Veteran Bok on Cheetahs' bench
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs got plenty of experience back for their historic first-ever encounter with the Stormers on their new home ground – the Cape Town Stadium.
The two franchises go head-to-head on Saturday in the first round of South Africa’s ‘Preparation Series’.
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie welcomed back veteran Bok utility back Ruan Pienaar – who has recovered from the knee injury he suffered in an Unlocked match against the Bulls back in October.
However, the 36-year-old will play off the bench in Cape Town, as Fourie eases his prized asset back from the long lay-off.
Pienaar was capped 88 times for his country between 2006 and 2015.
Pienaar told OFM Sport that after his long injury lay-off he is raring to go.
“Personally I am obviously very excited to get back playing again and just being involved,” he told the radion station.
“It makes me very excited.
“It will be a very tough one down in Cape Town.
“It’s a really good Stormers team, and I think that they would like to play well at their new home ground.
“I’m just excited and looking forward to getting back on the pitch.”
The Cheetahs will have another veteran Bok in their backline.
Frans Steyn, a two-time World Cup winner, has been moved from flyhalf – where he played in the latter stages of the Currie Cup – to inside centre.
Other changes will see former Southern Kings stalwart Schalk Ferreira and Rynier Bernardo included in the starting line-up.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi , 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Conraad van Vuuren, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Dries Swanepoel, 23 Rhyno Smith.
Date: Saturday, February 27
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Greenpoint
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Divan Uys, Dylan November
TMO: Cwengile Jadezwen
