Cape Town - Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has named his team for their Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Friday (19:10 kick-off).
Springbok loose forward Oupa Mohoje, who failed to make the final Rugby World Cup squad, has been named on the bench as Smith opts to gradually ease him back into Currie Cup action.
Free State's other Springbok training squad member not to make the Bok squad, wing Cornal Hendricks, was not considered this week.
Smith only made one change to his starting team from the one which beat Western province 28-21 in Bloemfontein last Friday.
Elandre Huggett replaces Jacques du Toit at hooker, with the latter moving down to the bench.
The Cheetahs will be eager for an improved performance against the Bulls, having lost 57-19 to them in Bloemfontein in the first round of the competition.
Kick-off for Friday’s clash at Loftus Versfeld is scheduled for 19:10.
Teams:
Blue Bulls:
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Roelof Smit, 6 Lappies Labuschagne (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Jan Serfontein
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 BG Uys
Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Freddy Ngoza, 21, Ruan van Rensburg, 22 Sias Ebersohn