Toyota Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has named his first Super Rugby side when he released his match-23 for Saturday’s clash against the Waratahs in Bloemfontein.
The match against the defending Super Rugby champions will be a tough baptism of fire for the Varsity Cup winning coach who officially took over the helms of the team from former coach Naka Drotské on Monday.
The side has been rocked with the news that Springbok fullback Willie le Roux will be joining the Sharks next season and fellow Bok, Cornal Hendricks is also on his way out, however has not side with a new team as yet.
With Smith not having the Griquas players at his disposal for the match due to the Peacock Blues preparing for the Currie Cup Premier Division qualifiers, it hardly comes as a surprise that the team will feature a host of debutants.
Shimlas flyhalf, Niel Marais who was largely instrumental in the University of the Free State side winning the coveted Varsity Cup, has been rewarded for his outstanding season by being named at flyhalf to make his debut in Super Rugby.
His teammate at the Shimlas, eighth-man Neill Jordaan will also make his Super Rugby debut, replacing Willie Britz at the back of the scrum. Jordaan was another star performer for Smith in the Varsity competition and put his body on the line in every single match, which led to jokes about there being enjoy blood supplies at the matches to top the player up.
Another Shimlas and Griffons stalwart, Elandré Huggett cracks the nod at hooker and will start off the bench. The fiery player has previously played for the Free State in the Currie Cup but this will be his first real taste of the big league.
The backline sees somewhat of a reshuffle with Sarel Pretorius starting at scrumhalf again, while Cheetahs stalwart Rayno Benjamin replaces the unavailable Michael van der Spuy at inside centre. The departing Joe Pietersen loses his spot in the starting XV with Marais in the pivot role and Coenie van Wyk getting a start at fullback.
Tienie Burger and Boom Prinsloo swap around at the side of the scrum, with Jordaan providing the balance.
One would be foolish to expect Smith to earn the Cheetahs a win against the in-form Waratahs in his first outing, however the mainly forced changes are indeed exciting ones and could provide for a riveting encounter come Saturday afternoon.
The Tahs themselves will be without the services of Wallabies winger, Rob Horne after copping a three-week ban for a tip-tackle in Lions centre Lionel Mapoe in Johannesburg last week.
Saturday’s match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 15:00.
Toyota Cheetahs – 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Cornal Hendricks, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Neill Jordaan, 7 Tienie Burger, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements – 16 Elandré Huggett, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Joe Pietersen.
