This is the 8th and last in the series of Cheetahs Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We did 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for BACK THREE in the Toyota Cheetahs 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Hendrik Joseph “Hennie” Daniller:

Position Fullback Height 1.94m Weight 100kg Date of Birth 5 April 1984 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2003 Provincial Caps 82 Provincial Points 60 Super Rugby Debut 2004 Super Rugby Caps 83 Super Rugby Points 55 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Hennie Daniller is a product of Hex Valley Primary School and Paarl Gymnasium.

He started his career back in 2003 where he represented the Blue Bulls. In 2006 he made a move down to Boland and represented Boland until the end of 2007, from here he made a move to the Cheetahs in 2008 and has been applying his trade at the Cheetahs ever since. He also respresented South Africa at Under 19 and Under 21 levels.

Daniller is a very solid fullback. He is good under the high ball and has a very potent left boot. He is however not known for his attacking skills and appears a bit lumbersome at times. I also feel that this is why he has never and most probably will never represent the Springboks, as he is not a game breaker in the true sense of the word and does not come into the backline often enough and also seems to hang back a bit on attack. Having said all that, the Cheetahs did well last season where he was the fullback for virtually the whole season, so I doubt that the coaching staff will change too much at fullback, which in turn could see Daniller starting most games this season at fullback.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2003 – Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB FIRA-AER U19 World Championship, Mobil Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Blue Bulls – ABSA U20 A Section
• 2004 – Bulls – Vodacom Super 12, Mobil Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB U21 World Championships, Blue Bulls – ABSA U20 Competition Section A
• 2005 – South Africa – IRB U21 World Championships, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – Fidentia Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup
• 2007 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifiers, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2008 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom FS Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom FS Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Griffons – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2009 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – British & Irish Lions Tour, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation
• 2013 – Toyota Cheetahs – Lions Challenge, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Raymond Kofi “Raymond” Rhule:

Position Left Wing / Fullback / Outside Centre Height 1.80m Weight 82kg Date of Birth 6 November 1992 Place of Birth Accra, Ghana Provincial Debut 2012 Provincial Caps 23 Provincial Points 75 Super Rugby Debut 2013 Super Rugby Caps 17 Super Rugby Points 25 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Raymond Rhule is a product of Sentraal Primary School, Louis Botha Technical High School and University of the Free State (Shimlas).

He started his career in 2009 at Under 18 level for the Free State and has gone on to represent them at Under 19, Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup and Super Rugby levels. He received a call up to the Springbok squad in 2012 but was never capped.

Rhule is in a very good position too make a name and get into Springbok contention this year, seeing as a lot of players have moved overseas. Rhule finds himself in a side that loves to run the ball from basically everywhere and if he uses this to his advantage, he could well find himself part of the Springbok squad for the June Tests.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2009 – Free State – U18 Academy Week
• 2010 – Free State – U18 Craven Week
• 2011 – Free State – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2012 – Shimlas – Varsity Cup, Toyota Free State XV – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation, Springbok squad member – Castle Outgoing Tours
• 2013 – Toyota Cheetahs – Lions Challenge, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Willem Jacobus “Willie” le Roux:

Position Fullback / Right Wing Height 1.86m Weight 90kg Date of Birth 18 August 1989 Place of Birth Stellenbosch Provincial Debut 2010 Provincial Caps 50 Provincial Points 226 Super Rugby Debut 2012 Super Rugby Caps 33 Super Rugby Points 65 Test Debut 2013 v Italy Test Caps 12 Test Points 20

Willie le Roux is a product of Lochnerhof Primary School and Paul Roos Gymnasium.

He started his career in 2007 with Western Province at the Under 18 level at the U/18 Academy Week. From there he went on to represent the Boland at Under 21, Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup levels. In 2012 he made his move to the Griquas and also found himself playing Super Rugby for the Cheetahs. He made his Springbok debut in 2013 and has only shown growth from strenght to strenght.

Le Roux is a fun player too watch. He always tries to spark the game and is always busy on the field. He is very illusive and possesses quite a bit of pace, this is likely the reason why he is in the current Springbok squad. There are quite a few people that would like him to play more at No 15 (fullback) and I am one of them. However, looking at this Cheetah squad, it is likely that he will find himself at No 14 (right wing) for most of the season, with Hennie Daniller at fullback.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2007 – Western Province – U18 Academy Week
• 2008 – Boland – ABSA U21 Promotion / Relegation, Boland – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2010 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Boland – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2011 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Regent Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2012 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks- The Rugby Championship, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation, Springboks – Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, Barbarians vs Fiji

Name: Rocco Reginald “Rocco” Jansen:

Position Wing Height 1.79m Weight 91kg Date of Birth 21 July 1986 Place of Birth Queenstown Provincial Debut 2007 Provincial Caps 100 Provincial Points 285 Super Rugby Debut 2012 Super Rugby Caps 4 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Rocco Jansen is a product of Queen’s College and North-West University (Pukke).

He started his career in 2005 with the Imapalas, in 2006 he went on to represent the Leopards at Under 19 and Under 21 levels. In 2009 he found himself at the Blue Bulls and represented them at Under 21, Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup levels. He made a move to the Mighty Elephants late in 2009. In 2010 he moved to the Griquas and made his Super Rugby debut for the Cheetahs.

