The Cheetahs will have to make do without dynamic front row star Coenie Oosthuizen for the rest of their 2011 Currie Cup campaign as he has had to undergo neck surgery and will not play for the rest of the year.
rugby365
Oosthuizen suffered a serious neck injury in the thrilling draw with the table-topping Lions in Bloemfontein last week and early reports suggest that he could be out for four months.
The all-action prop made a name for himself on the loosehead side, but he has made a serious impact as a tighthead in the absence of WP Nel in the last few weeks.
Luckily for the Cheetahs, however, Nel has now recovered from his calf injury and takes his place in the starting XV for the crucial Currie Cup clash with the Pumas this coming weekend.
Another young star that will not feature in the game against the Pumas is flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen.
Goosen clashed heavily with his SA Under-20 teammate Jaco Taute in the game against the Lions last week and had to be stretchered off the field with concussion. The Cheetahs will know by the end of the week when he will be available for selection again.
As a result, Goosen drops out of the matchday squad completely and Sias Ebersohn, who had a very impressive debut Super Rugby campaign earlier this year, takes his place in the No.10 jersey for the Cheetahs.
There are no other changes to the Cheetahs starting line-up as coach Naka Drotske’s charges target a bonus-point victory in Witbank to give themselves the best chance possible of securing a home semifinal.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Riaan Smit, 22 Andries Strauss.
Date: Friday 7 October
Kick-off: 19:10 SA Time
Venue: Puma Stadium, Witbank
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez, Phillip Bosch
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee