Cheetahs at full strength
After several late injury scares, Naka Drotske has his strongest match 22 available for the Cheetahs’ first Super 14 game against the Bulls.
Two weeks ago, centres Meyer Bosman (knee) and Corné Uys (cut in face), pivot Naas Olivier (knee), scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn (shoulder), flank Heinrich Brüssow (knee) and hooker Adriaan Strauss (shoulder) were all sidelined due to injury.
However, they have all recovered in time to face the Super 14 defending champions at Vodacom Park on Friday evening.
Loosehead Wian du Preez, who was rested last week after returning from his six-match stint with Munster, will feature alongside Strauss and tighthead WP Nel in a strong front row that excelled in the Currie Cup last season.
Drotske will also field a formidable back row combination of skipper Juan Smith, Heinrich Brüssow and Ashley Johnson, but it will be interesting to see how the loose trio will perform under the new law interpretations.
On the bench, lock Walti Vermeulen and flyhalf Sias Ebersohn are promoted ahead of Izak van der Westhuizen and Louis Strydom respectively after impressing during the pre-season.
Flank Frans Viljoen, who performed well in Smith’s place during the Currie Cup last year, also finds a place on the wood and should come on as an impact player in the second half.
Cheetahs – 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Subs: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Walti Vermeulen, 19 Frans Viljoen, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Danwel Demas.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:27 am
C’mon Freestate!
February 9th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Bulls will choose an entire font row on the bench to counter cheetahs scrum strength.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Should be a cracker.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Tewis de Bruyn ahead of Sarel Pretorius??? I am not so sure. Surely also – between the two provinces they should come up with a better lock option than nico breedt.
Bulls should really not struggle.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Thats a very good team. Strong backrow and front row. A little bit weak on the bench. I can’t understand why the Cheetahs under perform each year. This team is seriously good on paper.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:50 am
@WOLFMAN21:
Tant Sannie’s melktert is out of reach in Hamilton.
Those local inbreds can be a scary sight if you’ve never left Bethlehem except to visit Addington Beach over December.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Disrespect the Cheaters at your own peril… do not underestimate them..
It’s gonna be very tough in Bloem for the Bulls.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Ja they’re always dangerous at home.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:01 am
@Predawn: calling them inbred is pretty harsh!
I can understand the small town thing, but that really is no excuse. The Bulls could get over a similar problem. I am sure there is an expat living in Hamilton who is more than willing to cook a nice melktert and invite some of the youngsters over for coffee, introduce them to this daughters!
I just want to know what the excuses of the Stormers (supposed city slickers, fashionable lot) and the Sharks (also supposed men of the world) are. I know what the Lions excuses have been over the years – a **** front row, second row, back row and backline. Maybe it will be different this year?
February 9th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Apparently it’s travel fatigue.
I’ve heard living in Hamilton is as intrseting as living in Delmas..
The family unit is very very close…
February 9th, 2010 at 8:19 am
s14 Fantasy manager http(colon)//s14fantasy(dot)foxsports(dot)com(dot)au/M/home(dot)mc join the league using the code 501-127. Time to see who really knows their rugby.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:57 am
@Cheetah Champs: I think Tewis is there due to his versatility, and back up goal kicking options…. Maybe a horses for courses approach to counter the Bulls kicking game…
Still a great team sheet, glad Ebersohn is on the bench…
Nico Breedt, is a good physical option, and he adds an edge to the pack….
February 9th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Cheetahs actually have a host of goal-kickers in their squad:
Olivier, De Bruyn, Viljoen, Bosman, Strydom.
Is Sias a reliable goal-kicker?
I take it Robert Ebershon is still injured.
I’m surprised Daniller isn’t in the mix against the Bulls, given his size and his knowledge of the Bulls game.
I guess Viljoen is there to help counter Steyn’s goal-kicking prowess.
And young Walti Vermeulen will be up against it.
Matfield and Rossouw…
He must’ve impressed one hell of a lot during the preseason.
Glad to see Mapoe starting on the wing and not at 13.
Although I’m sure he will cover 13 if required.
Good team.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hmmm still carefully optimistic… The bulls have too oft spoiled my parade!!
Wian vs Werner Kruger – Cheetahs edge it slightly
Strauss vs Botha – Close difficult to assess
WP Nel vs Steenkamp – Cheetahs based on the last match
Breedt vs Rossouw – Both warhorses getting long in the tooth
De Villiers vs Matfield – Bulls
Brussow vs Stegman – Cheetahs subject to the interpretations
Juan Smith vs Wanneburg – Cheetahs
Johnson vs Spies – Individually, but the scrum domination might negate this
De Bruyn vs Du Preez – Bulls by a mile
Olivier vs Steyn – Bulls edge it
Nokwe vs vd Heever – Close Cheetahs due to experience
Bosman vs Olivier – Close slight advantage to Bulls
Uys vs Olivier – Close
Mapoe vs Hougaard – Cheetahs
Viljoen vs Kirchner – Close but Bulls edge it
It’s on the bench where things might get interesting, unlike the past the Cheetahs have a very good looking bench!!
Barnes vs Maku – Close
Coenie vs Bees Roux – Close
Walti Vermeulen vs Flippie – unknown quantity
Frans Viljoen vs van Velze – Unknown, van Velze looks promising
Sarel Pretorius vs Hougaard – Cheetahs
Sias Ebersohn vs Potgieter – Bulls
Demas vs Mamaetsa – Cheetahs
Man it’s going to be a cracker!!! Bring it on, it’s been a looooong wait!!
Go CHEETAHS!!! Make my weekend!!
