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Johannesburg - The Cheetahs hopes to catch the Waratahs still reeling from their defeat against the Crusaders were dealt a blow with the return of two big names for the Sydney franchise ahead of Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash.
Powerhouse No 8 Wycliff Palu and flyhalf Berrick Barnes return to the line-up with Palu making his first appearance for 2011 while Barnes returns from a head knock.
But there is some good news for the beleaguered Cheetahs, as hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (knee) and flanker Phil Waugh (bicep) have both been rested to manage their injuries. Rob Horne will also miss the game with an elbow injury and is set to miss the next month’s rugby.
Lachie Turner comes in for Horne at outside centre, while Atieli Pakalani will move onto the wing after his impressive try-scoring feats in the lost cause against the Crusaders a fortnight ago.
Palu’s return to the starting XV sees Ben Mowen move to the side of the scrum, while Dave Dennis moves back to the bench. Pat McCutcheon takes over from Waugh at flanker while Dean Mumm assumes the captaincy for just the second time in his Super Rugby career.
Former Brumbies hooker John Ulugia is set to make his Waratahs debut for Polota-Nau while Benn Robinson has also been elevated to the starting XV for the first time this season.
“Injuries are part and parcel of the Super Rugby competition and you have to manage each player on a case by case basis,” said head coach Chris Hickey. “We’re still only four weeks into a five or six month competition and we need to make sure we do what we can to make sure that player such as Phil and Tatafu can play the largest possible role in the overall campaign.
“We were conservative with Cliffy in allowing him a month to get over his hamstring injury and he’s now ready to go, but we’ll still be keeping a close eye on him.”
Teams
Waratahs:
15. Kurtley Beale, 14. Afa
Pakalani, 13. Lachlan Turner, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10.
Berrick Barnes, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Pat McCutcheon, 6.
Ben Mowen, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Dean Mumm (capt), 3. Al Baxter, 2. John
Ulugia, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Sitaleki
Timani, 19. Dave Dennis, 20. Brendan McKibbin, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22.
Ryan Cross
Cheetahs:
15.
Coenie Oosthuizen, 14. Ryno Barnes, 13. WP Nel, 12. Martin Muller, 11.
Wilhelm Steenkamp, 10. Heinrich Brussow, 9. Phillip van der Walt, 8.
Ashley Johnson, 7. Tweis de Bruyn, 6. Sias Ebersohn, 5. Fabiaan Juries,
4. Andries Strauss (capt), 3. Robert Ebersohn, 2. Phillip Snyman, 1.
Riann Viljoen
Substitutes: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Lourens Adriaanse, 18. Frans Viljoen, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Francois Uys, 21. Sarel Pretorius, 22. Naas Olivier
