With Johan Goosen not yet ready for action, the Cheetahs have included Elgar Watts in their starting line-up to play the Bulls.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské said Watts, who joined the Bloemfontein team from Boland at the end of last season, showed his worth in that game after coming onto the field as a replacement.
“He not only accurately kicked at goal, but also looked the part with regards to ball distribution and on the attack,” Drotské said on Wednesday.
Drotské has also opted to again play Juan Smith from the bench while Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss takes over the captaincy.
Flanker Frans Viljoen and scrumhalf Piet van Zyl have also been promoted to the starting line-up, along with speedster Raymond Rhule. Lourens Adriaanse retains his place as the starting tighthead, but newboy Rossouw de Klerk will no doubt be itching to get stuck into his old team mates when he makes his way onto the field from the bench …
Cheetahs: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Phillip 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 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Juan Smith, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Hennie Daniller, 23 Hansie Graaff
Bulls: 15 Jürgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Mornè Mellett
Bench: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Ulrich Beyers, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Wynand Olivier
