The loss of Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe has forced Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské to name four centres in his backline for Saturday’s Currie Cup crunch match against the Lions.
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Nokwe, who has damaged knee ligaments in the win over the Pumas last week and it has been confirmed that he has been ruled out for at least eight months. It is also an enormous blow to his hopes of a return to the Bok team – not just for the year-end tour, but also next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Sevens Bok JW Jonker is also lost to the Cheetahs, after it emerged that he has signed with French club Tarbes. Although he is available this week, the Cheetahs opted to plan ahead and have named Corné Uys and Philip Snyman on the wings.
The Cheetahs team for the encounter with the Lions show four changes.
Also back after being ‘rested’ last week are fullback Hennie Daniller and flank Hendro Scholtz, while lock Waltie Vermeulen returns after recovering from an eye socked fracture suffered earlier in the season.
The Cheetahs also drafted in Stellenbosch scrumhalf Johan Herbst, who started training with the team this week.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Corné Uys, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Smit.
Date: Saturday, October 2
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT)
Referee: Stu Berry
Assistant referees: Luke Burger, Marc van Zyl
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
Going to be a tough game, but I believe my Cheetahs will pull through…cummon botjies!! Gee daai maer hond wind!!
Ons sal ma vir x cheetah-x shark weer x cheetah weer x shark mapoe eerder nie speel nie hy sal tackle sakke dra tot october 2011
@ smallies72:ja, die ou kan dalk net spiteful raak. Is jammer Cheetahs het nie die oordrag aanvaar nie. Die ou se hart sit op n ander plek….is net jammer hy het nie dinge op die regte manier aangepak toe hy wou waai nie.
Difficult to call a result in this match between the Staat and the Lions for this weekend….
staat by 15
@ grootblousmile:I hear ya! …but I will have to support my team, so yes, staat by 12
VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAT! I don’t care about how many we win by.
Close game. Will back the home side.
The cheetahs seems to be very powerful in their forwards this year, coenie oosthuizen plays like a loose forward, but then I think the Lions Back line looks quite dynamic.
If it is an open game(can’t believe, I am going to say this)then perhaps advantage Lions, if the cheetahs control things with their forwards they should pull it through.
I would go with Cheetahs, but very close. Effectively the decider for who will play in the semi’s
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