Rugby
Brüssow named in Cheetahs starting XV─── 17:01 Tue, 15 Apr 2014
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein - The Toyota Cheetahs named Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow in their starting XV to tackle the Sharks in Durban over the weekend.
The player will play his first Super Rugby match of the season after recovering from a toe injury he sustained while playing for his Japanese club Red Hurricanes during the South African off-season.
Veteran fullback Hennie Daniller once again dons the number 15 jersey, while team vice-captain Willie le Roux slots in on left wing.
Speedster, Raymond Rhule who sustained an ankle injury in New Zealand against the Hurricanes returns to the match-23 with a bench-warmer role.
Loosehead prop Caylib Oosthuizen returns to the starting line-up, with Springbok Trevor Nyakane being demoted back to the bench.
Adapting to a South African brand of rugby will be somewhat of a challenge for the Cheetahs, after facing New Zealand opponents in four consecutive matches.
However, having played against the Hurricanes, Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders in their four previous matches is not always a bad thing.
Loose forward Boom Prinsloo told OFM Sport that the two brands of rugby are like chalk–and-cheese with South Africans preferring a more direct approach, while the Kiwis are more expansive.
Le Roux in his turn said despite their six loses this season, they are playing good rugby.
“South African derbies are always going to be tough, it’s where the guys play for a Springbok spot,” Le Roux said when speaking about the Sharks in Durban.
“It’s all about going out there and delivering our best possible performance. We’ve played the Kiwis now, but it’s going to be good to play against a South African team again,” Le Roux concluded.
Sharks coach, Jake White is well aware of the dangers the Cheetahs pose out wide, but is confident the Durban-side has enough speed to counter them.
Saturday's match at Kings' Park kicks off at 15:00.
Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements – 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Rossouw de Klerk, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Riaan Smit, 23 Raymond Rhule.
Willie le Roux speaks on facing SA teams...:
