Nervy wait on Cheetahs captain
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Cheetahs could conclude their Super Rugby Unlocked campaign without captain Junior Pokomela.
The Bloemfontein franchise host the Griquas on Saturday at the Free State Stadium.
Captain Pokomela, who has been playing with an injury for the last two weeks, has been bracketed with Aidon Davis.
Pokomela will undergo scans to on Thursday to determine the severity of the wrist injury and his available for the match.
Weeks on the sidelines will be devastating for the Cheetahs captain as he will miss the start of the Currie Cup season.
Davis will take No.7 jersey in the starting XV should the 23-year-old be ruled out for selection and Chris Massyn will be on the bench.
Carl Wegner could take over the captain’s armband and scrumhalf Tian Meyer will be vice-captain.
In other team news, former Sharks utility back Rhyno Smith and Lions centre Howard Mnisi has been named in the Cheetahs starting XV.
The pair will be making their first appearance in this competition.
In the pack, Hencus van Wyk will be making his debut for the Cheetahs.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela (captain)/ Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Aidon Davis/ Chris Massyn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 William Small-Smith
Date: Saturday, November 21
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Time: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby, Paul Mente
TMO: Willie Vos
