This is the fifth in the series of Cheetahs Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.
We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Toyota Cheetahs 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Sarel Johannes “Sarel” Pretorius:
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Sarel Pretorius is a product of Reitz Primary School and Reitz High School.
Pretorius started his career in 2003 with the Griffons at Under 20 level. From there he moved on to represent the Cheetahs at Under 21 level in 2005 and then moved up to the Valke for the 2006 and 2007 seasons before joining the Griquas in 2007. He became a regular face at the Griquas and Cheetahs Super Rugby squads. In 2012 he made a brief move to Australian Super Rugby side the Waratahs. He returned to the Cheetahs in 2012 for the Currie Cup season and is now a regular face in the Free State Cheetahs squad.
Pretorius is most likely the most exiting scrumhalf in Super Rugby. He will use every chance he gets to run at the opposition and this shows with 105 point in 67 Super Rugby appearances. His defence is however suspect.
Pretorius will also most likely be the regular starting scrumhalf at the Toyota Cheetahs this season.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2003 – Griffons – ABSA U20 Section B
- 2005 – Free State – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Free State – Provincial Amateur Competition
- 2006 – Medicover Valke – Vodacom Cup, Medicover Valke – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2007 – Valke – Vodacom Cup, Valke – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2008 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Wildeklawer Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Emerging Springboks – IRB Nations Cup, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2009 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Royal XV – British & Irish Lions Tour, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2010 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Waratahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation
- 2013 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Name: Shaun Harold “Shaun” Venter:
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Venter is a product of Klipfontein Primary School and Afrikaans High School.
Venter started his career in 2006 at Under 21 level for Mpumalanga. He represented the Pumas until 2012 and then moved to Eester Province in 2013. He was part of the Springbok Sevens squad in 2009 and represented the SA Barbarians North in 2012 during the Castle Incoming Tours.
Venter is still a relatively young player and after his first Super Rugby season with the Southern Kings, has shown that he has what it takes in Super Rugby. He has 105 provincial caps, which is a huge achievement at his age.
The Cheetahs will do well to give Venter some regular game time this season. He will be hungry to prove a point and show his worth behind a good pack of forwards.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2006 – Mpumalanga – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Mpumalanga – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2007 – Witbank Mica Pumas – Vodacom Cup, Witbank Mica Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifiers, Witbank Mica Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Witbank Mica Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies
- 2008 – Pumas – Vodacom Cup, Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
- 2009 – Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation, South Africa – IRB Sevens Series George
- 2010 – Pumas – Vodacom Cup, Barloworld Toyota Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Barloworld Toyota Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation
- 2011 – Ford Pumas – Vodacom Cup, Ford Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Ford Pumas – Vodacom Cup, SA Barbarians North – Castle Incoming Tours, Ford Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
- 2013 – Southern Kings – Vodacom Super Rugby, Steval Pumas – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Southern Kings – Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation
Name: Kevin Luiters:
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Kevin Luiters is a product of Stirling Primary School, Grey College and the University of the Free State (Shimlas).
Luiters started his career in 2005 for Border at Under 13 level. His first major senior appearance was for the Free State Cheetahs in the 2011 Vodacom Cup. He was also part of the 2012 Springbok Sevens squad.
Luiters will most likely be third in the pecking order at the Toyota Cheetahs. He is young and would relish the chance to get some game time as he is still uncapped in Super Rugby.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2005 – Border – U13 Coca Cola Craven Week
- 2008 – South Africa – U/16 Elite Squads, Konica Minolta Free State – U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2010 – Free State – U18 Craven Week, South Africa – SA U18 High Performance, Free State – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2011 – Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Shimlas – Varsity Cup, Toyota Free State XV – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai
- 2013 – Toyota Free State XV – Vodacom Cup, Shimlas – Varsity Cup, Toyota Free State – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Starters:
The Toyota Cheetahs have in my opinion a tough task to pick a starting scrumhalf. The obvious choice would be to start Pretorius, Venter however showed some talent last year in a struggling Southern Kings side. The starting scrumhalf will be between those two with the other playing off the bench.
Regarding the youngster Luiters – He will most likely see very little Super Rugby game time, if any at all. He would relish the opportunity at Super Rugby.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Cheetahs flyhalves.
Again, nothing special, but Sarel can attack.
Shaun Venter is a good player, no doubts about that
Sarel is great on attack, but poor on defence, and he can also have the odd brainfart.
So far, in discussing the Cheetahs squad contenders, from props, hookers, locks, loosies and now scrumhalves a very balanced squad, with enough depth in all those positions.
Do I need to revise my way of thinking that 2013 was the Cheetahs year, not to be repeated or bettered in 2014?
Think I might just have to do it….
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