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Rugby

Uys starts at loosehead against Province

───   12:03 Wed, 26 Aug 2015

Uys starts at loosehead against Province | News Article

The Toyota Free State Cheetahs have made just one change to their starting XV to face Western Province on Friday evening in the Currie Cup fourth round.

With the side under pressure in the scrum department of late, coach Franco Smith has opted to demote Caylib Oosthuizen to the bench, while BG Uys gets promoted to loosehead prop for his first start.

Although the team spilt several opportunities against the Griquas during last weeks’ convincing 31-9 win in Kimberley, Smith has showed faith in his backline who apart from a few errors had an outstanding day at the office.

Apart from Oosthuizen’s inclusion on the substitute bench, Tertius Kruger will get his first crack Currie Cup rugby when he comes on as a substitute.

Kruger was included on the bench for the match against the defending champions in Cape Town nearly a fortnight ago, however due to the wet conditions in the Mother City for that match, Tienie Burger was a late switch at the expense of the exciting centre.

Burger this time gets replaced by Kruger due to the hard working flanker carrying an injury and due to dry conditions expected for the City of Roses.

Maks van Dyk is not available this weekend due to him having to represent the Barbarians in London for the match against Samoa at the Olympic Stadium.

Van Dyk's number 17 jersey is affectively taken over by Oosthuizen.

Smith told OFM Sport that Van Dyk’s absence is a blow for them, but it’s an opportunity for Uys.

“That’s one area of the game they we’re really working hard at, a lot of bad habits have developed here over the last few years and we obviously changed the way that we want to scrum, we want to do it a little bit differently.

“Hopefully this week we will take it forward again, but it puts us under pressure the fact that Maks’ experience is going to be missed.

“But it’s been out of our control from the start, we knew the day was going to come that he was not going to be available and obviously it gives someone else a chance.

“I’m very confident with BG starting, he has recovered well from his injury and he is a good scrummager.

“It’s going to be good to see him on the park.

Western Province in their turn has made three changes to their starting XV for the clash.

The hard-running Kobus van Wyk comes in for Dillyn Leyds on the right wing, scrumhalf Godlen Masimla replaces Nic Groom, who is also going to play for the Barbarians and Alistair Vermaak starts at loosehead prop in place of the injured Oli Kebble. Even is Kebble was fit he would have most likely not have played after passing of his grandfather, Roger Kebble on Tuesday.

Friday evening’s match at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 19:10.

Free State Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Francois Venter, 4 Armand Koster 3, Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 BG Uys

Replacements – 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Ruan van Rensburg, 21 Tertius Kruger, 22 Sias Ebersohn.

Western Province - 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak

Replacements - 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JP Smith, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Dillyn Leyds.

Morgan Piek / OFM News

 

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