World Cup winner to make Cheetahs debut
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two-times World Cup winner Frans Steyn will make his debut for the Cheetahs in a pre-season outing against Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
The two Central Unions will go head-to-head in preparation for the new domestic competition, Super Rugby Unlocked – which gets underway on October 10.
Steyn, who featured in nearly 100 games for the Sharks in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby, has almost 150 first-class games for two French clubs – Racing Metro and Montpellier.
He also played 20-odd game for the Brave Lupus in Japan.
The 33-year-old utility back, who won World Cup titles in 2007 and 2019, will start at inside centre for the Cheetahs.
The Bloemfontein outfit also features another Bok veteran in scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.
Forgotten Bok Teboho Mohojé will make his return from injury from the bench – after nearly two years on the sidelines, with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and the COVID-19-enforced lockdown.
The last time the Cheetahs were in action was on February 29, in a Pro14 outing against the Dragons in Wales.
The Griquas squad features a Springbok in Bjorn Basson, as well as Junior Bok Zak Burger.
New recruits Thembelani Boli, Stefan Willemse, André Smit en Daniel Kasende are also in the Griquas squad.
* Meanwhile The Pumas, the seventh team in the new Super Rugby Unlocked competition will host a Blue Bulls XV in Nelspruit in their first match of the year.
The 30-man Pumas squad is a mix of seasoned regulars and newcomers.
Saturday teams
Griquas v Cheetahs
(Griquas Park, Kimberley – Kick-off: 10.30; 08.30 GMT)
Griquas squad: James Verity-Amm, Bjorn Basson, Daniel Kasende, Anthony Volmink, Johnathan Francke, Berton Klaasen, André Swarts, Eduan Keyter, Harlon Klaasen, George Whitehead (captain), Ashlon Davids, Izak Burger, Chriswill September, Thembalani Bholi, Stefan Willemse, Shaine Orderson, Niell Jordaan, Zandré Jordaan, Carl Els, Ian Groenewald, Mzwanele Zito, Victor Sekekete, André Smith, Ewan Coetzee, CJ Conradie, Monde Hadebe, Andrew Beerwinkel, Khwezi Mona, Mox Mxoli, Madot Mabokela, Ewald van der Westhuizen, John Roy Jenkinson.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements – from: Louis van der Westhuizen, Boan Venter, Erich de Jager, JP du Preez, Teboho Mohojé, Tian Meyer, Chris Smit, William Small-Smith, Aidon Davis, Ruben de Haas, Carel-Jan Coetzee, Craig Barry, Adriaan Carelse, Chris Massyn, George Cronje.
Griquas 1 v Cheetahs
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby, Ben Crouse
Griquas 2 v Cheetahs 2
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby, Ben Crouse
Pumas vs Blue Bulls XV
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 10.00; 08.00 GMT)
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Neil Maritz, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Eduard Fouche, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Willem Engelbrecht, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuuren, 4 Le Roux Roets , 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Hendrik van Schoor, 1 Cornelius Kramer.
Replacements – from: Simon Westraadt, Dewald Maritz, Wikus Groenewald, Brandon Valentyn , Dian Badenhorst, Ginter Smuts, Daniel Marais, Aliqhayin Mgijima, Alwayno Visagie, Morné Joubert, Heath Backhouse, Francois Kleinhans, Phumzile Maqondwana, Jeandre Rudolph, Darrien-Lane Landsberg.
Blues Bulls XV: 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Gerswin Mouton, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Jay-Cee Nel, 11 Sebastiaan Jobb, 10 Ruben Beytell, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Keenan Opperman, 6 Hendri du Toit, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Kudzwai Dube (captain).
Replacements – from: Janco Uys, Dewald Donald, Eduan Swart, Jordan van Dyk, Adolf Visser, Louwan Horn, Uzile Tele, Divan Venter, Johan Mulder, Alex-Zander du Plessis, Sebastian de Klerk, Louritz van der Schyff, Dawid Kellerman, Kabelo Mokoena, Andrew Kota.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
