Same Cheetahs again for Rebels

 

Drotske has rewarded his squad for their 15-9 victory over the Bulls at home last week and hasn't felt the need to make any changes.

 

Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane remains on the bench after the strong early-season showings of Caylib Oosthuizen. 

 

While the Cheetahs will be hoping their exciting back three of Willem le Roux, Raymond Rhule and former Springbok Sevens star Cornal Hendricks, get more of a chance to attack with ball in hand than they did in the pouring rain last week against the Bulls. 

 

Drotske's men have never lost to the Rebels, having tasted victory in all three encounters between the two sides.

 

Last year the Cheetahs won 34-16 in Bloemfontein, while in the previous meeting in Melbourne in 2012, it took an injury-time try from Piet van Zyl to eventually secure a 33-26 triumph.

 

The men from Bloemfontein will be looking to start their four-match Australasian tour on a positive note in Melbourne before they go on to play the Reds, Hurricanes and Blues before returning home for their bye.

 

Cheetahs: 15 Willem le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Nicolaas van Dyk, 19 Rynhardt Landman, 20 Jean Cook, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Hennie Daniller.  

 

Date: Friday, February 28

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-off: 19.40 (08.40 GMT; 10.40 SA time)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Matt O'Brien (Australia), Michael Hogan (Australia)

TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)