Cheetahs wait on star trio

The Free State Cheetahs are hopeful of seeing big guns Heinrich Brussow, Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen return from injury in the next two weeks.

All three players are in the final stages of recovery from injury, and have a good chance of being included in the team to face the Sharks next weekend.

Young flyhalf Goosen suffered a serious shoulder injury in the process of scoring a memorable try against the Highlanders in May which saw him miss out on selection for the IRB Junior World Championships in June.

Prop Oosthuizen injured his neck on his Test debut against England at Kings Park in June and flank Brussow was sidelined with a knee injury in the Cheetahs' last Super Rugby game against the Sharks, so their return will be eagerly anticipated in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie revealed to this website that Goosen may be fit to play against the Griquas in Kimberley this weekend, while Brussow and Oosthuizen could find themselves back in action against the Sharks.

"Coenie and Heinrich might be able to play 40 minutes next weekend against the Sharks.

"Johan Goosen will see a specialist this afternoon [Tuesday] and he might be available this weekend, otherwise he will definitely play next weekend," said Fourie.

This will come as a major boost for the Bloemfontein outfit who lost both utility back Riaan Smit and scrumhalf Piet van Zyl to season-ending injuries last week.

The versatile Smit turned in a flawless goal-kicking performance playing on the wing in the victory over the Blue Bulls last week, and Van Zyl has established himself as one of the most promising scrumhalves in the country, so they will both be sorely missed.

Fourie explained: "We have lost Piet van Zyl and Riaan Smit with long-term injuries so they are going to be out for the rest of the Currie Cup. Piet broke his collarbone and Riaan dislocated his elbow.

"He [Smit] started to find his feet nicely and he is such a versatile player, he can play wing, flyhalf and fullback. Piet played really well during Super Rugby and he was in the wider Springbok training squad so it is a big blow to lose those two," he said.

Fourie said that experienced scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn has recovered from his groin injury and will provide cover for Sarel Pretorius on the bench this weekend and added that the only doubtful starter in their squad is prop Trevor Nyakane who is seeing a specialist about the neck injury he picked up against the Blue Bulls last week.

By Michael de Vries