Franco Smith

Toyota Free State Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has named his team for their ABSA Currie Cup opener against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday (14:15 SA Time kick-off).

Francois Uys, who led the team in Super Rugby, has retained the captaincy for the Currie Cup.

It’s a relatively inexperienced Cheetahs line-up, with left wing Raymond Rhule the only Springbok.

Niel Marais, who was a star for Shimlas in this year’s Varsity Cup, starts at flyhalf, with Shaun Venter at scrumhalf.

Up front, the Cheetahs will lean heavily on the experience of flank Boom Prinsloo as well as skipper Uys.

It will be the 1st time Smith is in charge in the Currie Cup, having taking over the head coaching duties from Naka Drotske during the latter stages of Super Rugby.

Smith earlier this year coached Shimlas to a maiden Varsity Cup triumph.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (Captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga.

Sport24