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Veteran Bok on Cheetahs' bench

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cheetahs got plenty of experience back for their historic first-ever encounter with the Stormers on their new home ground – the Cape Town Stadium.

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The two franchises go head-to-head on Saturday in the first round of South Africa’s ‘Preparation Series’.

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie welcomed back veteran Bok utility back Ruan Pienaar – who has recovered from the knee injury he suffered in an Unlocked match against the Bulls back in October.

However, the 36-year-old will play off the bench in Cape Town, as Fourie eases his prized asset back from the long lay-off.

Pienaar was capped 88 times for his country between 2006 and 2015.

Pienaar told OFM Sport that after his long injury lay-off he is raring to go.

“Personally I am obviously very excited to get back playing again and just being involved,” he told the radion station.

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“It makes me very excited.

“It will be a very tough one down in Cape Town.

“It’s a really good Stormers team, and I think that they would like to play well at their new home ground.

“I’m just excited and looking forward to getting back on the pitch.”

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The Cheetahs will have another veteran Bok in their backline.

Frans Steyn, a two-time World Cup winner, has been moved from flyhalf – where he played in the latter stages of the Currie Cup – to inside centre.

Other changes will see former Southern Kings stalwart Schalk Ferreira and Rynier Bernardo included in the starting line-up.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Chris Smit, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 George Cronje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi , 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Conraad van Vuuren, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Dries Swanepoel, 23 Rhyno Smith.

Date: Saturday, February 27
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Greenpoint
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Divan Uys, Dylan November
TMO: Cwengile Jadezwen

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