Rugby
Nyakane starts against the Chiefs─── 12:49 Wed, 02 Apr 2014
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein – Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane starts at loosehead for the Toyota Cheetahs in their Super Rugby clash against the defending champions, the Chiefs, this weekend.
In the only other change to the starting XV which lost to the Blues during their last tour game two weeks ago, Jean Cook moves from flank to No. 8 with Lappies Labuschagné returning to the starting team in his more familiar number 7 jersey.
Despite the Chiefs having arguably the strongest and most consistent scrum in this year's campaign, coach Naka Drotské says Nyakane’s inclusion has nothing to do with their opponents’ strong scrum.
“I think Caylib really scrummed well and his work rate has been very good this season, but he has little bit of a hamstring niggle,” Drotské said.
“He should be fine, so we decided to play Trevor the first sixty and Caylib the last twenty as a precaution,” he added.
“We’ll see how Trevor goes. Obviously he is a quality player as well. He has a lot of experience and is solid scrummager as well, but not taking anything away from Caylib. I think Caylib has been playing really well this season, but if it wasn’t for his hamstring we would have started him again,” he went on to say.
Although Coenie Oosthuizen's name surprised most on the team sheet, Drotské confirmed the Springbok prop was initially named on the bench, however will not play after his scan results from this morning came back negative.
“Coenie won’t be available this week, or next week. It’s a neck injury, so we won’t take any chances. Dan Hugo, his doctor, said he has to wait another two-weeks so Rossouw de Klerk will slot in for Coenie,” Drotské said.
The coach also confirmed that Springbok flanker, Heinrich Brüssow, is set to return to action next week for his first Super Rugby match of the season.
The Bok number six has been out of action ever since he broke his toe during a club game for his Japanese club before the start of the Super Rugby.
Saturday's match at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 15:00.
Cheetahs – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Hennie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Lappies Labuschagné, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements – 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Rossouw de Klerk, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Howard Mnisi.
