Sharks discard starts for Cheetahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Cheetahs are highly-motivated to get their first victory of the season when they face Cardiff Blues on their home ground in their PRO14 match.
Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith has former Sharks fullback Rhyno Smith in his starting XV.
The fullback Smith, who joined the Bloemfontein side on a five-week loan from the Sharks this month, will make his Pro14 debut in the No.14 jersey
The other new faces are on the being in the shape of Reinach Venter and Sintu Manjezi.
The duo will be making their PRO14 debuts when they set foot on the field.
Lock Sintu Manjezi joined the Cheetahs from the Griquas and is contracted for two years.
Centre William Small-Smith will be earning his 50th cap for the Cheetahs on Saturday.
Cheetahs recorded a win the last time the two teams lock horns in Bloemfontein last season.
However, this season the Cheetahs have been struggling. They failed to record a single win, but head coach Smith hopes this week they can turn things around and
“The players have matured a lot from where they started off this season. There has been growth and experience. We are now able to look back at certain points of reference in games we’ve played this season,” said Coach Franco Smith.
“We make up for lack of experience through enthusiasm,”
“We work together as a team and we embrace the responsibility to play the supporters back into the stands. The winning-mind-set is important. The team has gelled together during the last two months and instead of individual efforts, it will take a team effort to get a win and we look forward to the challenge ahead,”
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Shaun Venter (captain), 8 Neil Jordaan, 7 Junior Pokamela, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Reinach Venter, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Sinthu Manjezi, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana , 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Louis Fouche, 23 Nico Lee
Cardiff Blues: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Jason Harries, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Aled Summerhill, 10 Steve Shingler, 9 Lloyd Williams (captain), 8 Seb Davies, 7 Olly Robinson, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 George Earle, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Ethan Lewis, 1 Brad Thyer
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Samu Manoa, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Dan Fish, 23 Willis Halaholo
Date: Saturday, October 27
Venue: Free State Stadium
Kick-off: 18:15 local (17:15 GMT)
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Ruhan Meiring (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
