Cheetahs make pivotal switch
The Free State Cheetahs have made a couple of changes to their team ahead of the crucial Currie Cup Round Five encounter with the Pumas.
Pieter-Steyn de Wet will make his first Currie Cup start when the University of the Free State (Shimlas) player runs out at flyhalf in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
He replaces Willie du Plessis in the No.10 jersey.
De Wet played for the Cheetahs before, making four Vodacom Cup appearances off the bench in 2012, before joining Griquas on a loan-deal last year.
He made his Currie Cup debut as a second-half replacement last week and Saturday gets his big break as the starting flyhalf.
The other noteworthy selection is in the midfield, where Phillipus du Plessis replaces Joubert Engelbrecht for his first Currie Cup start since his return from French club Montpellier.
Du Plessis has travelled the globe playing at various teams – including stints with the Sydney Rooster Rugby League outfits' academy side, the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby side, the Stormers and French Top 14 team Montpellier.
He returned from France after just one season to join the Cheetahs.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Phillipus du Plessis, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Neil Claassen, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Henco Venter, 3 Rudolph Botha, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (captain), 1 Kevin Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Abraham le Roux, 17 George Marich, 18 Werner Lourens, 19 Vincent Jobo, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Willie du Plessis, 22 Joubert Engelbrecht.
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Gerrie de Bruin, Jaco Kotze
TMO: JJ Wagner
