Rugby
Last Cheetahs hurrah for Le Roux─── 09:52 Thu, 11 Jun 2015
Springbok fullback, Willie le Roux returns to the Toyota Cheetahs starting line-up for their last game of the Super Rugby season when they tackle the Bulls on Saturday in Pretoria.
The inclusion of Le Roux is one of four changes made to the run-on side which lost the 58-33 to the Waratahs in Bloemfontein last week.
The unpredictable Le Roux will be running out for the side for the last time, before a brief stint in Japan and a move down to the Sharks. His inclusion sees Coenie van Wyk demoted to the bench for the match.
Clayton Blommetjies also returns to the side and will start on the right wing, with Sergeal Petersen moving over to the left side of the field. Despite Springbok winger Cornal Hendricks scoring two tries against the defending champions last week, he’s general play and poor defence found him wanting and he moves out the match-23.
Hendricks will not be representing the Cheetahs again either and will look for another home. Reports out of Cape Town are indicating that the Stormers are after his services.
Coach Franco Smith told OFM Sport that Blommetjies gets a start with the side also looking ahead at the Currie Cup.
“I’m hoping that it will, I think Blommetjies is also excited to play I did pick with the eye on the Currie Cup a little bit to give him some game time and see if he can play another role.
“It will also be good to see him on attack a little bit more and it’s gives us an opportunity to make sure everybody gets a bit of game time.
Niel Marais’ solid debut at flyhalf last week sees him retaining his starting role as the teams pivot and will really enjoy the good kicking conditions at Loftus Versfeld.
Upfront, the versatile Henco Venter gets another starting role on the side of the scrum at the expense of the solid and impressive Tienie Burger who will start off the bench.
Springbok flanker, Oupa Mohoje will also make his long awaited return after recovering from a groin injury and will join Burger on the bench.
There is a possible debut on the cards for Shimlas and Free State scrumhalf, Renier Botha who also gets drafted onto the bench in the place of Shaun Venter who sustained a heavy knock against the Tahs.
The Cheetahs will want to improve their defence after leaking nine tries last weekend, and Smith says there team needs to fight fire with fire this weekend.
“We must also consider the way we defend and the way we approach the contact situation and the quality of the collisions, so we’ve put a bit of emphasis on that.
“It’s still early days, but if we want to improve physically we will need bit of a preseason.
“But hopefully there will be a some attitude from the players because he have to fight fire with fire this weekend.
Saturday’s match at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 17:05.
Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements – 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Oupa Mohoje, 22 Renier Botha, 23 Coenie van Wyk.
