Twenty-year-old lock Arno van der Merwe will make his first start for the Cheetahs in Friday evening’s match against Georgia’s Black Lion in Bloemfontein.
The hosts have gone with a largely settled match 23 for the fixture that will serve as key preparation for the upcoming EPCR Challenge Cup.
It also carries a little extra edge, with several Black Lion players part of Georgia’s team that lost 24-20 to the Cheetahs in July.
Van der Merwe, a former Grey College and Shimlas standout, earned his senior Cheetahs debut in last year’s SA Cup and says he’s embracing the opportunity.
“I’m really excited; I feel this whole U21 season has given me good preparation for the build-up to this game,” he told OFM.
The Cheetahs will field a back three of Michael Annies, Prince Nkabinde and Cohen Jasper, with Marco Janse van Vuren and Franco Smith Jr in midfield. Clayton Blommetjies and Smiley Nel form the halfback pairing.
New signing Zander du Plessis will make his debut off the bench. The versatile back, who grew up in Bloemfontein, says representing the Cheetahs is a childhood dream come true.
“Growing up here, you know how much the Cheetahs mean to the people,” Du Plessis told OFM. “I was a fan of Frans Steyn at Grey, so I supported both the Cheetahs and Sharks. I looked up to him, and it’s exciting to now play under him.”
Kick-off at Free State Stadium is 6pm.
Cheetahs – 15 Michael Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Arno van der Merwe, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 1 Tielman Nieuwoudt.
Bench: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Malcolm Lamont, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Mihali Mosi, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Zander du Plessis.
Black Lion – 15 Otar Metreveli, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Zaur Lutidze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Shalva Aptsiauri, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Pranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Demur Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili (c), 3 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Dato Abdushelishvili.
Bench: 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 18 Badri Tsikhistavi, 19 Giorgi Nikoladze, 20 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 21 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 22 Alexander Todua, 23 Luka Takaishvili.
The post Cheetahs back young lock for Black Lion clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Twenty-year-old lock Arno van der Merwe will make his first start for the Cheetahs in Friday evening’s match against Georgia’s Black Lion in Bloemfontein.
The post Cheetahs back young lock for Black Lion clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
