Rugby
The Cheetahs name team to face the Sharks─── 09:34 Wed, 11 Feb 2015
The Toyota Cheetahs have named their first side for the 2015 Super Rugby season when they announced their match-23 to tackle the Sharks.
The Cheetahs travel to Durban for the first round of the competition and they selected the team on what the management believes to be one best suited to the conditions on the east coast.
The most notable inclusion sees the former Stormers man Joe Pietersen, who attended Grey College for three years named at flyhalf.
Michael van der Spuy, who was born in Bethlehem and was also schooled at the famous rugby school and ran out for the men from the Cape received the nod ahead Johann Sadie at centre.
According to assistant coach, Hawies Fourie, Van der Spuy is being rewarded for a good preseason while Sadie in being rested after returning from his stint in Japan.
The exciting and speedy Clayton Blommetjies will start at wing, while Springbok wing and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, Cornal Hendricks warms the bench.
Upfront, Torsten van Jaarsveld gets a start at hooker, while Danie Mienie starts at loosehead prop, with Coenie Oosthuizen playing tighthead.
Lood de Jager and captain Francois Uys will once again for a formidable lock combination.
The team sees an exciting loose trio with Springbok Oupa Mohoje, Jean Cook and Willie Britz forming the back-row.
Responding to Bok flyhalf, Pat Lambie’s statement that the Cheetahs play well as a team, Uys said they pride themselves on playing as a unit.
“It’s definitely true and is something we pride ourselves on. When we are playing as a unit we know we play well.
“It’s up to us as the leadership group in the side to get us to a place where we know where those soft moments are and we need to limit that.
“I think if we can do that we will be even more formidable.
“It’s always nice to hear guys speaking about the team in such a good manner, be we know they’ve also got their strengths,” Uys concluded.
Saturday evenings match at Kings’ Park in Durban kicks off at 17:05.
Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Piertersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Mienie.
Replacements - 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Boom Prinsloo, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
