Currie Cup latest – Johnson boost for Cheetahs
24 Aug 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from the Currie Cup.
Johnson boost for Cheetahs – Ashley Johnson will start for the Cheetahs this weekend.
The loose forward returns to the Cheetahs squad having failed to make the World Cup group of 30. Wing Cameron Jacobs is the other change to the starting XV.
Cheetahs – Riaan Smit, Philip Snyman, Robert Ebersohn, Corne Uys, Cameron Jacobs, Sias Ebersohn, Tewis de Bruyn, Ashley Johnson, Pieter Labuschagne, Johan Wessels, Izak van der Westhuizen, Francois Uys, WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss (c), Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: Hercu Liebenberg, Marcel van der Merwe, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Boom Prinsloo, Pieter van Zyl, Johan Goosen, Philip Burger.
Van Heerden back for Lions - Wikus van Heerden has returned to the starting line-up for Saturday’s match against the Sharks. Centre Doppies la Grange is also back after a hamstring injury.
Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Josh Strauss (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Doppies La Grange, 22 Burton Francis.
Kuun retires from rugby – Derick Kuun has cited business reasons for his early retirement from the game.
The Blues Bulls flanker has retired with immediate effect and decided to join his family farming business near Balfour.
‘It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement, but a couple of business opportunities came along and I have to act on them immediately,’ Kuün said.
‘I can only say thanks to all those players that I played with during the years. There were great times and bad times and all of that formed me to what I am today. I will miss my rugby friends greatly, as we have bonded into a special group. To the fans, a special word of thanks. Your support is very important and there is no greater feeling running out to a packed Loftus Versfeld. My blood will always be Blue.’
9 Comments
24 Aug 2011, 08:17 am
Belongs Dragon
24 Aug 2011, 08:21 am
cheetahs a really looking good of late. with johnson back even better.
they’ve got no excuses not to do well.
24 Aug 2011, 08:51 am
Oh , just realised now that Johnson also never made the cut , Unlucky along with Deysel I suppose , guess u can only take so much players.
24 Aug 2011, 09:01 am
If AJ had a better ground game and was better on defence he’d have made the squad… with his build, lower centre-of-gravity, speed and a bit more ‘gees’ in the tackle-zone he could hypothetically make an excellent open-sider…
24 Aug 2011, 09:42 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-4: Don’t agree. Ashley Johnson is a traditional Blind-side flanker or no8. He originally started his rugby (school level) at prop (like his dad), but his pace and running skills moved him to no8.
The games where he excelled in the last year he played at no7, and switched to 8 during attacking moves. Unfortunately he doesn’t have the ‘low center of gravity’ that is required for 6 as a fetcher, but he can chase the ball from the scrum very well.
A fantastic loose-trio (for the Cheetahs) would be Brussow, Johnson and Boom Prinsloo, but unless Toyota really come to the party, the Cheetahs will probably lose Brussow in November.
The problem with Ashley is that I suspect he’s told not to do anything ‘flashy’ when playing for the Boks. He loves to do the unexpected, but in the bok-setup he has to keep to planned moves.
24 Aug 2011, 09:43 am
… oh, and as you probably know, in South Africa a no7 is the blind-side flanker.
24 Aug 2011, 11:08 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-4:
Agree, but the problem is that playing openside (fetcher) is a mentality. Just because you have the physical tools, doesn’t mean you’re capable of playing that role.
The things that make Johnson good is as a support runner on attack. He also adds a bit of mongrel. Really like his attitude.
I’d have taken him ahead of Francois Louw because I believe Burger should be the reserve openside.
And I think his best position is 7. Plays ‘in the thick of things’ which makes him useful as a blindside, not a number-8 as he is a bit on the shorter side and doesn’t play back as a cover defender or fielding kicks etc.
24 Aug 2011, 14:57 pm
@Bouts(Bouts)-5:
Agree 100%
24 Aug 2011, 21:02 pm
So Kuun realized that he was a few matches away from a beat down with his attitude. Good move boy because I would have loved to read a tweet from you on how to eat a steak through a straw.
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