Rugby
Some of our guys can pleasantly surprise - Gold─── MORGAN PIEK 07:54 Thu, 13 Oct 2022
The USA Falcons named their team that will face the Toyota Cheetahs on Friday night in Bloemfontein in the Toyota Challenge, they are hoping that they can pleasantly surprise the hosts and spectators alike.
The former Stormers and Western Force outside, Marcel Brache, will be playing at fullback, while the centre, Bryce Campbell, will lead the team,
The former Connacht player, Luke Carty, will play at flyhalf with Nate Augspurger starting at scrumhalf.
The South African-born and raised Duncan van Schalkwyk will be playing off the bench.
While rugby in America is not a total unknown anymore, Cheetahs players like the tighthead prop, Hencus van Wyk, and hooker, Marko Janse van Rensburg, can provide some insight.
Van Wyk had a spell at the San Diego Legion in the MLR (Major League Rugby), while the hooker, Janse van Rensburg, joined the Cheetahs from Rugby ATL (Atlanta).
The coach, Gary Gold, told OFM Sport that it’s a big opportunity for his team to play against players such as Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar.
"I believe there are a couple of the guys that played in the MLR, which is good because I'm hoping that we can at least give the Cheetahs a bit of a run.
"You are rolling out legends like Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar. These guys have never had that kind of exposure to that level of Test rugby, but hopefully there is a bit of a balance and some of our guys can pleasantly surprise you guys."
Friday night’s match at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 18:00.
Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 George Lourens, 9 Branden de Kock, 8 Oupa Mohoje, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Marnus van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Beertjie van Vuuren, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements - 16 Janus Venter, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jean Drosté, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Robert Ebersohn.
USA Falcons - 15 Marcel Brache, 14 Mitch Wilson, 13 Bryce Campbell (captain), 12 Paul Lasike, 11 Christian Dyer, 10 Luke Carty, 9 Nate Augspurger, 8 Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz, 7 Cory Daniel, 6 Viliamo Helu, 5 Nick Civetta, 4 Keni Nasoqeqe, 3 Paul Mullen, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 1 Jack Isacaro.
Replacements - 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Angus Maclellan, 19 Siaosi Mahoni, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 22 Tavite Lopeti, 23 Chris Mattina.