February 9th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Just cannot see the Cheetahs comoing away with a win here, could be close though, but history has proven the cheetahs to be real late bloomers, tht’s if they bloom at all….ever seen a Cheetah in full bloom come summer time?…me neither.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Tewis de Bruyn ahead of Sarel Pretorius??? agreed. Ebersholm benched?? Mapoe time for talk is over>
Anybody knows what happened to Mbyiso?
Come on Cheetahs lets roll them.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@puff: Yes, you are right Puff, According to reports Sias’ goal kicking has improved, but it was shocking last year for the Cheetahs
February 9th, 2010 at 10:16 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva:
Let me help you out:
Front row – even.
Locks – Bulls by a mile.
Loose forwards: Even
Scrumhalf – Bulls by a mile
Flyhalf – Bulls by a mile
Centres – Bulls by a mile
Back three – Bulls by a mile
Bench – Bulls by a mile
February 9th, 2010 at 10:32 am
@Tacitus: Ha ha, was waiting for that one Tac btw
Front row – even ??? based on what?
Is the addition of Gary Botha such an improvement to negate the reverse gear of the CC final?
Funny in The final with Matfield and Bakkies, the lineouts were pretty even
But I will take your word for it, as i am well, and painfully aware of your 90/10 theory…
Time will tell I guess, because past performance is no gaurentee of future sucess either way
February 9th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Good no excuses afterwards then…
@Cheetah 4 Eva:
Flyhalf: Bulls edge it….PLEASE
By a country mile !!!
GO BULLS !!!!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:37 am
I guess Morne is just keeping Naas out of the Bok team…
Hope for an injury Naas, this could be your year !!!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:38 am
@Tacitus: Let me, an impartial spectator, help you guys out.
Front row – Cheetahs
Locks – Bulls
Loose forwards: Cheetahs
Scrumhalf – Bulls by a mile
Flyhalf – Bulls
Centres – Bulls
Back three – Bulls just shade it. Maybe
Bench – Bulls, just
February 9th, 2010 at 10:40 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva:
OK, after relooking at the teamsheets I am willing to concede that the back three are even as well.
As for my 90/10 theory, yes, it remains factually correct.
But in truth, the Cheetahs in Bloem, at the start of the S14 will be a huge test. Huge. I have no doubt that the Bulls are the better team, but the Cheetahs, in my view, have a 33% (1 in 3) chance of winning on Friday, for various reasons. In other words, significantly better odds than the historical 1 in 10 would imply. But if things go according to plan, that still means that my Bulls should emerge as the victors, after a hard fought battle, as usual.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:42 am
@WP_:
Watch Wannenburg show Juan Smith up on Friday. He’s got something to prove.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:43 am
@Tacitus: If he isnt pre-occupied sniffing the touchlines!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:44 am
@Tacitus: But even if not he’s not got anything on Juan
February 9th, 2010 at 10:46 am
@WP_:
The Bulls’ core is the best in the world. Not just the best in the competition, but the best in the world. And by core, I mean the wedge that includes 4,5,8,9,10,12. No other team has so many star players in that combination.
That’s where they win their games.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:50 am
@Tacitus: Going to be a great contest between Wanneburg /Smith – Smith hasnt had too much game time so could be rusty – by the way tipped the Bulls to win this one so they best not let me down
February 9th, 2010 at 10:56 am
@stew:
Agreed. To be honest, I don’t really know what to expect from my Bulls. I don’t know how prepared they are. Their one pre-season game was against a mix and match experimental Lions outfit.
I HOPE they’ve been training and focusing like crazy at Loftus, but if they ARE a bit rusty, I think it will be a close game.
Still, I predict that the new rules will mean that if you attack through enough phases, you WILL eventually get a penalty awarded to you. And if that’s anywhere in the opposition half, that’s 3 points for Morne Steyn.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Naka has picked the wrong scrummie. Pretorius deserves a S14 starting spot.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@katman:
Naka’s still scrambling for a Plan B after Plan A (get Snor to withdraw the Boks from the S14) failed. Now he has to face the ACTUAL Bulls team, and not our U21 guys. Bummer.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@katman:
Agree fully…
Pretorius realy played well last year.
But hey, I’m not complaining
February 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@Blouste: Naka is missing the trick here…
He is trying to counter FdP by trying to do what FdP does… Box Kick after Box Kick…
It will end in tears…
February 9th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Rum And Maple:
Hope you are spot on…hehehehe
February 9th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@Tacitus: By ACTUAL, do you mean the Bulls team that includes overweight cokeheads?
February 9th, 2010 at 11:12 am
@katman:
Mediocre attempt, Katman.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:21 am
@Tacitus: You’re the one inviting it with talk of Pedrie proving a point against Juan. They’re not even in the same league. Even when clean, Smith will hand him his *** seven days a week, and everyone here knows this except you.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:23 am
@katman:
We’ll see on Friday, won’t we.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:29 am
@Tacitus: I guess we will.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@Tacitus: You have absolutely nothing to base that on.
Fokall but blou bias.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
PROVINCE
February 9th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
What is great to see is that Cheetahs have retaqined most of their team that played last year, so they should know systems, structures and each other well. Unlike previous years when it was back to square 1.
In addition, given their poor start last year (OK every year), they will be superhyped to make a point early on, whereas the Bulls will be focussing on a whole campaign and retaining the Cup (which I hope they do). The Cheetahs have everything to win, Bulls have everything to loose.
Man on man, as pointed out before, the Bulls have more “superior players”, but that has not stopped the Cheetahs playing their hearts out on previous encounters and they will not hold back playing against the World’s best (by the way of which Pedrie sadly not one anymore).
Bulls will miss Habana, Pottie and Bakkies, but Spies and FdP will need to contained if the Orange men want to have a shout!
February 9th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
NO DEMAS OR SAREL IS A VERY STUPID SELECTION. Demas should be bokke .