'Bird flu' strikes Brakpan boys
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:25
The Falcons will host the Lions in an Absa Currie Cup match in Brakpan on Friday with their main striker, outside centre Rouan Cloete, and two of their forwards suffering from flu this week.
Lock Wouter Moore and hooker Jody Jeneker has been named on the bench after missing most of this week's training with Ruhan van Jaarsveld and Rayno Barnes returning to the starting XV.
Falcons coach Rudy Joubert has made a number of changes to his pack, recalling Gavin Whittingham at loosehead prop and naming new recruit Johan de Bruin at the side of the scrum.
The exciting Doepie du Preez would have started against the Lions to add an extra line-out option to the side. With Cloete, who was originally named in the side not playing, Ernie Kruger moves to outside centre and Johan Swartz gets another start on the wing.
This is Swartz's first start since his red card against Western Province when he received his marching orders for a spear tackle on Gio Aplon.
Swartz's return might be a good omen for the Falcons who need to win at least two more games to avoid a relegation match at the end of the season.
The Falcons have put a high premium on first phase possession this week in order to get their runners on the front foot.
Falcons: 15 Johan Jackson, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Ernie Kruger, 12 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 11 Johan Swartz, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Poerie van Rooyen, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Johan de Bruin, 6 Warren Perkins, 5 Marius Coetzer, 3 Ruhan van Jaarsveld, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Gavin Whittingham.
Replacements: 16 Jody Jeneker, 17 Frik Venter, 18 Wouter Moore, 19 Reg Muller/Emile Verster, 20 Gerrie Odendaal, 21 Showan Smith, 22 Jeff Perkins.
Date: Friday, September 5
Venue: Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Peter de Bruin
TMO: Michael Cupido
