Johannesburg – The Cheetahs have made four changes to their team to face the Lions in their Super Rugby match at Ellis Park, on Saturday.
Prop BG Uys is struggling with a back injury and has been ruled out for three weeks, and will be replaced by Danie Mienie with Caylib Oosthuizen coming in on the bench.
Following Heinrich Brussow breaking his arm during the Cheetahs’ 18-17 loss to the Reds at Free State Stadium last weekend, Tienie Burger starts at flank. Carel Greef provides cover among the replacements.
Joe Pietersen shifts from number 10 to fullback after Coenie van Wyk also picked up an injury against the Reds.
At flyhalf, Willie du Plessis comes in with Clayton Blommetjies on the bench.
This game will mark the 12th Super Rugby encounter between the two teams. The Lions are leading with six wins to the five victories of the Cheetahs.
It will also be the sixth time the teams meet at Ellis Park since the first Johannesburg encounter in 2007. Out of the five previous matches in Johannesburg, the Lions won three and the Cheetahs two games.
Cheetahs team:15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveldt, 1 Danie Minnie
Replacements:16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Carel Greeff, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Michael van der Spuy, 23 Clayton Blommetjies
ANA