Newboy Cheetahs vice-captain

Bloemfontein – He moved here simply to get more game time, and to be appointed vice-captain after just two games is a huge boost for Wilhelm Steenkamp.

The lock has also been handed the responsibility of calling the Cheetahs’ lineouts after David de Villiers signed a contract with the Lions at the end of last year.

De Villiers’s former lock partner Nico Breedt also retired due to a neck injury earlier this year and is now forwards coach of Shimlas.

The Cheetahs’ statistics show that Steenkamp is revelling in his new team and the responsibility he has been entrusted with.

The Cheetahs won 84.6% of their lineouts against the Sharks’ Springbok lock pairing of Steven Sykes and Alistair Hargreaves, who according to ruggastats.co.za could only win 70.6%.

Steenkamp and lock partner Waltie Vermeulen won 87.5% of their lineout ball against the Bulls (90.9%) when they faced the world’s best lock pairing of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield.

“The vice-captaincy and responsibility to call our lineouts is very special for me. Actually, I view it as a great honour as I was just hoping for more game time here,” said Steenkamp.

His first official game in a Cheetahs jersey in the Free State Stadium was an enjoyable experience and Steenkamp showed against his old team-mates at the Bulls that he and Vermeulen could become a force to be reckoned with among opponents.

“There is still a lot of room for improvement, but Waltie and I enjoy playing next to each other. We learn from one another on a daily basis,” said Steenkamp.

He believes that a player such as Andries Bekker will be motivated by the Stormers’ struggles in the lineouts against the Lions. The Stormers won 64.3% of their lineouts against the 100% of the Lions.

“Andries poses a new and different challenge. We have spent a lot of time analysing their lineout play and expect them to plan some new things.”

Stormers v Cheetahs, Cape Town - 17:05

Stormers:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Juan De Jongh, 12. Jean De Villiers (captain), 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermuelen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Rynhardt Elstadt, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. CJ van Der Linde

Substitutes: 16. Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. De Kock Steenkamp, 19. Nick Koster, 20. Dewaldt Duvenage, 21. Gary Van Aswegen, 22. Paul Bosch

Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Rayno Benjamin, 10. Naas Olivier (captain), 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Francois Uys, 6. Kabamba Floors, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4. Waltie Vermeulen, 3. WP Nel, 2. Rayno Barnes, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Martin Muller, 19. Philip van der Walt, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Riaan Viljoen