Cheetahs tweak their formula
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has madea few key changes to his team for their clash against the Stormers on Saturday.
The Bloemfontein franchise need just one win to make this their most successful Super Rugby season yet, and according to Drotske they will be going "all-out" in order to achieve that at home this weekend.
As the Cheetahs are out of the running for a spot in the play-offs Drotske has taken the opportunity to take a look at a few different options by making some tactical changes to the starting line-up that did duty against the Bulls last week.
Cameron Jacobs replaces Rocco Jansen on the left wing and Nico Scheepers comes in for Philip Syman on the right, whilst at inside centre hard-hitting Barry Geel will get a chance to impress in place of Andries Strauss who was shown a yellow card for pulling Bulls flank Jacques Potgieter's hair last week.
In the loose trio London Wasps-bound Ashley Johnson drops to the bench with Justin Downey stepping in at No.8.
Drotske explained that although Downey will be wearing No.8 on his back he will pack down on the side of the scrum when required.
"We tend to play Heinrich Brussow on our own ball at No.8 and on the openside for opposition ball. Justin Downey will have No.8 on his back but he will mostly be on the flank at scrum-time," he said.
Lock Andries Ferreira will be given until Thursday to recover from his shoulder injury, with George Earle poised to take his place if he is ruled out and Waltie Vermeulen bracketed on the bench.
In the front row WP Nel, who scored two tries after coming off the bench last week, slots in at tighthead in place of Marcel van der Merwe.
Cheetahs: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Justin Downey, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira (George Earle), 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 George Earle (Waltie Vermeulen), 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.
Date: Saturday, July 7
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa),
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
