Cheetahs forced to reshuffle the pack
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:47
CJ van der Linde - a Bok, not a Cheetah. (c) Gallo
The Free State Cheetahs have been forced to reshuffle their pack for Saturday's Currie Cup crunch match against the defending champion Blue Bulls.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské had hoped to have Springbok prop CJ van der Linde available for the rest of the season, but his name suddenly appeared on a list of contracted Springboks that will go into a conditioning programme for the next month.
Even though Van der Linde was not on the list of contracted Boks released earlier this year, he now appears to be one of the 'chosen 20' for next year's World Cup and is off-limits to the Cheetahs.
Three Cheetahs now appear on that Bok conditioning list - Van der Linde, as well as flanks Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow. They will only to Currie Cup duty in October only - although Brüssow (knee) will not be fit for action then.
With Van der Linde unavailable, Kobus Caldo is back at tighthead, where he played last week and WP Nel retains his spot on the bench.
Drotské is also sweating over the fitness of veteran flank Hendro Scholtz, who injured his shoulder against Griquas last week. If he fails a fitness test, Johan Wessels will comer into the starting XV.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Hendro Scholtz/Johan Wessels, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 WP Nel, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Corné Uys.
Date: Saturday, September 11
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant
referees: Mlungiseli Mdashe, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
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