Cheetahs lose their star flyhalf
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has been forced into changing his team for their Currie Cup Round Nine trip to Cape Town.
The Cheetahs will be without the services of star flyhalf Siya Masuku, who has been ruled out as a result of cold and flu symptoms.
However, they have in Reinhardt Fortuin an accomplished replacement.
“Reinhardt trained very well in Siya’s absence,” Fourie said about Fortuin.
“He is a very good defender and a great attacking flyhalf.
“I don’t think we will lose too much, especially on attack.
“It is a big loss not top have Siya in this game, but I am excited to see how Reinhardt goes.”
The team shows several changes from the side that beat the Sharks 29-15 in Durban back in March.
Regular fullback Clayton Blommetjies has been ruled out with a knee injury, resulting in Cohen Jasper moving from left wing to fullback.
Rosko Specman is over his injury issues and comes in on the left wing.
Jeandré Rudolph will start at No.8 in a rotation with Mihlali Mosi.
The front row also shows a few changes.
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Aranos Coetzee will start at tighthead prop in what will be his 100th appearance for Cheetahs – the first Namibian player to achieve this milestone for a South African team.
Louis van der Westhuizen starts at hooker ahead of Marnus van der Merwe and Alulutho Tshakweni is the loosehead prop in place of Schalk Ferreira..
Conraad van Vuuren is struggling with a lower back injury, with Marné Coetzee on the bench as front row cover.
Apart from Blommetjies and Masuku, a number of other players are sidelined with injuries.
They include George Cronjè (knee), Branden de Kock (knee), Rynier Bernardo (shoulder), Enver Brandt (groin), Malcolm Jaer (ankle) and Craig Barry (knee).
Fourie said Jasper has been part of the squad and has had plenty of game time.
“Clayton is a very experienced player,” the coach said of Blommetjies’ injury.
“Cohen is a very different player, a good attacking No.15,”he said of Jasper’s inclusion.
“We’ll use his strengths in the game.”
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 /Marné Coetzee, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Robert Ebersohn.
Date: Friday, April 15
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.45 (14.45 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Dylen November, Local TBC
TMO: Egon Seconds
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