The Cheetahs have some real continuity and experience in the vital scrumhalf position. Almost any of the players in the squad would be contenders for any squad in the Super 15, albeit as a back up. More importantly, they all fit in well with the Cheetahs favoured game plan.
The Scrumhalf Contenders:
Petrus Erasmus (Piet) van Zyl:
Age: 23 years – 14 September 1989
Vital Statistics: (H) 174 cm (W) 84 kg
Born in Pretoria, Piet attended the illustrious Grey College in Bloemfontein. Given his talent, it is surprising that he didn’t play representative schools rugby, but rose to prominence in the Varsity Cup for Shimlas. From there he quickly rose through the ranks. He made his Super debut in 2012. He has 15 Super rugby caps, and with his crisp pass, and a good eye for space van Zyl has combined well with Johan Goosen, and their understanding, has benefitted both players.
Rugby Career:
- 2008 – Shimlas (Varsity Cup), Free State (ABSA u/19 Competition).
- 2009 – Free State (ABSA u/21 Competition).
- 2010 – Free State (ABSA u/21 Competition), Free State (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2011 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2012 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 15).
Sarel Johannes Pretorius:
Age: 29 years – 18 April 1984
Vital Statistics: (H) 174 cm (W) 82 kg
Born in Bloemfontein, Sarel attende Reitz Höer Skool. He represented the Central Region in the 2003 u/18 Craven Week. He has played provincial rugby for the Griffons, Cheetahs, Valke, and griquas, as well as Super Rugby for the Cheetahs and the Australian franchise, Waratahs.
He made his Super rugby debut in 2010, but really made everyone sit up and take notice with a try scoring spree in the 2011 Super 15, earning the SA Super 15 Player of the Year Award. In 2012 he signed with the Waratahs (14 Super caps), in a deal that would see him return for the Cheetahs’ in the Currie Cup. That sojourn did not end well, as Sarel soon found himself excess to requirements in Sydney. He is back with Cheetahs, and will without a doubt, get enough game time. He has his detractors, especially regarding his defence, but as a game breaker, he is par exellance! He has represented the Cheetahs38 times at Super Rugby level, and his experience will be crucial.
Rugby Career:
- 2003 – Griffons (ABSA u/20 Section B).
- 2005 – Free State (ABSA u/21 Competition).
- 2006 – Medicover Valke (Vodacom Cup), Medicover Valke (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2007 – Medicover Valke (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Wildeklawer Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2008 – Wildeklawer Griquas (Vodacom Cup), Wildeklawer Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Emerging Springboks (IRB Nations Cup).
- 2009 – GWK Griquas (Vodacom Cup),GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Royal XV (British & Irish Lions Tour).
- 2010 – GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14).
- 2011 – GWK Griquas (Vodacom Cup),GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 15).
- 2012 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Waratahs (Vodacom Super 15).
Matheus Johannes (Tewis) de Bruyn:
Age: 30 years – 05 August 1982
Vital Statistics: (H) 174 cm (W) 86 kg
Born in Hoopstad, and a Grey College old boy, Tewis made his provincial debut for the Leopards in the 2002 Bankfin u/21’s. He stayed with the Leopards until 2004, when he joined the SWD Eagles. In 2006 he joined Boland, and played Currie Cup rugby for them till 2007, when he joined the Cheetahs. He soon established himself as a regular starter, and a very versatile player. He made Super debut in 2008, and has since been a stalwart for the Cheetahs (56 Super Rugby caps). Apart from his scrumhalf duties, he has also done duty as a goal kicker, and run out as a useful flyhalf. Tewis is another player with a wealth of experience, and is a valuable squad member.
Rugby Career:
- 2002 – Leopards (Bankfin u/21 Competition), Leopards (Bankfin Currie Cup).
- 2003 – Leopards (Vodacom Cup), Leopards (ABSA Currie Cup First Division).
- 2004 – Eagles (Vodacom Shield), Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2005 – SWD Eagles (Vodacom Cup), Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifier).
- 2006 – Eagles (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup),Fidentia Boland Cavaliers (ABSA Currie Cup First Division).
- 2007 – Boland Cavaliers (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Boland Cavaliers (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifier), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2008 – Free State (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14).
- 2009 – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (British & Irish Lions Tour), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14).
- 2010 – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14).
- 2011 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division),Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 15).
- 2012 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division),Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 15).
Abraham Pieter Marnus Hugo:
Age: 30 years – 24 September 1986
Vital Statistics: (H) 169 cm (W) 82 kg
Born in Paarl, Marnus is a Paarl Gym old boy. He made his provincial debut for Natal in 2005, and, has played provincial rugby for Boland, and Griquas. He made his Super rugby debut for the Cheetahs in 2010 (2 caps). A combatitive scrumhalf, his play is well suited to the fast flowing style the Cheetahs favour.
