Naka picks final Cheetahs team

Cape Town - Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has named his team to tackle the Stormers in a Super Rugby clash at Newlands on Saturday (17:05 kick-off).

Flyhalf Joe Pietersen and flank Tienie Burger have been declared fit and are back in the starting line-up, replacing Francois Brummer and Carel Greeff respectively.

Sergeal Petersen is also back at right wing, replacing Springbok Cornal Hendricks.

Scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius has also regained fitness but will start on the bench in place of Shaun Venter, as Tian Meyer keeps his spot in the starting team.

Springbok lock, Lood de Jager, who has been sidelined with an elbow injury since the first game of the season, was not included. It was earlier this week reported that De Jager could make his return to action, but the Cheetahs decided not to risk him.

It will be Drotske’s last match in charge of the Cheetahs, before Franco Smith takes over as head coach from next week.

Teams:

Stormers:

TBA

Cheetahs:

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Tienie Burger, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Mienie

Substitutes: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Coenie van Wyk, 23 Rayno Benjamin