Cheetahs' Goose step is back
The Free State Cheetahs received a timely boost ahead of their Round Three Currie Cup showdown with Griquas on Saturday.
Talented flyhalf Johan Goosen has been cleared to start in the Cheetahs team that will travel to Kimberley for this eagerly anticipated Central Unions derby.
They will welcome the return of not only his prodigious boot, but also his distribution skills and attacking play – aspects they sorely missed since he damaged his shoulder midway through the Super Rugby season.
Much of the Cheetahs' struggles have been attributed to this missing link – the mercurial 20-year-old No.10.
Goosen, highly rated by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, return at a time when the men from Bloemfontein lost two other key players – the price they paid for their impressive win over the Blue Bulls last week.
Utility back Riaan Smit, who played on the wing against the Bulls after featuring mostly at flyhalf in Goosen's absence, and flamboyant scrumhalf Piet van Zyl.
Smit dislocated his elbow, while Van Zyl broke his left clavicle (collarbone) about a minute after coming on for Sarel Pretorius.
Both are out of action for the remainder of the season.
Two Springboks, Heinrich Brüssow and Coenie Oosthuizen, remain sidelined.
Prop Oosthuizen injured his neck on his Test debut against England at Kings Park in June and flank Brüssow was sidelined with a knee injury in the Cheetahs' last Super Rugby game against the Sharks, so their return will be eagerly anticipated in Bloemfontein.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 12 Barry Geel, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Lucas Floors, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Nico Scheepers.
Date: Saturday, August 25
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
