Van Zyl displaces super Sarel
The Cheetahs will field a new halfback combination when they take on the Stormers in an all-South African Super Rugby derby in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The most significant change is at scrumhalf, where young Piet van Zyl displaces the more seasoned Sarel Pretorius in the No.9 jersey.
The other change, at flyhalf, has been prompted by injury.
Riaan Smith's ongoing hamstring problems, which forced him to withdraw shortly before last week's encounter with the Rebels, means that Burton Francis starts in the No.10 jersey.
Francis, who answered the Cheetahs' SOS to join them on tour when Johan Goosen ruptured his cruciate ligaments in his left knee during training Down Under, was elevated to the starting XV last week.
Smit, who has been struggling with hamstring injuries for some time and had both legs strapped before last week's match, aggravated his left hamstring injury when he tried to step.
The rest of the team remains unchanged – leaving Springbok Coenie Oosthuizen to once again make an impact off the bench.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Rynhardt Landman, 19 Johannes Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Ryno Benjamin.
Date: Saturday, April 6
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
