Former Sharks flyhalf Fred Zeilinga will be in the hot seat when the Cheetahs get their Super Rugby campaign under way against Los Jaguares in Bloemfontein this weekend.
Francois Venter captains a young side that will be without veterans in Francois Uys and Sias Ebersohn for the opener. Venter will have former schoolboy partner William Small-Smith alongside him in midfield and will look to Zeilinga and scrumhalf Shaun Venter to unleash a centre pairing that was highly regarded during their Grey College days.
Teh rest of the backline is exciting, with Clayton Blommetjies, Sergeal Peterseon and Raymond Thule all renowned for their running abilities.
Lood de Jager, as vice captain, adds the steel up front, with Franco Smith having named a pack that while short on big names, does not lack for Super Rugby experience. The Jaguares will certainly test the Cheetahs up front, but this should make for a very exciting match indeed.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (capt), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Paul Schoeman, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Niel Marais.
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Actually sad that the sharks didn’t sign small-smith, I like him as a centre. Hoping the cheetahs can beat the argies!
@Dragnipur (Comment 1) : Only Cheetah I really want is Lood
This looks a fairly decent team but to be honest im not sure what they will produce…could be good but could also be average if their big players dont stand up.
@SheldonK (Comment 3) : The problem is, if they don’t stand up from the 1st kick of, I think they will be in for a rough afternoon against these jags
@Henkb (Comment 4) : That would be my assumption…but im also not sure what the Jaguares will bring to the party away from home. I think this good go either way
Cheetas boast an impressive Super Rugby cap difference to los Jaguares 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 6) : 22 to 0 for the Cheetahs over the Jaguares 😆
@robdylan (Comment 6) : then it’s an easy game for the Cheetahs as experience always wins!!!! ;-p
Cheetah backline makes me envious. Too bad they almost never get good front foot ball.
@coolfusion (Comment 9) : not a bad backline at all!!! Now their forwards needs to step up and give them ball to run!!!
Hmmmm this is such a hard game to call. I’d like to think the Cheetahs should be able to win at home.
@Kiss_the_Gold (Comment 11) : think it will depend on how the Cheetahs forwards play.
So definitely supporting the Cheetahs…in this setup we want the guys in our conference to lose every time…
@pastorshark (Comment 13) : would have supported them anyway but now that you put it like that GO CHEETAHS!!!!!!
I have just read Riaan Viljoen is starting for Sunwolves this weekend.Looks like there are Sharks (or connections) in most of the teams playing in Super Rugby!! 😀 Cheetahs,Bulls,Lions,Kings,Stormers,Sunwolves……… 😆
@markm (Comment 15) : Bulls? You mean Jesse Kriel?
@robdylan (Comment 16) : That I do. 😀