Cheetahs hunting hat-trick of wins

Gallo Images

If results go their way, we could see the Cheetahs topping the SA Conference after this weekends Super Rugby fixtures. Photo by Johan Pretorius

If results go their way, we could see the Cheetahs topping the SA Conference after this weekend’s Super Rugby fixtures.

That will be the goal of Naka Drotske and his charges as they look to finish their overseas tour on a high. To achieve top spot in South Africa though, the Bulls (v Reds in Brisbane) and Sharks (v Rebels) will both have to come unstuck, and the Cheetahs will have to beat the Western Force in Perth without the services of flyhalf Johan Goosen, who’s been ruled out of rugby for between six and nine months with a knee injury.

The Cheetahs are also chasing another major record this weekend. If they beat the Force on Saturday, it will be the first time they have won three matches on an overseas tour, following wins in the last fortnight against the Highlanders and Waratahs.

The feat has previously been achieved on five occasions by South African competitors with the Stormers leading the way with a hat-trick of three-win tours (2008, 2011, 2012) while the Bulls (2007) and the Sharks (2009) have one apiece.

The narrow margin of the Cheetahs’ 27-26 win over the Waratahs last weekend – their third in a row against that side – mirrored their one-point victory over the Sydney-siders in Bloemfontein last year (35-34).

Taking Goosen’s place in the starting team is Riaan Smit, who will come face to face with the man he kept out of the Cheetahs team at times last year, Sias Ebersohn, who has been in good form for the Perth-based side since joining up with them at the end of last year. Providing flyhalf cover on the bench will be Burton Francis, the much-travelled No10, while up front Heinrich Brüssow gets his first start of the season, taking over from Boom Prinsloo, who’ll sit on the bench.

Besides Ebersohn going head to head with Smit, the Force No10 will also be tasked to keep his twin brother and Cheetahs vice-captain, Robert, in check. Robert is playing inside centre this season, having moved closer to the action from No13 last year, and will be running in the channel that Sias will be tasked to protect.

A third straight win now will set the Cheetahs up nicely for their home game next week, against the Melbourne Rebels.

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Riaan Smit, Sarel Pretorius, Phillip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Heinrich Brüssow, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuzien, Rynard Landman, Boom Prinsloo, Burton Francis, Piet van Zyl, Rayno Benjamin. - The Star