News

Cheetahs count their wounded

Tuesday 07th October 2008

In doubt: Jacques-Louis Potgieter

Preparations for Saturday's Currie Cup semi-final against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, did not start on a high note for the Free State Cheetahs this week.

According to OFM Sport, the participation of the Cheetahs fly-half, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, in Saturday's semi-final is in doubt after he sustained a hand injury.

"He will see a specialist today," said Cheetahs coach Naka Drotsk�.

"Only after that can we judge the seriousness of his injury."

Drotsk� also confirmed lock David de Villiers will see a specialist after injuring his ankle in the match against his former side the Boland Kavaliers.

Good news for the Cheetahs, however, is that Adriaan Strauss (hooker), Robert Ebersohn (centre) and Hendro Scholtz (flanker) will all be available for the semi-final clash, this after missing out against the Kavaliers through various injuries.

Meanwhile, the Boland's exodus to the Free State Cheetahs continues.

Kavaliers winger and Springbok Sevens star Danwel Demas will turn out for the Cheetahs next season.

Demas' departure is big blow for Boland as he and Deon Scholtz were earmarked to become a potent winger combination next year.

The greener pastures of the Free State all started two seasons ago when Boland Head Coach Hawies Fourie became the Cheetahs' back-line coach.

After that, several Bolanders followed him to Bloemfontein. They were full-back Hennie Daniller, scrum-half Tewis de Bruyn, winger Jongi Nokwe and lock David de Villiers. Recently Boland also lost tighthead prop Jean Botha to the Cheetahs.

And after Boland's gutsy performance against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, where they lost by ten points in a 90-point thriller, more Kavaliers could get a Bloemfontein call-up soon.