Rugby Career:
- 2005 – Natal (SA u/19)
- 2006 – Boland (ABSA u/21 Competition), Fidentia Boland Cavaliers (Vodacom Cup).
- 2007 – Boland (ABSA u/21 Competition).
- 2008 – Boland Cavaliers (Vodacom Cup), Boland Cavaliers (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2009 – Boland Cavaliers (Vodacom Cup), Boland (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2010 – Griquas (Vodacom Cup), GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14).
- 2011 – Boland Cavaliers (Vodacom Cup), Regent Boland Cavaliers (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
- 2012 – GWK Griquas (Vodacom Cup), GWK Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division).
Cheetah coachesNaka, and Hawies, will probably not look further than the young and exciting van Zyl, and the experienced duo of “Super” Sarel and Tewis, but should injuries cut them down, Marnus is a player of similar ilk.
Best wishes to all sportsfans for 2013!
Piet van Zyl have the potential to make it on the international level, stay injury free for a while and he will be picked up by HM, he is close to the all round scrummy everyone wants.
Sarel is great to watch and excellent on attack but also have one of the poorest defensive records in the tournaments history. He has been a Cheetah before with the same attacking brilliance but where has it brought them in the competition?
HE should become a permanent 7’s player…
Tewis is okay and can provide a backup kicking option, surely to be used if injuries come up
Hugo, don’t know him that well
@ Gena,
Agreed about van Zyl. Sarel’s defence has been problematic, but the Cheetahs as a whole need to take responsibility for that aspect. To be fair, I think that they can keep the same intensity on attack, and just learn to close out the close games.
As far as kicking goes, the Cheetahs should be fine. They have Goosen, Brummer, Scheepers, Graaff, Watts, and Riaan smit to fall back on.
VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
Piet sould have been a Bok before Jarno Vermaak, but he doesn’t play for the Bools.
3 @ Loosehead:
Jeeeez, you Freestaters all really rate Piet Kakkerlak… hell you rate ALL your Free State players… some perspective is needed by you okes, seriously!
He has done NOTHING to convince me yet… zilch
I like your scrummies, and I still rate Sareltjie very highly. As for V Zyl, one for the future
3 @ grootblousmile:
Uhm, isn’t that what happens when you support a team?
Look back to last year, you REALLY rated the shit that is Dejan Greyling and the crap flank Chabal Lite.
Good group of 9’s.
With van Zyl and Pretorious the most likely to start I think they have the edge over the Bulls group, just.
However, any injuries to van Zyl or Pretoors and the pendulum swings.
I assume the Sharks will most likey start with the duo of Macloud and Reinach, which is also an explosive combination.
Guess I’ll have to dig into an archive and find who the mountain goats have available to enable me to give a really balanced neutral viewpoint of it all.
Hah, kak met die streeptruie. Don’t care about them.
6 @ Loosehead:
At least both players I had rated in early 2012 have already made Springbok…. has Piet Kakkerlak done the same?
However, I agree with you, Dean Greyling’s shares have plumitted… and Jacques Potgieter still seriously needs to tweak his approach, specially on defence.
So, the difference seems to be that some supporters have the ability to be more objective and less provincially biased.
8 @ grootblousmile:
Wot, like the Lions’ supporters?
9 @ Scrumdown:
Friend, you are a model Lions supporter…. and I have to commend you on your objectivity… you’re not scared to admit when your Union causes kakkas, you are not scared to openly criticise your own Union for ineptness.
And in general you are also not scared to mention the faults in Lions play or players or to give credit where due in or at other Unions.
So, YEAH, like even some Lions Supporters!
Hehehehe
10 @ grootblousmile:
The question I have to ask is, “will the new Lions CEO be either brave or honest enough to realise and admit the organisations failings, and if he does, will the Union be willing to do anything about it?”
It’s easier to look only for the silver linings, even when the hail is knocking seven shades of sh1t out of your new car, and the flood waters are flowing through the lounge at 5m / second.
The first step to healing is admitting there is an illness. Fortunately (in the eyes of the GLRU), they are very healthy without a sick bone in their proverbial body.
Hopefully 2013 will be the “new dawn” for the once great Union.
11 @ Scrumdown:
Guess I could have strung that all together a bit more coherently, but I think you get the drift of my thought pattern.
At least the Lions won’t lose in the Semi Final of the Lions challenge to the Bulls, Stormers or Sharks!
@ grootblousmile:
Neither of them should ever have come close to a Bok jersey.
I am very objective. [towards the Bools, Klinks, Tjarks and Stompies players].
13 @ Loosehead:
Loskoppie,
Are you objective… really…. you seriously believe that?
14 @ grootblousmile:
Are you implying that I am not?
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