Oosthuizen back for FS Cheetahs

Editor

Free State Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan has made three changes to his starting XV for Friday’s clash with the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein.

The big news is the return of Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen who returns to the side from injury in place of Caylib Oosthuizen who has been included amongs the replacements.

The other change amongst the forwards sees Jean Cook taking over from Lappies Labuschagne at number eight. Labuschagne is still in the run-on side but has been moved to the blindside flank in place of Neil Claassen, who is on the bench.

And in the final change, Rayno Benjamin takes over on the right wing from JP du Plessis who is also a replacement.

Meanwhile, hooker Hercu Liebenberg makes his return after an injury via the bench while Werner Lourens is preferred to Brendon Groenewald as the back-up lock.

Free State Cheetahs:

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Henco Venter, 3 George Marich, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Werner Lourens, 19 Neil Claassen, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 22 JP du Plessis

Date: Friday, September 26
Kick-off: 19:10 local (18:10 BST, 17:10 GMT)
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Francois Pretorius
TMO: Willie Vos