Cape Town - Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské says poor defending is the reason why he dropped wing Raymond Rhule from the starting team for their Super Rugby clash against the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Rhule was replaced by Rayno Benjamin, the only change Drotské made to the team that beat the Reds 27-13 in Bloemfontein last weekend.
Benjamin will switch places with Willie le Roux, who was also included in the Springbok training squad on Wednesday. Le Roux moves to left wing.
"We felt Raymond didn't play well these last two weeks, especially on defence," Drotské told the Volksblad website.
"He missed five tackles and needs to get it right.
"Raymond will get a chance in the second half, but there are guys on the sideline who want to play and deserve a chance.
"We know what potential and talent he (Rhule) possesses, (but) Rayno deserves a chance."
The clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
Kings:
15. SP Marais, 14. Siyanda Grey, 13. Ronnie Cooke, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Marcello Sampson, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Cornell du Preez, 7. Luke Watson (captain), 6. Wimpie van der Walt, 5. David Bulbring, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Schalk Ferreira
Substitutes: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Grant Kemp, 18 Rynier Bernardo, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Shane Gates, 22 George Whitehead.
Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Riaan Smit, 22 Raymond Rhule.
Rhule was replaced by Rayno Benjamin, the only change Drotské made to the team that beat the Reds 27-13 in Bloemfontein last weekend.
Benjamin will switch places with Willie le Roux, who was also included in the Springbok training squad on Wednesday. Le Roux moves to left wing.
"We felt Raymond didn't play well these last two weeks, especially on defence," Drotské told the Volksblad website.
"He missed five tackles and needs to get it right.
"Raymond will get a chance in the second half, but there are guys on the sideline who want to play and deserve a chance.
"We know what potential and talent he (Rhule) possesses, (but) Rayno deserves a chance."
The clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
Kings:
15. SP Marais, 14. Siyanda Grey, 13. Ronnie Cooke, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Marcello Sampson, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Cornell du Preez, 7. Luke Watson (captain), 6. Wimpie van der Walt, 5. David Bulbring, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Schalk Ferreira
Substitutes: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Grant Kemp, 18 Rynier Bernardo, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Shane Gates, 22 George Whitehead.
Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Riaan Smit, 22 Raymond Rhule.