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Cheetahs draft in Van der Merwe

The Free State Cheetahs have made a late change to their team for the Currie Cup semifinal showdown with the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

Prop Schalk van der Merwe, who was dramatically cleared at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, has been drafted onto the bench in place of Rossouw de Klerk.

Van der Merwe received a red card in the 74th minute of the Cheetahs' match last Saturday, for allegedly lifting Blue Bulls fullback Jurgen Visser, twisting him and failing to bring him to ground safely.

However, a judicial hearing cleared him and he is available to play.

Free State Cheetahs – revised: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lodewyk De Jager, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Johan Goosen, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

    

Date: Saturday, October 19

Venue: Kings Park, Durban

Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Cobus Wessels

TMO: Deon van Blommestein

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