Rugby
Venter and Boela start against the Brumbies─── 13:20 Wed, 14 May 2014
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein - The Toyota Cheetahs have made just three changes to their side which lost to the Western Force in Bloemfontein to take on the third placed Brumbies.
Scrumhalf Shaun Venter shifts up from the bench into the number 9 jersey to replace the injured Sarel Pretorius in the starting XV.
Pretorius came limping off the field during the sides’ loss to the Force with an injured ankle. Initially it was thought that he would be out for a week, however, the injury is more serious and he will be side-lined for three to four weeks.
The Shimlas’ Renier Botha comes into the squad as cover for Venter at scrumhalf for what could be his Super Rugby debut, without having gained any Currie Cup experience.
Boela Serfontein, the older brother of Springbok centre, Jan Serfontein starts at lock in the place of Waltie Vermeulen who returns to the bench.
Serfontein made his debut for the side last week after coming on as a replacement and his brief run impressed the coach Naka Drotské enough to award him with the number 9 jumper.
“He’s a good ball-carrier and he’s also physical, especially at the break down. It’s one of those opportunities for players. We’ve got a problem with Andries Ferreira out injured and Hilton Lobberts was meant to be next in line, but he is unavailable due to Griquas playing in the Vodacom Cup final,” said Drotské.
Cornal Henricks also regains a starting role, while Springbok Raymond drops to the bench. Rhule is still battling with bit of an ankle niggle and the management won’t risk the player.
Speaking about their opponents, last years’ runners-up, the Brumbies, Drotské said it will be another stern challenge for his battling side.
“They don’t have many weaknesses, they have a solid pack of forwards and their set-pieces, scrums and lineouts are very good,” the coach pointed out.
“They’ve got a lot of continuity, at breakdown time they get quick ball and they have good defensive systems. They are definitely one of the front-runners and they could win this competition. It will not be easy, it will be tough, but it’s a home game and we will give ourselves a change against any team at home,” Drotské concluded.
Saturdays’ match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 19:10.
Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux (vice-captain), 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Waltie Vermeulen, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements – 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Waltie Vermeulen, 20 Carel Greeff, 21 Renier Botha, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Raymond Rhule.
