Publications
Partners
Jóhann Thormählen
Bloemfontein - Cheetahs centre Barry Geel will be getting the biggest opportunity of his rugby career in the Free State Stadium on Saturday.
Geel has been picked at inside centre for the home team and could make the No 12 jersey his own with a good performance.
His inclusion is one of three changes to the team for the first match back home following their most successful Australasian tour to date. The Cheetahs achieved a victory and a further two bonus points on tour.
Wing Rayno Benjamin and hooker Adriaan Strauss will return against the Hurricanes after being sidelined with injuries. Benjamin has shaken off a hamstring injury and has been picked on the wing.
Strauss will be on the substitutes bench after recovering from a broken hand.
Geel and Corné Uys are competing for the inside centre spot in the absence of the injured Andries Strauss (groin).
While Geel already made his Super Rugby debut last year, he has only featured as a substitute for a few minutes this season.
Uys was not particularly impressive against the Highlanders and that may well have opened the door for Geel.
He could not have asked for a bigger test as he will have to face off against All Black centre Ma’a Nonu. If he meets that challenge, he may well be picked again.
Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie said that Geel deserved his chance.
"He has been training with us for the entire year, but has only played seven or eight minutes. We want to give him a fair chance before the bye. After the bye one would like more consistency in selection.
"We will decide after Saturday’s game which one of Barry and Corné will be playing inside centre going forward."
The Cheetahs have a bye after the game against the Hurricanes.
Benjamin’s return means that the Cheetahs will be fielding two specialist wings for the first time since their first game in this year’s tournament.
"It’s nice to have Rayno back. We played a few centres on the wing and now have two recognised wings again for a change. Rayno is a good defender and strong runner. He will be worth a lot against the New Zealanders because they have powerful outside backs," said Fourie.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will be without flyhalf Aaron Cruden and centre Conrad Smith due to injuries. Fullback Cory Jane is also unavailable as his third child is due soon.
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (capt), 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen. Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Corné Uys.
Hurricanes: TBA
Bloemfontein - Cheetahs centre Barry Geel will be getting the biggest opportunity of his rugby career in the Free State Stadium on Saturday.
Geel has been picked at inside centre for the home team and could make the No 12 jersey his own with a good performance.
His inclusion is one of three changes to the team for the first match back home following their most successful Australasian tour to date. The Cheetahs achieved a victory and a further two bonus points on tour.
Wing Rayno Benjamin and hooker Adriaan Strauss will return against the Hurricanes after being sidelined with injuries. Benjamin has shaken off a hamstring injury and has been picked on the wing.
Strauss will be on the substitutes bench after recovering from a broken hand.
Geel and Corné Uys are competing for the inside centre spot in the absence of the injured Andries Strauss (groin).
While Geel already made his Super Rugby debut last year, he has only featured as a substitute for a few minutes this season.
Uys was not particularly impressive against the Highlanders and that may well have opened the door for Geel.
He could not have asked for a bigger test as he will have to face off against All Black centre Ma’a Nonu. If he meets that challenge, he may well be picked again.
Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie said that Geel deserved his chance.
"He has been training with us for the entire year, but has only played seven or eight minutes. We want to give him a fair chance before the bye. After the bye one would like more consistency in selection.
"We will decide after Saturday’s game which one of Barry and Corné will be playing inside centre going forward."
The Cheetahs have a bye after the game against the Hurricanes.
Benjamin’s return means that the Cheetahs will be fielding two specialist wings for the first time since their first game in this year’s tournament.
"It’s nice to have Rayno back. We played a few centres on the wing and now have two recognised wings again for a change. Rayno is a good defender and strong runner. He will be worth a lot against the New Zealanders because they have powerful outside backs," said Fourie.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will be without flyhalf Aaron Cruden and centre Conrad Smith due to injuries. Fullback Cory Jane is also unavailable as his third child is due soon.
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (capt), 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen. Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Corné Uys.
Hurricanes: TBA
