With Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen on his way home following a torn cruciate ligament, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has included Riaan Smit in the number 10 jersey for his side’s final Super Rugby game abroad against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.
The Cheetahs are looking for a third victory overseas, and Drotske has chosen not to tamper too much with his side that claimed the scalps of the Highlanders and Waratahs.
“To lose Johan to injury is a major blow, but this is the perfect time for Riaan Smit to prove his worth,” Drotske said after naming his team on Wednesday.
Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussow makes his first Super Rugby start after returning from injury, coming in for the injured Frans Viljoen who is also on his way back to South Africa.
Drotske has decided to leave his front row as is, with Bok prop Coenie Oosthuizen being used as an impact player.
Griquas flyhalf Burton Francis has been included on the replacement bench for the first time after he joined the Cheetahs two weeks ago.
Cheetahs team:
15 Hennie Daniller
14 Willie le Roux
13 Johan Sadie
12 Robert Ebersohn
11 Raymond Rhule
10 Riaan Smit
9 Sarel Pretorius
8 Phillip van der Walt
7 Lappies Labuschagne
6 Heinrich Brüssow
5 Francois Uys
4 Lood de Jager
3 Lourens Adriaanse
2 Adriaan Strauss (Captain)
1 Trevor Nyakane
Replacements:
16 Ryno Barnes
17 Coenie Oosthuisen
18 Rynhard Landman
19 Boom Prinsloo
20 Piet van Zyl
21 Burton Francis
22 Ryno Benjamin
Consistency is key. Glad they didn’t yank Le Roux or Ebersohn out of their positions, reshuffling the pack drastically when winning is never a wise gamble. One more victory on the road and some SA teams might start calculating where the Cheetahs will end up on the log with the coastal teams yet to travel.
Do your work, agent Sias!
Smit is heel ok, goeie speler…..GO Cheetahs!!!!
(Flippit, hoe lank gaan Burton Francis nog op rugbybankies dwarsoor die wereld deurbring? Die outjie verdien sweerlik beter, of hoe? Miskien moes hy maar ook na Cheeky toe, as back-up vir Catrakilis…..)
Still a very good team this and Smit is a good player, though I would have liked to have seen Le Roux play fh he often is at 1st receiver anyhow. Think he could be a very good fh.
GO CHEETS GO, make it 3 out of 4 on tour.
Good luck to our Bloem boys. So far they have made us proud saffas.
Right now Robert Ebersohn has been our best inside centre from our conference. I do hope that Meyer has been watching. Well the season is still early days so have to see how the others go for the rest of the season, but Robert has set the bench mark so far.
Crusaders team to play the Kings:
1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Corey Flynn, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. George Whitelock, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (c), 9. Willi Heinz, 10. Dan Carter, 11. Johnny McNicholl, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Tom Marshall, 15. Israel Dagg
Reserves: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. Joe Moody, 18. Dominic Bird, 19. Luke Whitelock, 20. Andy Ellis, 21. Tyler Bleyendaal, 22. Zac Guildford
Kings fly foreign duo back to SA
The Kings have recalled two of their “foreign players” from their touring squad and replaced them with two South Africans, it’s been confirmed.
Argentina’s back-row Tomas Leonardi and French hooker Virgil Lacombe are on a flight back to the Republic while hooker Edgar Marutlulle and loose forward Devin Oosthuizen fly to New Zealand.
The Kings’ decision to back down in their stand-off with SARU comes after they used three of their foreign players in Friday’s clash with the Chiefs.
Chairman of the Kings board, Cheeky Watson, is on the same flight as Marutlulle and Oosthuizen to New Zealand, ahead of their Crusaders fixture
Where is the Cricket threat. I guess it don’t matter as the game is almost over
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