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Marais occupies No.10 for Free State

By
Wednesday 5 Aug 2015
Marais, who got a few Super Rugby caps under his belt toward the back end of the season, has been picked ahead for new recruit Fred Zeilinga.
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Zeilinga, who was transferred to Free State from the Sharks in a swap deal with Joe Pietersen, finds himself on the bench.
 
The rest of the backline has a similar make-up to the Cheetahs of Super Rugby. Clayton Blommetjies starts at right wing and Raymond Rhule at No.11, while Francois Venter and Ryno Benjamin complete the midfield. 
 
In the forwards coach Franco Smith has opted for the robust loose trio of Johannes Prinsloo, Henco Venter and Gerhard Olivier.
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Francois Uys will captain the side, as he did in Super Rugby, and pack down in the engine room alongside Willem Serfontein. 
 
Caylib Oosthuizen and Luan de Bruin are the two props while boomerang recruit Nicolaas van Dyk is on the bench. 
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Free State: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Neil Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Doit, 17 Nicolaas van Dyk, 18 Burrie Uys, 19 Hugo Reneil, 20 Tiene Burger, 21 Mkhabela Zee, 22 Fred Zeilinga.
 
Date: Saturday, August 8
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 14:15 (12:15 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Willie Vos

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