Ebersohn twins reunited ... finally
The Ebersohn twins, Sias and Robert, will play side-by-side for the first time since their school days when the Free State Cheetahs host Griquas in a Currie Cup derby in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Although the twins have started in the same team on numerous occasions, it was never at flyhalf and inside centre – the positions in which they burst onto the scene as Grey College scholars.
Robert, who became a Sevens Springbok, almost exclusive started at outside centre and never featured alongside brother Sias.
The latter of the Ebersohn was named at flyhalf on Wednesday, as Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské continues his search for a pivot that could dominate the game.
He started the year with Johan Goosen, who was injured midway through the Super Rugby season and has since been called up to the Springboks, where he will start against the Wallabies in Pretoria on Saturday.
Ebersohn, who stepped in for Goosen during the Super Rugby season, was replaced when he lost form – opening the door for wing Riaan Smit to play in No.10 jersey.
Then Smit was injured in the early stages of the Currie Cup season, but again Ebersohn struggled with his form – which resulted in Goosen stepping into the fray as soon as he was fit again.
Goosen's Bok call-up prompted Drotské to use scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn at flyhalf, but that also backfired – leaving the coach with no option but to fall back on Sias Ebersohn.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Raymond Rhule, 12 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Tewis du Bruyn, 21 Andries Strauss, 22 Philip Snyman.
Date: Saturday, September 29
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 14.00 (12.00 GMT)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, François de Bruin
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
