Drotské unveils macro pack for Bulls
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:57
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské opted for the macro pack that gave the Bulls a run for their money in last year's Currie Cup Final, when he named the team to face the same Bulls outfit in the opening round of the Super 14 in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The only change to the Cheetahs pack is the return of Springbok stalwart Juan Smith, who takes over the captaincy from hooker Adriaan Strauss and replaces Frans Viljoen at blindside flank.
The backline has been significantly bolstered by some Griquas imports - with Springbok tourists Riaan Viljoen at fullback ahead of Hennie Daniller and Naas Olivier at flyhalf in place of Jacques-Louis Potgieter, after the latter transferred to the Bulls.
Olivier, who has been making steady progress after pre-season knee surgery, will play his first game of the year on Friday, after only just rejoining the team last week.
There is one other change in the backline, from the team that started the Currie Cup Final, Tewis de Bruyn at scrumhalf in place of JP Joubert - the latter having won an arbitration fight against the Cheetahs to join the Lions.
It is a well-balanced team that will be keen to get off to a winning start against the defending champions and prove the pre-season predictions wrong.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Frans Viljoen, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Danwel Demas.
Date: Friday, February 12
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referee: Marius Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
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