Cheetahs keep winning recipe
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs made just one change to their matchday squad for their Round Two Super Rugby Unlocked encounter.
The Cheetahs host the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Friday and named an unchanged starting XV from the side that smashed the Pumas 53-31 in a Round One outing last week.
The only change is on the bench, where Jacques du Toit will cover hooker in place of Louis van der Westhuizen.
The game will be a special occasion for BlitzBok Clayton Blommetjies, who will be making his 100th appearance for the Cheetahs.
Having represented the Bulls in 40-odd games between 2010 and 2014, he moved to the Cheetahs in 2014.
He had brief stints in Europe with Welsh franchise the Scarlets and Premiership outfit Leicester Tigers.
He returned to Bloemfontein last year.
Assistant coach Corniel van Zyl said that Blommetjies, despite having had his ups-and-downs over the years, matured and developed into an accomplished player.
“If you look at his statistics, more often than not he is our top carrier,” Van Zyl told a virtual media briefing.
“It will be a special occasion for him,” Van Zyl added.
Players still not available due to injury include Wilmar Arnoldi (cheekbone), Reniel Hugo (knee), Aranos Coetzee (ankle), Rhyno Smith (quad), Duncan Saal (hamstring) and Dries Swanepoel (calf).
* Meanwhile Springbok Teboho Mohoje is back from COVID-19-enforced isolation and started training with the Cheetahs again.
He will be back in the selection frame from next week.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Chris Massyn, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 William Small-Smith.
Date: Friday, October 16
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Jadezweni Cwengile
Assistant referees: Colby Griffin, Crouse Ben
TMO: Jacobs AJ
