The Cheetahs’ management team will have to wait a week longer before they get to see their Springbok acquisition in action.
Springbok centre Andries Strauss is struggling with a groin injury ahead of the Super Rugby tournament, and will not play in the Cheetahs’ warm-up games on Friday.
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Strauss, possibly the Cheetahs’ biggest signing for 2011, has been training on his own for the past two weeks and will not be risked unnecessarily.
The Cheetahs’ A-team (Gladiators) will take on the Shimlas in a contact session on Friday morning, after which the Gladiators will take on the B-team (Barbarians) for 20 minutes. Finally, the Barbarians will play a training game against the Griffons.
Strauss is the favourite to wear the Cheetahs’ No 12 jersey after he ran out for the Sharks in 2010.
He and fullback Hennie Daniller (calf) are not available for these sessions, according to backline coach Hawies Fourie. However, they should be fit for the training game against the EP Kings on 4 February.
Another first-choice player, prop WP Nel, will also not be in action on Friday as he has a hamstring injury and may even miss the Kings match.
“He will be ready for the start of the competition, but we won’t risk him against the Kings if he’s not 100% fit,” said Fourie.
The injuries are a setback for the coaching staff, as they would like to see all their players in action.
The aim is to have a good training run ahead of a lengthy Super Rugby campaign in which injury often takes its toll.
Fourie will have to pick a replacement for Strauss from centres Morgan Newman, Barry Geel and Corné Uys.
Robert Ebersohn and Wilmaure Louw will compete for the outside centre berth.
Nel’s shoes are set to be filled by Kobus Calldo, with rookie Marcel van der Merwe also set to get an opportunity.
Daniller’s injury may prompt the Cheetahs into picking the talented Riaan Viljoen with one of Philip Burger, Riaan Smit and Fabian Juries doing duty at fullback.
Wing Philip Snyman is struggling with a hamstring injury, and a decision will be made on Thursday as to whether he can play in the training game or not.
Flyhalf Sias Ebersohn will make his comeback from a groin injury, and is set to play for about 30 minutes. Flank Frans Viljoen, who has an injured heel, is set to return against the Kings if all goes well.
Fourie said that Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow would only be fit for the fourth Super Rugby game against the Lions.