Cheetahs ring the changes for Sharks showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has rung the changes ahead of his team’s Currie Cup Round 11 trip to Durban on Sunday.
As a result of the short turnaround – following their thrilling 44-all draw with the Lions in midweek – Fourie used the opportunity to ‘rotate’ and ‘rest’ players.
The only players who faced the Lions this past Wednesday and will front up to the Sharks in the same positions on Sunday are fullback Clayton Blommetjies, wings Craig Barry and Malcolm Jaer and flank Jacques Potgieter.
Regular captain and scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar headlines the players being rested and not featuring in the matchday 23 at all.
The team will be captained by utility back Tian Meyer, who starts at scrumhalf in place of Pienaar.
One of the more noteworthy changes will see former Cheetahs stalwart and BlitzBok star Robert Ebersohn making his comeback off the bench.
Ebersohn will feature in the Cheetahs matchday squad for the first time since his return from France – when he played he played almost 100 games for Montpellier (2013 to 2016) and Castres (2016 to 2021).
Players who are not eligible for selection due to injury include Marcell Muller (hamstring), George Cronje (knee), Teboho Mohoje (calf), Jeandré Rudolph (knee), Duncan Saal (shoulder) and Cohen Jasper (hamstring).
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Reinier Viljoen, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Brandon de Kock, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Robert Ebersohn
Date: Sunday, August 15
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 13.30 (11.30 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Egon Seconds
