It may only be the second South African game of the season but, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer will no doubt have his eyes on the Cheetahs vs Sharks on Saturday.
This to keep an eye on the intriguing clash between flyhalves Pat Lambie and Johan Goosen.
There are of course a number of other intriguing battles such as Johann Sadie and Robert Ebersohn taking on Paul Jordaan and Francois Steyn, and the battles out wide between Willie le Roux and Lwazi Mvovo, and Willie le Roux vs JP Pietersen, but the flyhalf contest may well be for the Bok No. 10 jersey later this year.
Despite the unavailability of a few key players due to injury, the Sharks have picked an experienced pack, with Ryan Kankowski starting at No 8 alongside Jacques Botes and Marcell Coetzee. There was some talk about Lubalalo Mthembu getting the nod ahead of Kankowski given his very recent return from Japan, but John Plumtree obviously feels that his Bok 8th man is ready for action.
Interestingly, Plumtree has gone with two fetcher type flanks, with Jean Deysel, a more renowned ball carrier, starting from the bench.
Lions import Franco van der Merwe partners Anton Bresler in the a tough as teak second row while the only slightly contentious selection in the backline is that of Jaco Reinach ahead of Charl McLeod. Reinach had a very good Currie Cup last year and is one of the bright young stars of South African rugby. His combination with Lambie could be key to the Sharks success this year.
Coenie Oosthuizen seems to have done enough to prove that he is over his neck and back injuries of last year, but starts from the bench, with Trevor Nyakane, a man who has played most of his rugby at tighthead, getting a start on the left hand side of the scrum. Rossouw de Klerk, in from the Bulls, has clearly not done enough to crack the current squad yet.
Up against the power Sharks front row of Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden and Beast Mtawarira, it is an area where the Cheetahs will probably struggle no matter who they select!
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Willie le Roux, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Piet van Zyl, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Lappies Labuschagne, 6. Frans Viljoen, 5. Francois Uys, 4. Lood de Jager, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1. Trevor Nyakane
Bench: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21. Elgar Watts, 22. Ryno Benjamin
Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik 14. JP Pietersen 13. Paul Jordaan 12. Francois Steyn (captain) 11. Lwazi Mvovo 10. Patrick Lambie 9. Cobus Reinach 8. Ryan Kankowski 7. Marcell Coetzee 6. Jacques Botes 5. Franco van der Merwe 4. Anton Bresler 3. Jannie du Plessis 2. Craig Burden 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Bench: 16. Kyle Cooper 17. Wiehahn Herbst 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit 19. Jean Deysel 20. Charl McLeod 21. Meyer Bosman 22. Odwa Ndungane
Tank,
The mere mention of the name Jaco Reinach (Cobus/ Jacobus) is enough to make me want to smile as if something fantastic is about to occur in Super Rugby.
I have tried scrounging for more details regarding this player but have come up with very little is respects to one burning question. Is this Reinach fellow possibly a son to the Great Springbok of 86?
Being one who remembers the great winger of old running inches from the sideline, with legs as thick as a bloody great weeping willow on the banks of the Vet Rivier, unable to be tackled due to pace and power.
I will be watching that game, from the edge of the Australian desert, with great interest. (Even though I am a Stormers supporter.)
This Super Series is sure going to be one of excitement I think, with some fantastic new talent and combos being discovered.
On a sadder note I hope that some mention is made at Newlands of the passing of Morne Van Der Merwe a few weeks back. As a former team mate and fellow prop, he was a gem of a bloke and thoughts really have to go out to his wife and sons who will go through their first season without the big guy being around.
Enjoy the rugby season and I look forward to some fine wit and fantastic predictions during the course of this year.
It has been widely advertised that he is the son of former Springbok athlete and rugby player who dies in a motor accident in 1997
Thanks for that Dave. I did a search on this Google- a-tor thingy magig and while I found a number of sites giving his basic stats and one or two accomplishments I could not find any confirmation of his heritage.