Uys leads new-look Cheetahs

Lock Francois Uys will lead a new-look Cheetah team when they take on the Bulls in their first Super Rugby pre-season outing in Polokwane on Saturday.

Uys takes over the captaincy from Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss - one of several Cheetahs who have defected to the Bulls in the off-season.

Strauss, who is recovering from a calf strain, will not feature for the Bulls at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

However, prop Trevor Nyakane and flank Pieter Labuschagne will line up against their former teammates.

While Uys will lead the Cheetahs in Polokwane, it is just a temporary appointment.

The permanent captain for the 2015 Super Rugby competition will only be announced early February.

It is expected to be handed to Bok loose forward Heinrich Brüssow, once he returns from his commitments in Japan.

As expected former Stormers utility back Joe Pietersen will wear the Cheetahs No.10 jersey, as the men from Bloemfontein search for a replacement for French-based Bok Johan Goosen.

Elgar Watts, who will miss the trip up north while recovering from off-season surgery to repair a damaged knee, rookie Willie du Plessis (24, who joined the Cheetahs after stints with the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions) and Francois Brummer (25, who has also been at a few teams without settling down) are the options at flyhalf.

Pietersen will start on Saturday, with Brummer likely to get game time off the bench. Du Plessis did not make the cut this week.

Springboks Teboho Mohoje and Willie le Roux, as well as Sevens Bok Ryno Benjamin will also play off the bench.

Other noteworthy selections include Pumas import Coenie van Wyk at fullback, Kings flyer Sergeal Petersen on the wing, and Willie Britz, signed from the Lions, at No.8.

Cheetahs: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jacobus Jonker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Tienie Burger, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Mienie.

Replacements - from: Burrie Uys, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Nicolaas van Dyk, Stephan Coetzee, Carl Wegner, Carel Greeff, Armandt Koster, Tian Meyer, Francois Brummer, Ryno Benjamin, Teboho Mohoje, Clayton Blommetjies, Willie le Roux.

Date: Saturday, January 24

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)

Referee: Ben Crouse

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