Rassie tests the depth

Rassie tests the depth

19 Jul 2006

Rassie Erasmus has decided to rest most of his first choice players against the Pumas on Saturday.

The Vodacom Cheetahs side sees six changes to the starting line-up that lost 20-13 at Newlands, and two new names appear on the bench.

“We are actually quite nervous to play the Pumas because with the Lions they are our bogey teams,” Erasmus told keo.co.za. “We have rotated a few players for this game and I’m excited to see a few of the new guys play.”

Gloucester outcast Quinton Davids forms a new locking partnership with Corniel Van Zyl, with last week’s pair of Rory Duncan and Barend Pieterse taking the weekend off. Ollie le Roux also gets a rest and Wian du Preez moves into loosehead, while Richardt Strauss swaps with Jaco du Toit who reverts to the bench.

The most significant change to the pack, however, is the bringing in of the 1.75m, 88kg Kabamba Floors at eighth man. After his performance as a fetcher towards the end of the game last week, it will be interesting to see what he can do from the back of the scrum, and also how he combines with captain Hendro Scholtz and Bian Vermaak.

“I’m especially looking forward to seeing how Kabamba fares at No 8,” said Erasmus. “He has had a good season, but it is a role he can probably do as well as anyone.

“Bian Vermaak comes in and adds height to the loose-trio, while Quinton Davids gets his chance ahead of Rory Duncan. They are both similar players.”

In the backs, Noel Oelschig rotates with Michael Claasens at scrumhalf, and on the bench both Kobus Caldo and Heinrich Brussouw are certain to get game time as Erasmus takes stock of the depth in his team. Chris Kruger also returns to the squad in the place of Gaffie du Toit, who made his debut for the Cheetahs last week.

As Erasmus has stated, they won’t be taking this game lightly.

“We have worked hard on our composure, which was lacking at times last weekend. We need to show more patience in our execution. I didn’t think we played badly at all, but we let ourselves down at crucial times.

“On Saturday we need to take our chances and ensure we stay on top. But we finished on a high note by getting that bonus point at the end against Western Province. Hopefully we can take that momentum into the game on Saturday.”

Vodacom Cheetahs vs Pumas: 15. Bevin Fortuin; 14. Giscard Pieters, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Dale Heidtmann, 11. Gavin Passens; 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Noel Oelschig; 8. Kabamba Floors, 7. Bian Vermaak, 6. Hendro Scholtz (c), 5. Corniel van Zyl, 4. Quinton Davids, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Richardt Strauss, 1. Wian du Preez. Replacements: 16. Jaco du Toit, 17. Kobus Caldo, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Heinrich Brussouw, 20. Michael Claassens, 21. Chris Kruger, 22. Phillip Burger.


40 Comments

  • 1.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:36 pm

    rassie the dragon…

  • 2.Faker: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:38 pm

    Whale season is a month early this year – I am just thankful it has not arrived in Cape Town, but in Bloem… ;-)

  • 3.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:42 pm

    Between Rassie and ****, they are building strong groups for the future, well done lads. Now if only Fester would start doing the same thing.

  • 4.Murph: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:43 pm

    AHH !!!

    The Great One Starts At LAst !!!

    Go TGHM QD

    BunkerBustingLikeGreatWhiteSharksLaunchingSealsIntoTheAir RUCK CLEANS !!!!!!!

  • 5.Murph: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:46 pm

    Thank The Bloem Blommies !

    No Gaf on the bench !

  • 6.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:46 pm

    GO QUINTON!

    Oh and Rassie my good man, after the 50 point odd snotting, you can remove the Lions as a bogey team.

  • 7.Stan: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:48 pm

    **** muir also did the same thing against the Griekwas….

  • 8.Faker: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:49 pm

    How did this BIG news re David’s coming back miss all the media headlines? Does Jake know QD is back playing in SA?

  • 9.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:51 pm

    as a shark i think **** made a bot of a booboo..

    i say play a strong core of players and rotate some exciting youth and talents, not the whole team..

    think rassie is doing it a bit better…

  • 10.Murph: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 17:57 pm

    Go The Great One !!!

  • 11.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:02 pm

    shouldnt it be WP tests the ‘depth’…

  • 12.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:03 pm

    WP don’t have to rest players, the injury list is doing it for them.

  • 13.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:04 pm

    a different depth that is dukieboy…

  • 14.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:05 pm

    LMFAO big g

  • 15.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:08 pm

    but i must be careful wp-’bashing’ might get me in trouble with ig…

  • 16.wpw: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:17 pm

    paul delport starting for WP this weekend. hope he does well enough to banish luke watson to pomland!

