Blitzbok Chris Dry will wear the number 7 jersey and captain a completely revamped Free State Cheetahs side against the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday, as the depth-challenged central union attempts to juggle the realities of simultaneously competing in two competitions.
Not boasting much of a squad at the best of times, the Cheetahs have sent their “best effort” to the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast to take on the might of Ulster in the Pro14, leaving Dry and a handful of other experienced players to compete in the Currie Cup. It’s a bit of a blow to the current title holders, whose top of the log position is sure to come under immense pressure over the coming weeks.
Dry is joined by two youngsters in the loose trio, although Junior Pokomela, of Kings Super Rugby fame, boasts a bit more experience than Jasper Wiese does. Prop Luan de Bruin and lock Dennis Visser boast Junior Springbok credentials, while the remainder of the tight five comprises young players who have mostly come through the Varsity Cup ranks with Shimlas.
A pair of young halfbacks, JP Smith and Ryno Eksteen, have been poached from the Bulls and Western Province respectively, with JW Jonker and Luther Obi providing a little experience in a back line that otherwise features only under 21 stars from Shimlas.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Reinhardt Erwee, 14 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Stephan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Ryno Eksteen, 9 JP Smith, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Chris Dry (captain), 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Gert Kotze.
Relacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Andrew Kuhn, 18 Sibabalo Qoma, 19 Ntokoza Vidima, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Dian Badenhorst, 22 Marco Mason.
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Pretty much spot in Rib, except that Wiese has played some CC for is this year, and has made quite a statement with his performances. It is pretty much a Varsity Cup side with a sprinlking of old hands.
Cheetahs really have nothing to lose here, so can just go and give it a full tilt!
The pack can match the Sharks 8 in size, but not in experience.
The Sharks should win comfortably,, but to underestimate a team witj nothing to lose can be dangerous. That is about our only hope! 😥
@KingCheetah (Comment 1) : Imagine if this makes your second stringers become 1st string quality and your 1 stringers become real super rugby quality. You are only as good as your competition. It may yet be a good thing.
@coolfusion (Comment 2) : That is my view too! And earning TV revenue in Pounds will strengthen our bank balance too. This can only be a good thing in my view. Hopefully it will stop the poaching of our players, as they wont be as visible to the Super Rugby scouts! touchwood
@KingCheetah (Comment 3) : yes Super rugby teams will see less of them but UK and France sides with the £ & € power will see a lot more of them!!! Anyway best of luck for both your teams especially the Pro14 team!!!
@JD (Comment 4) : Thanks JD, I guess it is the nature of the beast. Rand sucks!!
What about good luck for tomorrow? 👿
@KingCheetah (Comment 5) : Score prediction for tonight? 😉
Sharks really do need to put this team away. Some good youngsters in there but in truth its a pretty average team even by CC standards. Would have loved to see this Sharks side play that team the Cheetahs have put out for the Pro14 game.
@HeinF (Comment 6) : Going Cheetahs by a whisker….. I know, it’s a false hope that I can somehow rescue my faltering Superbru. In actual fact I think the Sharks will win by 40 plus.
@KingCheetah (Comment 8) : Actually meant prediction for the Pro14. I actually give the cheetahs a big chance to cause a minor upset. They have been playing some good rugby and they should be full of energy tonight. Going to be a great game, definitely not going to miss it! Going to be wet (not too much rain predicted), but not too cold, so think the Cheetahs will cope okay with the conditions.
@HeinF (Comment 9) : Oh sorry. I am confident of a win. They are taking a fair bit of momentum into the tournament, and a fair bit of consistency. The selection of Blommetjies at FH can go either way 😀
The Ulsterman, haven’t had much game time together as yet, so may be a bit rusty, which counts in our favour.
I have gone Cheetahs by 10, but a narrow win if at all is more realistic.
@KingCheetah (Comment 10) : Im a bit worried about the lack of flyhalf cover in the team I see Blommetjies is starting there. Hopefully they continue their running rugby
@KingCheetah (Comment 10) : Pity you guys could not have gotten hold of Lionel Cronje for the Pro14. I also thought that the fact that Ulster’s season is only beginning will make a big difference. If the Cheetahs play with the confidence that they have had the last couple of weeks, they could score quite a few more tries than their opponents tonight
@Dunx (Comment 11) : Tis a problem for now! Fred Zeilinga should be back hopefully by end September, not sure what the situation is for Clinton swart and Neil Marais, but Petzer had a visa problem, so he should be available for selection against Munster next week.
I hope so too. Blommetjies for all his faults is a very elusive runner, just hope he doesnt stifle the fluidity in attack.
