Rugby
Marais starts at flyhalf againt Blue Bulls─── 13:02 Wed, 05 Aug 2015
Toyota Free State Cheetahs coach, Franco Smith has revealed his hand by naming his first Currie Cup team, who will be tackling the Blue Bulls on Saturday in Bloemfontein.
The team has been hard at work during the past 6 weeks in preseason in an effort to get fitter, sharper and more physical.
Smith and he coaching staff have been holding their cards close to their chests over the past few weeks, given little indication of his plans.
Varsity Cup winning Shimlas flyhalf, Niel Marais cracks the nod above Fred Zeilinga, Sias Eberson and Willie du Plessis in the starting role, while Shaun Venter will start at scrumhalf.
New hooker, Neil Rautenbach will make his Free State debut in the Currie Cup, while the Boela Serfontein will partner up with captain Francois Uys in the second row.
Gerhard Olivier who excelled during the Varsity Cup and came on as a replacement against the Waratahs and the Bulls in the Super Rugby will don the number eight jersey with Boom Prinsloo and Henco venter completing the loose trio.
Smith told OFM Sport that Marais has done nothing wrong not to deserve his spot in the starting XV.
“Niel has been playing well. He has done nothing not to be selected again and he is a player who is developing well and I also think a bit of continuity is necessary going into this first week.
“I think his verbal skills are excellent and it’s going to needed in a busy stadium which we are expecting on Saturday.
The front-row will see Caylib Oosthuizen playing at loosehead prop, while the former BabyBok, Luan de Bruin will play tighthead.
Smith added that it’s a massive compliment to a the team and the union, if a player wants to return to play for the side, as is the case with Maks van Dyk who briefly joined the EP Kings.
“If a player wants to play for a side or a union, that’s the biggest compliment he can give a union.
“We’ve been losing so many players lately that it’s really a breath of fresh air.
“If you look at his experience and the amount of time he has spent on the field it’s imperative that we have a guy with that experience.
A capacity crowd is expected for the match, with no more tickets available.
Saturday’s big match at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 14:15.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs - 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Rayno Benjamin, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marrais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Boela Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements – 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22. Fred Zeilinga.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
