Oosthuizen's return delayed

 

Oosthuizen was ruled out of the Cheetahs overseas tour where the Bloemfontein-based side lost all four of their matches.

 

Oosthuizen's inclusion would have been a boost for the hosts ahead of what was predicted to be a massive scrum battle.

 

"We made a decision at training today [Wednesday] after we received the results from his scan this morning," Drotske said.

 

"It's a neck injury so obviously we won't take any chances. Rossouw de Klerk will come in on the replacement bench in Coenie's place."

 

The Cheetahs will be looking to turn a corner when they face the Chiefs at home on Saturday.

 

Drotske has had time to identify where his team went wrong away from home but hopes that some of the momentum gained in the last two matches on tour can be built upon in Bloemfontein.

 

"We couldn't keep the ball through phases, that was a major factor in the games we lost so far," Drotske said.

 

"The second thing is that a lot of 50-50 decisions went against us.

 

"It is always difficult to win away from home, and if you get three yellow cards and concede 14 to 70 points every time, you have to play catch up rugby."

 

Drotske has selected Jean Cook at eighthman in the place of the injured Philip van der Walt. He would alternate between the back of the scrum and flanker with Johannes Prinsloo.

 

"On our own ball Boom [Prinsloo] will be at the back of the scrum and on the opposition ball he packs down at open side flanker," he said.

 

"It doesn't really matter who has the number eight on his back."

 

The Cheetahs loose-forward depth will also be bolstered as of next week with Springbok Heinrich Brüssow set to return to the squad after completing his commitments in Japan.