@HeinF (Comment 12) : Yes, Lionel was playing the. Best rugby of his career. Prior to leaving the Kings arguably the form 10 in SA
@KingCheetah (Comment 10) : As much as id like to see Cheetahs do well i think Ulster could take it cofirtably. Having said that the Ulster team are known to implode and lose games they really should win
@SheldonK (Comment 15) : Sharks of the Pro 14 then?
@KingCheetah (Comment 16) : They have enough ex sharks there to have taken the culture with them 😉
@KingCheetah (Comment 16) : Actually yeh good comparison
@KingCheetah (Comment 5) : read my comment did say both your teams but I’d be really passed off if the Sharks managed to lose against your “B-team”!!!! 😉
Hoping Cheetahs can beat Ulster but can’t see it happening in Ireland. That said coming to SA I think they have a real chance of beating them.
@KingCheetah (Comment 16) : not nice boet not nice at all!!! 😯 🙁
True but not nice!!!
@JD (Comment 19) : 😀 Much obliged.
When is the kickoff?
@KingCheetah (Comment 21) : Good luck with your team, bud! I have a soft spot for the Cheetahs. Can’t wait for this game.
Stoked that it’s live on BBC 2 NI!
Bills win one in a ridiculous free for all. Ugh. Crap rugby.
Looks like it’s going to be one of those weekends. Again.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 23) : Ja. Looking forward to that game. Hopefully some entertainment.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 23) : SS1 also showing the game, crappy no love scoreboard, but 15-14 Ulster 30 odd minutes, venter in sin bin
22-14 Ulster, beautiful running line from the center Mcloskey
Try time Piatau, looked promising for the cheetahs in the first 20mins but after the yellow it’s been one way traffic. 3 Ulster tries in 7mins
27-14 33mins
Really want the cheetahs to win this one and prove Superrugby is at a higher standard, but they need to remember that defence is part of the game
Some good play from a few Saffas. Too bad they’re all playing for Ulster.
Cheetahs have an attacking lineout on half way just before half time
@jdolivier (Comment 31) : Defense has been very soft. Too many Sharks in the Ulster side.
@McLovin (Comment 32) : Freaking beautiful game too watch thus far
@McLovin (Comment 32) : 😆
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 34) : Not a single sharks missed tackle…… yet
27-14 Ulster. Half time. Entertaining match
@jdolivier (Comment 35) : Cheetahs need to catch a wake up on defense.
Why did Ulster ‘have to’ let Pienaar go, but they have about 17 Saffa forwards?
@McLovin (Comment 39) : Maybe they thought that northern hemisphere rugby was touch rules
@McLovin (Comment 40) : I stand to be corrected, if the very confusing rules are to be believed, if a national player (entire UK) is fit to play and has a local understudy, then a limit is put on the amount of “import” players. Injuries and lack of depth overrule this.
Half Time
Ackerman’s Gloucester 14 – 14 Exeter
@jdolivier (Comment 42) : Thanks. Confusing indeed. 🙂
And a try by Ulster first minute of the 2nd half. Looks like it might be a long night for the cheetahs
Cheetahs going to cop a huge hiding if they keep going like they are. 👿
32-14 Ulster 42 minutes
Cheetahs are totally rattled
Cheetahs miss tackles and handling errors kind of remind me of a well loved Durban based team when they play shit opponents
Giving the Cheetahs 10 more minutes of my time. Life’s too short… 👿
@McLovin (Comment 50) : You have to appreciate the gameplay from Ulster. Makes for good watching
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 48) : Baptism of fire……..
Afrika 😎
Great try by Petersen, of a Cecil Afrika break 32-19
@jdolivier (Comment 52) : Wouldn’t write them off just yet, though
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 55) : With the cheetahs, you do that at your own peril
Ag FFS Benjamin!
Cheetahs impressing in equal measure with both their attacking play and ability to cock-up. 🙄
@jdolivier (Comment 56) : We know that from XP 😀
@McLovin (Comment 58) : Whole squad seems to have the Earl Rose syndrome. Absolutely sublime and pathetically shite, all in the space of 5seconds
@McLovin (Comment 58) : Jip. Frustraiting as hell!
35-19 Ulster 55 minutes
Good night gents.
@jdolivier (Comment 63) : Cheerio.
Pretty much a normal day at the office for the Cheetahs. They should feel right at home in the Pro14.
i feel for the cheetahs, they dont have a flyhalf at the moment. Blommetjies is a great fullback but not a flyhalf. cecil afrika played better in that channel.poor defense and they looked exhausted too.
@Dunx (Comment 66) : Totally agree. Should have started with Afrika and Blommetjies at fullback.