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Cape Town - Cheetahs prop Lourens Adriaanse
has impressed his coaching staff with his performances in this year's
Super Rugby competition.
According to the Volksblad website, the 25-year-old tighthead has
started in all nine of the Cheetahs' games this season after mainly playing
from the bench in 2012.
On the odd occasion he did receive a starting role last
year was against the Crusaders - a game in which was completely overshadowed, facing an
All Black front row consisting of Ben Franks, Corey Flynn and Owen Franks.
However, the former Maties captain's prospects are looking much brighter a year
later, with coach Naka Drotské and forwards coach Os du Randt chuffed with the
progress he’s made.
With WP Nel seeking greener pastures in Scotland and Coenie Oosthuizen
sidelined with a back injury, Adriaanse got his chance in the starting team at
the beginning of the season.
It was expected that he would make way once
Ooosthuizen returned to fitness, especially with the Bok prop indicating earlier
that he'd like to be considered at tighthead.
But that hasn't happened, with Drotské explaining just why:
"He has shown this year that he can
scrum at this level. He is a highly underrated player and doesn’t always get
the credit he deserves. Our scrums are good this year and his work ethic is
good for a tighthead," said Drotské.
Adriaanse is expected to again be named in the starting team for the Cheetahs'
game against the Kings in Bloemfontein this Saturday (19:10 kick-off).
