Half-ton up for Brussow
South Africa’s premier poacher, Heinrich Brüssow, will be playing in his 50th Super Rugby match when the Cheetahs take on the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
The 25-year-old openside flank,. who has 20 Test caps for his country, made his Super Rugby debut in 2007.
Injuries in the last couple of years have prevented him from reaching the landmark earlier.
The only change to the starting line up is Piet van Zyl coming in for Tewis de Bruyn at scrumhalf.
The veteran, De Bruyn, was the coach’s choice for the Cheetahs’ last couple of games against the Highlanders and Western Force, but De Bruyn struggled to provide magic on attack.
Drotské hoped Van Zyl’s return would spark something special against a Stormers side that are the clear favourites for the game at Newlands.
“Piet is a very good attacking player,” Drotské said.
“He made a big impact from the bench against the Highlanders and Force and hopefully he can do the same starting against the Stormers.”
Drotské has again backed flyhalf Sias Ebersohn, even though he missed four kicks at goal against the Perth-based side.
“Sias did well, especially with all the pressure on him after missing that vital kick against the Highlanders [the week before].
“He will be back and we are confident he will have a good game against the Stormers.”
Springbok centre Andries Strauss was cleared to play early Wednesday after picking up a rib injury against the Force.
Lock Andries Ferreira is also available after he was cleared late Tuesday of foul play.
Ferreira was cited for a dangerous tackle on Force eighthman Matt Hodgson but was later cleared of all charges.
* Meanwhile the Cheetahs have obtained the services of Boland Cavaliers flyhalf Elgar Watts for the remainder of the season, after starting No.10 Johan Goosen was ruled out for four months with a shoulder injury he suffered against the Highlanders a fortnight ago.
Sias Ebersohn will again start this week, with Riaan Smit as back-up off the bench. Watts is on a ‘pay-as-you-play’ deal in Bloemfontein.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cameron Jacobs, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earle, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Andries Ferreira, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Riaan Smit, 22 Philip Snyman.
Date: Saturday, May 12
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
