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Cape Town - Free Sate Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius says the Cheetahs' style of play suits his game far more than at the Waratahs in Australia.
He had a troubled season at the Australian outfit in this year's Super Rugby competition, and was dropped from their 22-man squad for the last few games of the tournament.
But "Super Sarel" - who was Super Rugby Player of the Year at the Cheetahs last year - is relishing a return stint with the Bloemfontein side.
"I feel like my old self again and it's nice if the coaches back you. It's nice to be back and it doesn’t even feel as though I've been away. It was a learning curve over there (Australia)," he told Volksblad.
He feels the No 9s are forced to play too much of a structured game in Australia.
"The Waratahs play a lot with the forwards and the scrumhalf only has to do the basic things well.
"Actually, he only needs to be a link between forwards and backs. At the Cheetahs the game plan suits me better."
Pretorius is also up against his former Currie Cup team-mates when the Cheetahs take on Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday. He's halfback partnership with fit-again Johan Goosen is surely an exciting prospect for many a running rugby fan.
The clash in Kimberley kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
Griquas:
15. Willie le Roux, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Stefan Watermeyer, 12. Walter Venter, 11. Rocco Jansen, 10. Francois Brummer, 9. Jacques Coetzee, 8. Leon Karemaker, 7. Justin Downey, 6. Wesley Wilkins, 5. Martin Muller, 4. Ligtoring Landman, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Ryno Barnes (captain), 1. Steph Roberts
16. Matthew Dobson, 17. Janro van Niekerk, 18. Ivann Espag, 19. Frikkie Spies, 20. Chase Minnaar, 21. Marnus Hugo, 22. Marnitz Boshoff
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 12 Barry Geel, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Kabamba Floors, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Andries Ferreira, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis du Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Nico Scheepers.
He had a troubled season at the Australian outfit in this year's Super Rugby competition, and was dropped from their 22-man squad for the last few games of the tournament.
But "Super Sarel" - who was Super Rugby Player of the Year at the Cheetahs last year - is relishing a return stint with the Bloemfontein side.
"I feel like my old self again and it's nice if the coaches back you. It's nice to be back and it doesn’t even feel as though I've been away. It was a learning curve over there (Australia)," he told Volksblad.
He feels the No 9s are forced to play too much of a structured game in Australia.
"The Waratahs play a lot with the forwards and the scrumhalf only has to do the basic things well.
"Actually, he only needs to be a link between forwards and backs. At the Cheetahs the game plan suits me better."
Pretorius is also up against his former Currie Cup team-mates when the Cheetahs take on Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday. He's halfback partnership with fit-again Johan Goosen is surely an exciting prospect for many a running rugby fan.
The clash in Kimberley kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
Griquas:
15. Willie le Roux, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Stefan Watermeyer, 12. Walter Venter, 11. Rocco Jansen, 10. Francois Brummer, 9. Jacques Coetzee, 8. Leon Karemaker, 7. Justin Downey, 6. Wesley Wilkins, 5. Martin Muller, 4. Ligtoring Landman, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Ryno Barnes (captain), 1. Steph Roberts
16. Matthew Dobson, 17. Janro van Niekerk, 18. Ivann Espag, 19. Frikkie Spies, 20. Chase Minnaar, 21. Marnus Hugo, 22. Marnitz Boshoff
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 12 Barry Geel, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Kabamba Floors, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Andries Ferreira, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis du Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Nico Scheepers.
