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Bloemfontein – The Cheetahs have selected with a brand-new lock pairing for their warm-up game against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Former Baby Bok Martin Muller and lock acquisition Wilhelm Steenkamp will have to master the visitors’ lineout balls in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Injuries and experience have prompted the Cheetahs into giving these two “unknowns” a chance before the start of Vodacom Super Rugby.
They are two surprise selections among the Cheetah forwards, for what is expected to be a tough match against the Kings, who beat the Bulls 23-7 last Saturday.
Loose forwards Kabamba Floors and Frans Viljoen are also in the pack, with Ryno Barnes set to play hooker. The Cheetahs announced a team of 24 players for the match.
While he is wearing the No 4 jersey because of injury, Muller may just book his place in the Cheetahs’ final squad with a good performance.
Francois Uys hurt his ankle in training games on Friday, while Izak van der Westhuizen (shoulder operation) and Hendrik Roodt (knee) will only return later.
The promising Muller therefore has a golden opportunity to stake his claim after joining the Cheetahs this year. He was still playing for the University of Cape Town last year.
But the lock, who has represented Western Province at under-19 and under-21 level, has showed enough promise to suggest that he may well be able to stand his ground at senior level.
He made his Stormers debut in 2009, and also played for WP against the British and Irish Lions that year.
The more experienced Steenkamp also gets his chance after impressing in warm-up games.
Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie said that Uys would be ready for the first game in Super Rugby against the Sharks on 19 February.
Floors will be used as No 8, while Viljoen will wear No 6 after recovering from a heel injury.
The Cheetahs team: Hennie Daniller, Philip Burger/Philip Snyman, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Ryno Benjamin, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Kabamba Floors, Juan Smith (capt), Frans Viljoen, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Martin Muller, WP Nel, Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen. Substitutes: Skipper Badenhorst, Kobus Calldo, Waltie Vermeulen, Philip van der Walt, Ashley Johnson, Tewis de Bruyn, Sias Ebersohn, Corné Uys, Riaan Viljoen.
Bloemfontein – The Cheetahs have selected with a brand-new lock pairing for their warm-up game against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Former Baby Bok Martin Muller and lock acquisition Wilhelm Steenkamp will have to master the visitors’ lineout balls in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Injuries and experience have prompted the Cheetahs into giving these two “unknowns” a chance before the start of Vodacom Super Rugby.
They are two surprise selections among the Cheetah forwards, for what is expected to be a tough match against the Kings, who beat the Bulls 23-7 last Saturday.
Loose forwards Kabamba Floors and Frans Viljoen are also in the pack, with Ryno Barnes set to play hooker. The Cheetahs announced a team of 24 players for the match.
While he is wearing the No 4 jersey because of injury, Muller may just book his place in the Cheetahs’ final squad with a good performance.
Francois Uys hurt his ankle in training games on Friday, while Izak van der Westhuizen (shoulder operation) and Hendrik Roodt (knee) will only return later.
The promising Muller therefore has a golden opportunity to stake his claim after joining the Cheetahs this year. He was still playing for the University of Cape Town last year.
But the lock, who has represented Western Province at under-19 and under-21 level, has showed enough promise to suggest that he may well be able to stand his ground at senior level.
He made his Stormers debut in 2009, and also played for WP against the British and Irish Lions that year.
The more experienced Steenkamp also gets his chance after impressing in warm-up games.
Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie said that Uys would be ready for the first game in Super Rugby against the Sharks on 19 February.
Floors will be used as No 8, while Viljoen will wear No 6 after recovering from a heel injury.
The Cheetahs team: Hennie Daniller, Philip Burger/Philip Snyman, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Ryno Benjamin, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Kabamba Floors, Juan Smith (capt), Frans Viljoen, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Martin Muller, WP Nel, Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen. Substitutes: Skipper Badenhorst, Kobus Calldo, Waltie Vermeulen, Philip van der Walt, Ashley Johnson, Tewis de Bruyn, Sias Ebersohn, Corné Uys, Riaan Viljoen.
