SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 27: Jacques Potgieter of the Waratahs runs with the ball during the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Waratahs and the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Former Springbok loosie headlines Cheetahs changes
Hawies Fourie has tried to strike a balance between youth and experience in his Cheetahs side for this encounter, which kicks off at 16:45 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 27: Jacques Potgieter of the Waratahs runs with the ball during the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Waratahs and the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium on June 27, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Thrice-capped Springbok Jacques Potgieter will make his return from the rugby wilderness when he starts at number eight for the Cheetahs against the New Nation Pumas in Nelspruit.
Hawies Fourie has tried to strike a balance between youth and experience in his Cheetahs side for this encounter, which kicks off at 16:45 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Potgieter is a Cheetah
Journeyman loose forward Potgieter is one of six players brought into the Cheetahs starting pack of fowards.
Only former Chetahs skipper Carl Wegner (lock) and Cameron Dawson (loosehead prop) retain their places in the starting team from their last match, a dramatic 39-38 victory over the Sharks.
Potgieter is joined in the back-row by Oupa Mohoje and Chris Massyn, while Victor Sekekete (lock), Aranos Coetzee (prop) and Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) all make the starting lineup.
Shuffled backs
The backline is also vastly different as only Malcolm Jaer (right wing), Reinhardt Fortuin (flyhalf) and Ruan Pienaar (captain and scrumhalf) will start again.
Rhyno Smith (fullback), Craig Barry (left wing) and Howard Mnisi (inside centre) will relish the opportunity of getting some much-needed game time for the Cheetahs.
READ: Bulls beef up experience for the visit of the Stormers
The following Cheetahs players are not available for selection due to injury: Charles Marais (neck), Junior Pokomela (wrist), William Small-Smith (concussion), Louis van der Westhuizen (knee), Jeandre Rudolph (calf), Brandon Thomson (back strain), Dries Swanepoel (knee) and Khutha Mchunu (neck).
Cheetahs team vs Pumas – Preparation Series
Cheetahs: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Craig Barry, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Rosko Specman.
Tags:
