Hooker Louis ‘Chucky’ van der Westhuizen returns to reinforce the Cheetahs pack for the heavyweight SA Cup showdown against Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
The final league round travels the third-ranked Cheetahs 160kms up the N8 to face second-ranked rivals Griquas.
The Cheetahs secured their spot in the semi-finals with a dominant 106-7 victory over the Border Bulldogs, running in 15 tries in a spectacular display of attacking rugby. The result secured the Cheetahs’ place in the semi-finals alongside Griquas and the Pumas. The final spot is still up for grabs, with the Boland Kavaliers, Griffons, and Valke battling it out to join the top four.
Up front, Van der Westhuizen takes over the No 2 jersey from Vernon Paulo, who drops to the bench. Van der Westhuizen packs down between props Aranos Coetzee and Hencus van Wyk. Pieter Jansen van Vuren comes in for Carl Wegner forming a lock partnership with captain Victor Sekekete. At No 8, Jeandre Rudolph completes a back row with flankers Gideon van der Merwe and Pierre Uys.
At the back, Cohen Jasper starts on the wing, with Prince Nkabinde and former Bulls and Brumbies fullback James Verity-Amm completing an exciting and dynamic back three. Marco Jansen van Vuuren and Carel-Jan Coetzee will combine in midfield.
Several players miss out due to injury, including Stormers import Clayton Blommetjies (calf).
CHEETAHS – 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen , 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Bench: 16 Vernon Paulo 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Tiaan Swanepoel, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Franco Smith.
Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
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