Cheetahs forced to change two
Injuries to Johan Goosen and Frans Viljoen has forced Naka Drotske to make two changes to the Cheetahs matchday 22 for their clash with the Force in Perth on Saturday.
The well documented freak accident to the mercurial Johan Goosen is the one change, it sees his ever-present understudy Riaan Smit getting his first start of the tournament for 2013.
Smit, is up against his understudy from last season, Sias Ebersohn, after he replaced the Force flyhalf after two disappointed performances in a row last season.
The change, ultimately, lead to Smit starting the remained of the season in the flyhalf position with Ebersohn looking on from the bench.
The 28-year-old will hope to make an impression for the Cheetahs with journeyman flyhalf Burton Francis breathing down his neck from the bench.
The other change in the starting XV sees the much anticipated return of Heinrich Brüssouw to the Cheetahs starting XV.
He had to come on for the injured Viljoen in the 24th minute of the game and immediately made a telling impact, although he missed a regulation tackle early in his time on the field.
He made up for that miss tackle with some great flank work and was a menace on the ground and in open play.
His impact on the game was immense and went a long way to showing the public glimpses of his former self.
The Cheetahs are going to have their work cut out for them when they head to Perth as the Force are coming off a historic win a Suncorp Stadium against the Reds where they outplayed the former champions in almost every aspect of the game.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Johan Sadie, 2 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuisen, 18 Rynhard Landman, 19 Johannes Prinsloo, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Ryno Benjamin.
Date: Saturday, 23 March
Venue: NIB Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18.45 (12.45 SA time; 10.45 GMT)
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Ian Smith (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)