The Free State Cheetahs will tackle Western Province in their Currie Cup semifinal on Saturday with a Springbok prop on the bench.

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Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has named the same starting XV that put 70 points past the Leopards last week for this weekend’s trip to Cape Town.

That leaves Bok prop CJ van der Linde, who – ironically – joins Province at the end of the month, on the bench for the second consecutive week after he returned from the national conditioning programme.

The only change to the matchday 22 is the captaincy – with World Cup-winning Bok flank Juan Smith leading the Cheetahs out at Newlands, after hooker Adriaan Strauss had been standing in most of the season.

Strauss captained the Cheetahs in the 78-7 win over the Leopards last week, even though Smith started in Phokeng.

The Cheetahs coach, Drotské, made it clear he was not going to change tactics – which his team selection for the semifinal confirms.

To ensure that all the bits and pieces fall into place ahead of Saturday, the Cheetahs also called upon double World Cup-winning Springbok prop Os du Randt. Du Randt, the current Bok scrumming coach, took charge of the Cheetahs’ set-piece sessions at training this week.

Free State, already a formidable scrumming unit, know that set-piece dominance is key to winning any play-off match. And, given WP’s Springbok-laden backline, dominating ball possession will be vital at Newlands – more than ever.

Free State 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 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Smit.

Date: Saturday, October 16
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert, Cobus Wessels
TMO: Shaun Veldsman