Potgieter headlines Cheetahs team to face Pumas
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has named his team for the Preparation match against Pumas on Friday in Nelspruit.
The coach has made a couple of changes to the starting XV following their 39-38 win over the Sharks in Bloemfontein.
The big talking point is the inclusion of Jacques Potgieter.
The loose forward, who can also play at lock, has not played any first-class rugby since early in 2019 when he was at Toulon, will get his first start this Friday against Pumas.
The 34-year-old is part of the new loose trio with flanks Oupa Mohoje and Chris Massyn.
Victor Sekekete comes in at lock, taking the place of Rynier Barnardo, who moves to the bench.
In the front row, Aranos Coetzee gets a start ahead of Khutha Mchunu.
While Marnus van der Merwe is the new hooker and Wimar Arnoldi move to the bench.
In backline former Sharks back Rhyno Smith comes in at fullback in place of Clayton Blommetjies.
In the midfield Dries Swanepoel and Frans Steyn make way for Chris Smit and Howard Mnisi in the starting XV.
Former Western Province wing Craig Barry replaces Rosko Specman at wing.
Cheetahs: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Craig Barry, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Conraad (Beertjie) van Vuuren, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Rosko Specman
Date: Friday, March 19
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadeweni & Paul Mente
TMO: Aimee Berrett-Theron
