The table-topping Cheetahs have made wholesale changes for Friday night’s central derby against defending Currie Cup champions Griquas at Griqua Park.
Head coach Frans Steyn handed several fresh faces starting roles. Henry Immelman moves into the No 15 jersey, with Cohen Jasper and Carel Jan Coetzee slotting in at right wing and outside centre, respectively.
Jooste Nel will run out at inside centre, Ethan Wentzel takes over at flyhalf and Rewan Kruger gets the nod at scrumhalf, with Faf de Klerk and Jaco van der Walt both dropping to the bench.
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Up front, lock Victor Sekekete captains the side in place of Neels Volschenk, partnered by Simon Miller, while Frankie Dos Reis and Juan Smal come into the front row alongside Tebogo Nkosi.
The Cheetahs travel to Kimberley unbeaten with maximum points from wins over the Lions and Sharks XV, but face a Griquas side having bounced back from round-one loss to the Stormers XXIII with a bonus-point win over the Vodacom Bulls XV last week.
“This is our first away game and it will be tough,” Steyn said. ‘We have a plan, and hopefully the one we have in place will work for us. There is an opportunity for us.”
CHEETAHS – 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Carel Jan Coetzee, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Juan Venter, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Simon Miller, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Juan Smal, 1 Tebogo Nkosi.
Bench: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Michael Annies.
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
The post Faf benched for clash with champs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The table-topping Cheetahs have made wholesale changes for Friday night’s central derby against defending Currie Cup champions Griquas at Griqua Park.
The post Faf benched for clash with champs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
