Rassie keeps the faith
7 Feb 2006
Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus will stick to the tried and tested when he names his side for Friday night’s Super 14 match against the Bulls.
Willem de Waal is expected to start at flyhalf ahead of Bok No 10 Meyer Bosman, with Michael Claassens preferred at scrumhalf.
Former All Black Keith Lowen is not being considered for the first game, so Ronnie Cooke will partner Barry Goodes in midfield, with either Gaffie du Toit or Bevin Fortuin at fullback.
Griquas hooker Tiaan Liebenberg replaces the retired Naka Drotske, while Corniel van Zyl has recovered from his cheeckbone injury and will partner Barend Pieterse in the second row.
Kabamba Floors, who had a great pre-seaon campaign, will replace the injured Hendro Scholtz.
The Cheetahs have had an almost ideal build-up to their opeing Super 14 clash, with injuries not that disruptive and the weather playing into their hands.
“We can’t complain,” said Erasmus. “The weather has been cool this week and for training that has been perfect as the players should peak on Friday night.”
Erasmus has also been fortunate with regard to serious injuries to key players. Alongside the loss of the likes of CJ van der Linde, Gavin Passens and Hendro Scholtz (all injured last year), the Cheetahs will also be without Lowen, who picked up a muscle strain playing squash last week, Ollie le Roux (hamstring) and Alwyn Hollenbach (shoulder).
Possible Cheetahs side:
15 Gaffie du Toit/Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Barry Goodes, 11 Sinethemba Zweni, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Michael Claassen, 8 Ryno van der Merwe, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Barend Pieterse, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wiaan du Preez.
60 Comments
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7 Feb 2006, 16:12 pm
OO
I Guess Barrabas then …
Getting helluva excited about this season !
Cheetahs could well pull it off again , Bulls have had some nasty injury woes ! I feel for them , hope their top guys make it back soon !
But it shows that some lads are in need of rest!
7 Feb 2006, 16:13 pm
And I think some old school dutchie discipline is exactly what Gaffie needs in Bloem under Rassie to get the highlights out of his hair and sort him out into the decent player he was always meant to be.
Hell, send Big Joe too!!
7 Feb 2006, 16:16 pm
Boks
I suppose the CC showed us that Willem is erratic ???? !!!!!!
Is jy miskien Leon Schuster ou pal ? cause …
You must be Joking !
7 Feb 2006, 16:19 pm
Murph,
I guess Jake White and I must both be comedians cos neither of us would go into battle with De Waal over Bosman…….
7 Feb 2006, 16:22 pm
OK Murph,
At least meet me half-way. Do we agree that Bosman is the closest thing we have to the Honiball mould?
If you think Bok setup, imagine a Honiball type bull at flyhalf to take some of the physical duties of Jdv, who can then play his natural game to put our flyers into space…
Bosman needs to play at 10 against the best.
7 Feb 2006, 16:41 pm
Boks
I will meet you 1/2 in that i want to see Bossie at 10 for both the Boks and the Cheetahs …
But this season we will need Willem, and i would not up root the status quo of my S14 side because Jake picked Bossie not Willem, its too risky Raasie knows that , and it would undo all the good of getting Wilem in the zone last year.
But if we look at Rassie’s aquisitions at centre , i think its clear that we will see Bossie at 10 sooner than later.
But i still think Willem has alot to offer
7 Feb 2006, 16:42 pm
BoksForever, i agree with you.
this guy had a few problems when he played for the boks last year. i was in paris for the game and the one wasted overlap where he kicked instead of passing killed me.
but jeez, he was thrown into the deep end and didnt even have an experienced scrummy to help him. also, has he ever missed a place kick for the boks? i dont remember him missing one, not to bad eh.
7 Feb 2006, 17:30 pm
Ja, Rassie is sticking to what he knows works. Meyer will get his traditional 5 minutes before the end.(when free state have the game sown up
Real shame we cant see Lowen / Hollenbach combo at center.
Bevan F or Gaffie – Potato or Potato….
7 Feb 2006, 18:00 pm
Kners,
The roo will be showing the Bulls/Cheetahs game, the sharks game is also being televised by sky but will be shown delayed on Sat.
8 Feb 2006, 00:37 am
it’s a very long season. we need two flyhalves. meyer will get his chance, and not just 5 minutes here and there. i trust rassie will settle him in at the right pace.
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