Toyota Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made three changes to his pack for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Two of the three are in the front row, where Lourens Adriaanse and Trevor Nyakane come in for last week’s props, WP Nel (out of the 22) and Coenie Oosthuizen (bench) respectively.
The other change is in the back row, with Justin Downey taking over at flank from Davon Raubenheimer, who also drops out of the 22. On the bench, Andries Ferreira is included for Downey, who came on as a replacement in the Cheetahs’ superb 33-26 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne last weekend.
Team:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cameron Jacobs, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss (vc), 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earl, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Andries Ferreira, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Rayno Benjamin.
March 20th, 2012 at 14:22 SAST
Hmmmmmm! Interesting selection, wonder if the idea is to field shorter props to get under Crockett and Franks? Both are able replacements, with Nyakane in particular, making a fair debut!
March 20th, 2012 at 14:31 SAST
1 @ Cheetah4eva:
I’m surprised, to be honest…
Thought Coenie had a good match.
Also thought that Ashley Johnson would get a start, he really sparked the Cheetahs back to life when he came on. Maybe the thought is to have him as impact player.
March 20th, 2012 at 14:41 SAST
Not a bad team considering.
March 20th, 2012 at 14:54 SAST
Yes Coenie did have a good match, this was the only reason I could think of, unless there are niggles. Still not a bad team, Downey can hardly be worse than Raubenheimer
March 20th, 2012 at 16:17 SAST
Match officials:Crusaders vs Cheetahs
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Cheetahs stand no chance, no wonder Naka has picked other props.
March 20th, 2012 at 16:24 SAST
5 @ Loosehead:
O Gaats!
March 20th, 2012 at 16:25 SAST
@ Loosehead:
How can he be allowed to ref another game involving the side that he so blatantly anally raped?
Wayne Barnes, has he ever reffed the AB’s again?
March 20th, 2012 at 16:28 SAST
6@ grootblousmile:
We are fcuked! Fcuked I tell you!
March 20th, 2012 at 16:42 SAST
8 @ Loosehead:
Maybe this time he’ll lean over backwards to make things right…
… faint hope…
March 20th, 2012 at 16:55 SAST
Double O Gaaaats!! We are so screwed!!
March 20th, 2012 at 18:20 SAST
Tough one this weekend – ref – say no more, A Crusaders side that are hurt, and will definitely have targeted this match as one to win and playing away from home are all going to make it extra tough for the Cheeteahs. I also wonder about Coenie and Ashley not starting. Tewis worries me too, but come on lads, Cheetahs are on a role, so my moneys still on them……who said Carter? That changes things!
March 21st, 2012 at 10:19 SAST
Hmmmmm! Naka is a ingenius fella! After much pondering, the reason for the prop change became clearer to me. My theory is that Naka saw that the Cheetah scrum nemesis, Keith Brown is holding the whistle again. So Naka has wisely out maneuvered the dude by switching his props lol! The ball is now in the ref’s court!