Cheetahs to face 'interesting mix' in Invitation XV
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs may not have the ‘easy’ practice match some thought it would be, when they face an Invitation XV in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The 25-man squad for the Invitation team – released on Wednesday – includes an interesting collection of fringe players.
While cohesion may be a challenge, there is certainly more than enough talent.
The Invitational – made up of fringe players from the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Eastern Province – gathered in Bloemfontein from Wednesday.
It includes Lions loose forward Roelof Smit, a gritty player who played for South Africa in a non-cap match against the Barbarians in 2010.
Throw in names like Dan Jooste (Sharks), Jean Droste (Cheetahs), Johan du Toit (Western Province), Dillon Smit (Lions), Inny-Christian Radebe (Eastern Province), Jamba Ulengo (Lions), Keegan Johannes (Bulls), Leolin Zass (Western Province), Richard Kriel (Bulls) and Tristin Leyds (Western Province) and you have some raw talent ready to di serious damage.
The side will be under the guidance of two very experienced coaches – Ricardo Laubscher, a former Springbok assistant coach, and Springbok scrum coach Daan Human.
Invitation squad
Forwards: Dan Jooste (Sharks), Jean Droste (Cheetahs), Jeandré Labuschagne (Sharks), Johan du Toit (Western Province), Khwezi Mona (Sharks), Kwenzo Bloze (Western Province), Marnus van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Michael Kumberai (Sharks), Mihlali Mosi (NNMU), Reinier Viljoen (Cheetahs Under-20), Roelof Smit (Lions), Ruhan Straeuli (Lions), Sazi Sandi (Western Province), WJ Steenkamp (Bulls)
Backs: Corne Smit (Western Province), Dillon Smit (Lions), Inny-Christian Radebe (Eastern Province), Jamba Ulengo (Lions), Jason Alexander (Western Province), JP Duvenhage (Shimlas), Keegan Johannes (Bulls), Leolin Zass (Western Province), Richard Kriel (Bulls), Shane Bolton (Shimlas), Tristin Leyds (Western Province).
Date: Saturday, May 29
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
