls if memory serves. Never realised he moved to Bloem.
Thats a pretty decent backline. Bit unsure of their forwards quality though.
@vanmartin (Comment 1) : he only moved there after Super Rugby this year, so it’s very recent
Jean Coko? Must be a new flank 😉 😈 😆
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : Jip, the injuries and departures to greener pastures, plus bok commitments have decimated the Cheetahs side. It is hardly reminiscent of the Super 15 side.
Only Frans Uys and Cook were regular S 15 players in the pack. With the Sharks love of scoring off driving mauls, this will be a mountain to climb for he Cheetahs.
@KingCheetah (Comment 5) : Don’t discount the number of players the Sharks lost since the completion of SR.
@KingCheetah (Comment 5) : Could be interesting as i feel the Cheetahs will try spread the ball as per usual…what the Sharks will do im not too sure. Will be interesting to see how well Zeilinga fares under the pressure from Sarel Pretorius
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : Not at all, the difference is almost your entire pack except Astle has had Super 15 exposure, with some like Stevens even having test experience.
Same with the backline. Only the bench has some new faces. Cheetahs have new faces all over the show. Even a new prop from the French club scene!
@KingRiaan (Comment 4) : looks like a fokken clown 🙂
This is once again going to be a tough game. Hope the Sharks can make it 3 from 3.
“It is hardly reminiscent of the Super 15 side.” Well at least thats one positive.
I thought Lappies was off to the bulls!
@[email protected] (Comment 12) : After the CC he is, ditto Nyakane, and Strauss