Jansen will be seen by most as an average player. He performs well enough and is normally very consistent but does not show anything beyond that. Having said that, he is a good replacement to have in your side and will give you the 100% required, when he is called up.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2005 – Impalas – Provincial Amateur Competition
• 2006 – Leopards – SA Under 19 Competition, Leopards – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Leopards – Inter-Provincial Sevens Competition for men
• 2007 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Blue Bulls XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2008 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Emerging Springboks – IRB Nations Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2009 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Bulls – MTN test, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Mighty Elephants – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2010 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation

Name: Cornal Hendricks:

Position Wing / Centre Height 1.89m Weight 90kg Date of Birth 18 April 1988 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2008 Provincial Caps 67 Provincial Points 135 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Cornal Hendricks is a product of Wellington Primary School and Berg River High School.

He started his career in 2006 with Roses United. He went from there to represent the Boland from 2007 to 2011 where he then received a call-up to represent the Blitzbokke. He has been playing for the Blitzbokke ever since.

Cornal Hendricks finds himself in a team who has quite some talent on wing and fullback. This team also contains 3 seasoned National Sevens players. I doubt the he will see too much game time is is most likely a back up player, just in case there are a lot of injuries. He will also most likely be seen as the lowest in the Back Three pecking order.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Roses United – Fidentia National Club Championships
• 2007 – Boland – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2008 – Boland – ABSA U21 Promotion / Relegation, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Boland – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2009 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation
• 2010 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Boland – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2011 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Regent Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series in South Africa
• 2012 – South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series (New Zealand, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Glasgow &  London), Regent Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, SA Barbarians South – Castle Incoming Tours, Regent Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series (Gold Coast, Dubai & South Africa)
• 2013 – South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series (New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Scotland, England & Gold Coast)

Name: Rayno Shannon “Rayno” Benjamin:

Position Wing / Centre Height 1.87m Weight 89kg Date of Birth 3 August 1983 Place of Birth Vredenburg Provincial Debut 2004 Provincial Caps 86 Provincial Points 255 Super Rugby Debut 2006 Super Rugby Caps 51 Super Rugby Points 55 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Rayno Benjamin is a product of St. Helena Bay Primary School and Weston High School.

He started his career in 2004 with Boland, then went on represent them until 2006 and also had a brief stint with the Stormers at Super Rugby level in this period. In 2007 he received a call-up to represent the Blitzbokke and also found himself in the Cheetah squad for Super Rugby and the Lions squad for the Currie Cup. In 2008 He represented the Lions in Super Rugby and Currie Cup. In 2009 he played primarily sevens rugby but was also part of the Southern Kings team which took part against British & Irish Lions. In 2011 he made a complete move to the Cheetahs and has been representing them ever since.

Benjamin possesses talent and as a sevens player he has good ball skills. He is known as a wing but has come onto the park as a scrumhalf replacement as well in 2013. He will most likely be a regular bench player this season. He will give everything when he gets game time.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2004 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Shield, Cavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
• 2005 – Boland Kavaliers – Vodacom Cup, Boland Kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Boland kavaliers – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – South Africa – IRB Sevens Series (Dubai & George), Fidentia Boland Kvaliers – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14
• 2007 – South Africa – IRB Sevens Series (USA, New Zealand, Hong Kong & Adelaide), Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2008 – Auto & General Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – IRB Sevens Series (Dubai & George)
• 2009 – South Africa – IRB Men’s Rugby World Cup Sevens, South Africa – IRB Sevens Series (Dubai & George), Southern Kings – British & Irish Lions Tour
• 2011 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Emergin Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation
• 2013 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, South Africa – IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Name: Jacobus Nicolaas “Nico” Scheepers:

Position Fullback / Wing Height 1.87m Weight 100kg Date of Birth 27 February 1990 Place of Birth Port Eilizabeth Provincial Debut 2010 Provincial Caps 32 Provincial Points 235 Super Rugby Debut 2012 Super Rugby Caps 3 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Nico Scheepers is a product of Gamtoosvallei Primary School, Gamtoosvallei High School and University of the Free State (Shimlas).

He started his career in 2008 at Under 18 level for Eastern Province. In 2009 he made a move to the Cheetahs where he represented them at Under 19 level and remained at the Cheetahs until 2013 when he made a move to represent the Griquas in the 2013 Currie Cup season. He was also part of the Junior Springbok squad in 2010.

Scheepers is a very good replacement to have in your side and he is a good runner with ball in hand and can kick at goal as well. He is also not likely to see too much game time with all the talent in the Toyota Cheetahs squad but he gives that bit of comfort, due to his versatility as a utility back.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2008 – Eastern Province – U18 Academy Week
• 2009 – Free State – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Free State – Vodacom Cup, South Africa- IRB Junior World Championships, Free State – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2011 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Vodacom Cup, Emerging Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Free State – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – Shimlas – Varsity Cup, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation
• 2013 – Toyota Free State XV – Vodacom Cup, Shimlas – Varsity Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation

Starters:

Once again the Cheetahs seem to have enough quality cover in their Back Three as with almost all of their other positions in 2014. Picking a starting combination in this squad is a no-brainer, picking the replacement bench is going to be more difficult as the possibilities are quite vast.

Starting combination in the Back Three fot this team would be Raymond Rhule at No 11 (left wing), Willie le Roux at No 14 (right wing),  with Hennie Daniller at No 15 (fullback).

I would not mind seeing this combination – Raymond Rhule at No 11, Nico Scheepers at No 14 and Willie le Roux at No 15.

Time will tell with this squad, they seem to have good cover in all positions and it would be great if the Cheetahs could relive or improve on last season’s form.

This was the last Article in the series dealing with the Toyota Cheetahs.