Cheetahs ring the changes

Editor

Cheetahs boss Naka Drotske has rung the changes to his starting XV for Saturday's clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Springbok fullback Willie le Roux and prop Coenie Oosthuizen will miss the clash due to the agreement with the South African Rugby Union to rest top Boks during the tournament.

Amongst the backs there are three changes with Clayton Blommetjies moving from the wing to fullback to take over from Le Roux while Cornal Hendricks – who was rested last weekend against the Crusaders – starts on the right wing.

In midfield, Michael van der Spuy returns to the run-on side at inside centre in place of Francois Venter while Shaun Venter comes in for Tian Meyer at scrum-half.

In the pack Boom Prinsloo starts at number eight. He takes over from Jean Cook who shifts to the blindside flank where he replaces the injured Oupa Mohoje.

Captain Francois Uys – who withdrew shortly before the Crusaders clash through injury – is back in the second row where he takes over from Carl Wegner and there's a new front row with Maks van Dyk, Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys replacing Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld and Danie Mienie respctively.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Danie Mienie, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Rayno Benjamin

Date: Saturday, March 28
Venue: Waikato Stadium
Kick-off: 16.30 local (03.30 GMT, 14.30 AEST, 05.30 SAST)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)