Nokwe still out of action

Pieter Jordaan - Volksblad

Bloemfonten - Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe will not play for the Cheetahs in Friday’s Super 14 match against the Force at the Subiaco Oval in Perth.

Nokwe, who was the Cheetahs’ most lethal attacking weapon last year, is not yet confident enough to play with his injured hand and was therefore not considered for the game against the Force.

However, there was a change to the Cheetahs’ wing pairing that played in last Friday’s 28-34 defeat to the Lions.

Danwel Demas (left wing) keeps his place, but Bjorn Basson has been shifted to the bench after being replaced on the right wing by Fabian Juries.

Corné Uys (outside centre) was not considered after taking a blow to the head. Piet van Zyl will therefore start the first time for the Cheetahs.

Former Falcons captain Hanno Coetzee is on the bench in Van Zyl’s place and can make his Super 14 debut against the Force.

The rest of the Cheetahs’ side is the same one that clashed with the Lions.

Juries is a sevens rugby legend who scored 173 tries for the Bok sevens side in the IRB series. He will want to grab his chance at Super 14 level with both hands. His direct opponent could be the Wallaby Drew Mitchell.

Van Zyl may face a similar scenario if Ryan Cross recovers from an injury and starts at centre for the Force.

The Cheetahs know they are in for a tough game. They lost in the last minute against the Force in Bloemfontein last year and in 2007 were beaten 45-17 in Perth.

The Cheetahs team is: Hennie Daniller; Fabian Juries, Piet van Zyl, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Danwel Demas, Meyer Bosman, Tewis de Bruyn, Frans Viljoen, Juan Smith (capt), Heinrich Brüssow, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, Bees Roux, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez.

Substitutes: Richardt Strauss, Kobus Calldo, Wayne van Heerden, Hendro Scholtz, Sarel Pretorius, Bjorn Basson, Hanno Coetzee.