Oupa takes over Cheetahs captaincy
Teboho Mohoje, who failed to make the Springbok World Cup squad, will lead the Cheetahs out in this Round Six encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Mohoje takes over form regular captain Francois Uys, who will play off the bench on Friday.
The Bok loose forward, Mohoje, and Henco Venter will be switching places – with Mohoje included in the starting line-up, with Venter on the bench.
Other changes to the pack will see Reniel Hugo starting at lock ahead of Uys.
Jacques du Toit will start at hooker ahead of Elandre Hugget, who drops down to the replacement bench.
The only backline change will see Springbok Cornal Hendricks make his Currie Cup debut for the Free State Cheetahs, replacing fellow Bok discard Raymond Rhule on left wing.
On the bench Theunis Nieuwoudt will be replacing the injured Caylib Oosthuizen (knee) and will be making his debut for the Cheetahs if he takes to the field.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Cornal Hendricks, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Teboho Mohoje (captain), 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Burrie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Theunis Nieuwoudt, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Henco Venter, 20 Freddy Ngoza, 21 Ruan van Rensburg, 22 Sias Ebersohn.
Date: Friday, September 11
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Jacques Nieuwenhuis
TMO: Christie du Preez
