Nice to see Philip Burger back from Italy. Blistering pace and hope he doesn't injure himself with his swan like dives when he scores tries.
Sarel Pretorius is in my view the 2nd best scrum-half after Fourie du Preez - he should have toured and not Big Mac January.
Andries Strauss bulked up a lot and brilliant on defence. Few know that he is also related to the Andries Strauss.
I like Frans Viljoen's work rate and Ashley Johnson's unpredictability. Juan Smith is and will always be a destructive runner and sold defender.
But they need the PitBull Heinrich Brussow back as soon as possible.
Do not discard front row out for a moment, they are very potent.
They just might surprise a few teams this year, starting with the Sharks on Saturday
Oh, I never knew Andries and Adiraan were also related along with Richardt. Talented family. Yes, people are writing off the Cheetahs like always but they have managed to stay competitive in my view and the Griquas are a good side to get hep from at a pinch. Brussow would certainly add a lot and I see Smith is also not playing against the Sharks. Pity. The 2nd row and centres still where they lack IMO.
Pretorius suffered an alarming dip in form in the CC last year, he needs to calm down just a tad, otherwise he will continue to make the mistakes that lose games, which will overshadow the moments he conjures up that win games
@ stormer2010
No bench?
&
Why 'Central Cheetahs'? I've never (up until now) heard anyone calling them that, is that their actual commercial name?
Agreed. He has serious talent but is likely to through that 50/50 pass that shouldn't have been thrown.
LOL, well the bench is kinda implied in some instances but I will post the match day line-up now which will end the debate LOL.
As for the Central Cheetahs; we are still waiting on the sponsor announcement and the Cheetahs represent central SA: cheetahs, griquas and griffons and not just the Free State. Also I like the descriptiveness and alleteration always looks better LOL.
http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=28888
Cheetahs to face the Sharks:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Kabamba Floors, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Viljoen.
Surprised to see Johnson and Vermeulen on the bench; maybe they want to bring those strong ball carriers on at the end and play a tight game to start off with. That or the others impressed during the Cheetahs trials which remained largely a mystery. Other than that the starting XV looks pretty much full strength except for Smith (not sure why he is out) and the injured Brussow who was always only going to play from week 5/6 onward.
That is the best looking Cheetahs bench I've seen for a few years and I'm glad they are backing some of the better Griquas players (Pretorius, Olivier, Viljoen).