Bloemfontein – Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has only made one tactical change to his side for their Super Rugby encounter against the Bulls on Friday in Bloemfontein.
Drotské has opted to bring in full back Hennie Daniller on the replacement bench at the cost of winger Rayno Benjamin.
The rest of the team corresponds with the one that was beaten 21-20 by the Lions on Saturday.
The Cheetahs coach said Daniller's inclusion is a tactical one as the hosts expect an aerial attack from the Pretoria based side.
The visitors physical approach is the main reason why Drotské opted not to change the rest of his line up.
“We know that the Bulls are very physical and we are preparing for a huge battle. We expect them to try and put us under pressure with a lot of kicks and therefore we opted to bring Hennie Daniller in for this game,” the Cheetahs coach said.
“He is by far the best under the high ball and his inclusion also gives us many options like switching Willie le Roux to wing if needed.”
Two Cheetahs stalwarts, props Coenie Oosthuizen and Trevor Nyakane, missed two days of practice in succession due to illness and a slight knee injury respectively, however Drotské was adamant that both would be ready to take on the Bulls come game day.
“Coenie has a bit of a virus and struggled with asthma after the Lions game. Trevor just has a slight niggle with regards to his knee. Both will play against the Bulls,” he said.
“There are other slight niggles here and there, but nothing major to be concerned about.”
The Cheetahs coach also announced that centre Francois Venter had been appointed vice captain, a role that stalwart Robert Ebersohn fulfilled before his move abroad to play club rugby for French outfit Montpelier.
“Vice captain is a role that Robert has taken for the last two or three years. With his departure we hand it over to Francois Venter,” Drotské said.
“He proved against the Lions that he will be one of our regulars in the starting line up and he plays a vital role in making the calls for the back line moves.”
The Cheetahs team: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Johann Sadie, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Shaun Venter, Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Boom Prinsloo, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss (captain), Caylib Oosthuizen. Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Trevor Nyakane, Maks van Dyk, Ligtoring Landman, Jean Cook, Sarel Pretorius, Elgar Watts, Hennie Daniller. - Sapa