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Bloemfontein - The Cheetahs have stuck with the recipe that delivered their first home victory of 2011 for their Super Rugby re-match against the Lions on Friday.
Coach Naka Drotské has not made a single change to the starting line-up that beat the Brumbies 47-36 at the Free State Stadium last Friday.
However, there are two changes to his substitutes bench. Flank Kabamba Floors and lock Waltie Vermeulen replace the injured Frans Viljoen and Martin Muller respectively.
Floors missed the Brumbies match due to a shoulder injury, while Viljoen broke his right arm in the victory and will be out of action for about 12 months.
The return of Floors could not have come at a better time as loose forwards Juan Smith (Achilles), Philip van der Walt (knee ligaments) and Leon Karemaker (shoulder) are on the injured list.
"One cannot do anything about injuries, but the positive thing is that Kabamba could replace Frans," said Drotské.
He added that Vermeulen had got the nod over Muller because of his lineout prowess. Drotské feels the Cheetahs' lineouts are not quite up to standard.
Wing Rayno Benjamin could still not be considered because of a hamstring injury. He picked up the injury in the fourth-round match against the Lions and thus far has been sidelined for seven weeks. In recent weeks he has come close to being available, but repeatedly had to be withdrawn as he was not fully fit.
"Rayno is not available yet. He should have been ready by now, but is still in pain when he runs. We cannot risk him if he's not 100%," said Drotské.
There may well have been a change had Benjamin been available. In that case the Cheetahs' coaching staff would have had to choose between the experienced Philip Burger and the promising Riaan Smit on the one wing.
However, their places are both safe for now and they will have the opportunity of cementing their spots.
Centre Barry Geel is available again after recovering from a dislocated finger, but a decision has been taken to continue with Corné Uys in midfield.
Meanwhile, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, hooker Adriaan Strauss and flank Heinrich Brüssow got the opportunity to train with their Cheetahs teammates again on Tuesday.
They attended the Springbok planning session with injured flank Juan Smith on Sunday and Monday.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Dylan des Fountain, 12 Doppies La Grange (capt), 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Franco Van der Merwe, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Jaco Taute.
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corné Uys, 11 Riaan Smit, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller.
Bloemfontein - The Cheetahs have stuck with the recipe that delivered their first home victory of 2011 for their Super Rugby re-match against the Lions on Friday.
Coach Naka Drotské has not made a single change to the starting line-up that beat the Brumbies 47-36 at the Free State Stadium last Friday.
However, there are two changes to his substitutes bench. Flank Kabamba Floors and lock Waltie Vermeulen replace the injured Frans Viljoen and Martin Muller respectively.
Floors missed the Brumbies match due to a shoulder injury, while Viljoen broke his right arm in the victory and will be out of action for about 12 months.
The return of Floors could not have come at a better time as loose forwards Juan Smith (Achilles), Philip van der Walt (knee ligaments) and Leon Karemaker (shoulder) are on the injured list.
"One cannot do anything about injuries, but the positive thing is that Kabamba could replace Frans," said Drotské.
He added that Vermeulen had got the nod over Muller because of his lineout prowess. Drotské feels the Cheetahs' lineouts are not quite up to standard.
Wing Rayno Benjamin could still not be considered because of a hamstring injury. He picked up the injury in the fourth-round match against the Lions and thus far has been sidelined for seven weeks. In recent weeks he has come close to being available, but repeatedly had to be withdrawn as he was not fully fit.
"Rayno is not available yet. He should have been ready by now, but is still in pain when he runs. We cannot risk him if he's not 100%," said Drotské.
There may well have been a change had Benjamin been available. In that case the Cheetahs' coaching staff would have had to choose between the experienced Philip Burger and the promising Riaan Smit on the one wing.
However, their places are both safe for now and they will have the opportunity of cementing their spots.
Centre Barry Geel is available again after recovering from a dislocated finger, but a decision has been taken to continue with Corné Uys in midfield.
Meanwhile, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, hooker Adriaan Strauss and flank Heinrich Brüssow got the opportunity to train with their Cheetahs teammates again on Tuesday.
They attended the Springbok planning session with injured flank Juan Smith on Sunday and Monday.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Dylan des Fountain, 12 Doppies La Grange (capt), 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Franco Van der Merwe, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Jaco Taute.
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corné Uys, 11 Riaan Smit, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller.
