Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks will make his first start of the Super Rugby season when the Cheetahs host the Blues in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Hendricks, one of the stars for the Boks last season, missed out on his team’s impressive first-up win against the Sharks in round one; coach Naka Drotske’s preferring Clayton Blommetjies on that day.
However, back on home turf this weekend, the Cheetahs boss has selected Hendricks in anticipation for a fast-paced game. The change is one of two from the side that won in Durban.
The other is upfront where Carl Wegner comes in for the injured Lood de Jager at lock.
Meanwhile, Bok flank Heinrich Brüssow – who was earmarked as a candidate to lead the Cheetahs this season – has yet to recover from the concussion he suffered while playing in Japan and hasn’t been considered for action for the Cheetahs.
Following their bye last weekend, Drotske will be hoping for more of what he saw in Durban as the Cheetahs look to improve on last season’s showing, which produced just four wins.
After this weekend’s match the Cheetahs play the Bulls and Sharks – at home – before heading to Australasia for matches against the Crusaders, Chiefs, Brumbies and Western Force. They will thus want to make the most of three home games before facing tough overseas opposition.
In other news, the Golden Lions Rugby Union yesterday announced they’d secured the services of lock Andries Ferreira, who has signed a two-year contract. Ferreira recently returned from a stint in Italy at Pro12 side Zebre but also has previous Super Rugby and Currie Cup experience with the Cheetahs.
Ferreira will join the team with immediate effect and will look to bolster the lock stocks at the union and provide added physicality in the tight five. He could even be considered for this weekend’s showdown with the Stormers at Ellis Park.
The Lions further confirmed that two up-and-coming players, who have worked their way through the junior ranks and who made their Super Rugby debuts last weekend, have extended their contracts. Centre Harold Vorster and lock JP du Preez have both signed on until the end of the 2016 season.
Both players have represented the Golden Lions at U-19, U-21 and Vodacom Cup level before. Vorster also excelled in the 2014 Currie Cup tournament.
Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Venter, Michael van der Spuy, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Sarel Pretorius, Willie Britz, Oupa Mohoje, Jean Cook, Francois Uys (capt), Carl Wegner, Coenie Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Maks van Dyk, Boom Prinsloo, Tienie Burger, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Johan Sadie. - The Star