  • 17.Swapo Gestapo: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:17 pm

    Oh no,

    Being a rugby supporter just becomes more painful by the day.

    Now Dikgat Davids is back in the mix. What is the next bad news? Markgraaf returning???

  • 18.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:18 pm

    i quite rate delport tho… especially will choose him above bollie…

  • 19.Ig: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:23 pm

    Ahhhhhhhhhh TGHMQD returns to the playing field – Pumas are gonna get 50 points for certain !

  • 20.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:29 pm

    Ig, what have u got against QD? Paying him this must attention shows that you think he actually makes a difference on the field. :lol:

  • 21.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:36 pm

    he does make a difference, the grass dies much more quickly…

  • 22.Ig: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:38 pm

    Hehehe Duke – I still reckon if you could get him fit and more importantly keep him fit he would be a quite capable CC and Super 14 player.

    …..and maybe a new attitude.

  • 23.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:45 pm

    LOL @ big g

    I never rated him as a good lock in the lineout, the poor guys that had to try and lift him! Iesh! :smile: Because of his bulk, he might of been ok in the scrums. Also not a bad ball carrier 5 meters from the line. But that’s it. He had no other skills to offer.

    Maybe Ig if you through a brain in with the new attitude, we might just have a monster on our hands! :shock:

  • 24.shieldstheband: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:45 pm

    Well done Ig. Very mature comment.

    QD has served WP well. How fickle you are.

    Rassie will get the best of him dont you worry. Again I would love to invite anyone on this site to say all these things to QD’s face. I will pay R1000 to anyone with the balls.

  • 25.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:46 pm

    i will say it to him, cause i can run fast…

  • 26.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:47 pm

    or actually just: i can run…

  • 27.David: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:54 pm

    Is there a Spur franchise going on offer in Bloem? With Ollie and QD there I could make a fortune.

  • 28.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:55 pm

    LMFAO at big g last comment, even with a walker u could beat him to the scrums and line-outs! :lol:

    You are right STB, he did serve WP well in the past.

  • 29.big g: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 18:57 pm

    he he dukie boy, agreed…

  • 30.midnight oil: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 19:03 pm

    24 – - the thing is he already knows that he is faken ****!!

  • 31.David: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 19:08 pm

    big g
    As a *** lady you might be able to answer a question that has been bothering me for a while.
    Is Ollie le Roux a lesbian?

  • 32.Bloem Leeu: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 19:17 pm

    Guys, why do you think QD didnt already played the last month?

    Rassie knows what he is doing, he got him inshape and fir first. Ill bet money that QD will be a better players at FS than at the WP!

    PS, Olie really isnt that fat!

  • 33.Bloem Leeu: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 19:18 pm

    fir=fit lol

  • 34.Koos: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 05:42 am

    By the way JC, what are you trying to say…most of his stars = 8?! Eight out of 22 is nothing, just ask the ABs…

  • 35.snoop: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 06:40 am

    Hey Stan of the best

    Tick tick tick tick

    Till the ox wagon falls over.

    1 day hero.

  • 36.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 07:19 am

    OK you guys want to see about WP’s depth

    Saturday’s starting line up does not even include the following player

    Joe Pietersen, Chumani Booi, Peter Grant, De Wet Barry, Sireli Naqelevuki, Bolla Conradie, de Kock, Pieter Louw, Ross Skeate, Andries Bekker, Selbourne Boome, Schalk Brits, Shimmie, JD Moller, Gaston de Roberts.
    And you guys say we don’t have depth.

  • 37.SjamBok: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 08:46 am

    Jeez… never thought I would see him back except as a coffee shop owner…

    While Rassie is at it, why doesnt he get

    Dale stanton
    Quinton Davids
    Gus theron
    Jorrie Muller
    Chris Rossouw
    Slaptjips
    Frikkie Welsh

    together and make a team? That way they can fumble around teh park while surreptitiously moering players in the ruck?

  • 38.big g: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 09:49 am

    #31 lesbian, not ***, please big difference…
    and about ollie… nope definitely not a lesbian, i mean what selfrespecting lady/lesbian would be interested in him..

    ollie is QD’s soulmate…

  • 39.Quinnyshark: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 10:59 am

    CFD

    De Roberts & Naqelevuki are both imports for the season. No-one has even seen them play in SA for pete’s sake. They could be total flops for all you know. So don’t mention them in WP’s “depth”.

  • 40.Blackberry: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 14:56 pm

    Whatever happened to the Cheetahs S14 centres?
    Are they injured or what? They have not played any cc rugby yet?

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