Cheetahs make six changes for Lions visit
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs Coach Hawies Fourie made six changes to the team to take on the Lions in a Currie Cup Round Five encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Only one of the changes is injury-related, with the others part of a ‘rotation’ policy.
Malcolm Jaer replaces the injured Rosko Specman.
The 32-year-old BlitzBok superstar twisted his ankle in training and failed a fitness test.
The coach said he should be fit for the next match, against Western Province in a fortnight.
Cameron Dawson returns from injury and will be wearing the No.1 jersey, with Wilmar Arnold next to him.
Louis van der Westhuizen will be providing cover on the bench.
Jeandré Rudolph and Andisa Ntsila swap places, with Rudolph in the starting line-up.
Robert Ebersohn starts at outside centre, with David Brits on the bench and Cohen Jasper at fullback.
Players not available due to injury include George Cronjè (knee), Branden de Kock (knee), Aranos Coetzee (bicep), Rynier Bernardo (shoulder), Duncan Saal (bicep) and Enver Brandt (groin).
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Siyabonga Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Jeandré Rudolph, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 David Brits.
Date: Saturday, March 5
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira and Philip Kotze
TMO: Ben Crouse
