Rugby
Brüssow named on Cheetahs bench─── 12:41 Tue, 10 Mar 2015
The Toyota Cheetahs have received a major boost ahead of this weekends’ Super Rugby encounter against the Sharks in Bloemfontein.
Flanker Heinrich Brüssow will make his return to the park on Saturday as the Cheetahs look to return winning ways after their disappointing 39-20 loss to the Bulls last week.
While the stocky loose forward will most likely only feature in the second half of the match after being named on the bench, his inclusion is welcome nonetheless.
The mere presence of the Springbok fetcher gives the side a psychological advantage, and captain Francois Uys told Courant that he is off immense value to the team.
“It’s going to be massive. Every Monday everybody just askes it’s Heinz going to be ready,” the lock said.
“I think it’s going to have massive impact on the younger players as well, a lot of people forget that we actually are quiet an inexperienced side.
“So we’re definitely going to learn from what he can give us that that is just the way he goes about doing things,” Uys said about the influential player.
There are still a few little niggles in the squad selected for the sides fourth match of the campaign, however according to coach Naka Drotské the side announced on Tuesday will be pretty much the team to play.
“It’s pretty much settled, at this stage we still have to clear Sarel Pretorius but at this stage it looks as if he will be fine and the same goes for Francois Venter.
“There might be replacements coming in, but I doubt that. At this stage its 90% possibility that this will be the team.
Springbok flank Oupa Mohoje is a notable exclusion from the match-23; however Drotské said it’s purely due to the South African Rugby Unions policy on resting Springboks during a World Cup year.
According to SARU’s mandate, Springboks have to be rested every three or four matches.
This sees Tienie Burger get his first run on start after playing of the bench against the Blues and the Bulls.
On the bench, Clayton Blommetjies comes in for Johann Sadie who has moved to the starting XV at outside centre.
Saturday evening’s match will be the Cheetahs last home game before they travel to Australasia for their overseas leg of the campaign.
The match on Saturday evening at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 17:05.
Toyota Cheetahs – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Minnie.
Replacements – Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Heinrich Brüssow, 20 Steven Sykes, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
