Rugby
Cheetahs to field 13 debutants─── MORGAN PIEK 11:25 Thu, 24 Jun 2021
The Toyota Cheetahs will field 13 debutants on Saturday in their Currie Cup derby against the Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley. This is due to positive Covid-19 cases in the camp, as well as injuries.
None of the Cheetahs contracted loose-forwards are available for what is their first match of the campaign.
This has forced the coach, Hawies Fourie, to name four locks in the starting XV, with Jean Drosté and Jacques Potgieter at flank. Potgieter is, however, no stranger to playing as a loose-forward and has represented the Springboks in the backrow.
Among the back, Evardi Boshoff, will be on debut for the Cheetahs at outside centre, while scrumhalf, Tian Meyer, will start on the wing.
Upfront, Gideon van Wyk, will start at eighth-man for the game, while Rynier Bernardo and Victor Sekekete will play at lock.
Aranos Coetzee, Wilmar Arnoldi and Cameron Dawson will start in the front-row.
Among the replacements, Reinier Viljoen, Lohan Potgieter, Mihlali Mosi, David Brits and Cohen Jasper will all make their official debuts for the Cheetahs.
The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that with 13 debuts there is a lot of excitement in the camp, but they will have to find a balance on the field.
“We've got to find that balance with the excitement for the new guys and the execution of the plan.
“We trained well this week and I am positive that everything will come together on Saturday.
“There are 13 players that will be making their debut for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. Some of them have previously played for unions. Players like Jacques Potgieter and Jean Drosté.
“A lot of guys that played in the Varsity Cup will get a taste of the Currie Cup, and then there are some of our under-20 players like Reinier Viljoen and Ruan Potgieter.”
Saturday’s game at Tafel Lager Park kicks off at 13:00.
Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Tian Meyer, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Jean Drosté, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Victor Sekekete, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements – 16 Janus Venter, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Reinier Viljoen, 20 Lohan Potgieter, 21 Mihlali Mosi, 22 David Brits, 23 Cohen Jasper.
@MorganPiek OFM Sport
