Mixed bag as Cheetahs change
Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské received some good news as he revealed the team to tackle the Eastern Province Kings in the first of two promotion-relegation matches.
The back injury that ruled out Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen for the rest of the year means veteran Ross Geldenhuys will start at tighthead prop in one of three changes to the pack that lost heavily to Western Province last week.
The good news is the return of Pieter Labuschagne from injury.
He takes over at flank from Francois Uys, who in turn moves to lock in place of Carl Wegner – the latter dropping down to the bench.
"It is regrettable that Coenie isn't available," Drotské said on Wednesday when asked about the prop's injury.
"His loss is a big one, especially for the Springboks and the end-of-year tour.
"We would have looked to him to give the scrums substance, but now he is unavailable.
"We have to face problems like these and keep looking forward."
The two-match promotion-relegation series also represents the last time Robert Ebersohn and his twin brother Sias will be playing together for the Cheetahs. Friday will be their last game together in Bloemfontein, before Sias heads to Perth next year where he will play for the Western Force.
The Bloemfontein-based side play host for the first of the two play-off games to decide whether they will remain in the Premier Division or be relegated to the First Division.
The Cheetahs had one of their most successful Super Rugby seasons this year, but they have struggled to reproduce the same form in the Currie Cup.
Winning only three of their 10 encounters, relegation beckons if the Free State side cannot produce the goods against the Kings.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Merwe, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis du Bruyn, 21 Phillip Snyman, 22 Rayno Benjamin.
Date: Friday, October 19
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (18.10 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Lesego Legoete, Rasta Rasivhenge
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
