Cape Town - A car accident reportedly contributed to Cheetahs flyhalf Niel Marais being demoted to the bench for their final Super Rugby encounter against the Southern Kings.
Fred Zeilinga replaces Marais in the Cheetahs starting team which shows a five changes, including a positional one, from the team that lost 40-34 to the Stormers in Bloemfontein on July 1.
According to Netwerk24, Marais was punished for a misdemeanour.
The Afrikaans website is reporting that Marais was involved in a car accident in the early hours on Sunday, July 2 following the Cheetahs’ loss to the Stormers.
This Friday's game will be both teams' final game in Super Rugby following the decision to scrap two South African teams from the competition.
Kick-off for the game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is scheduled for 19:00.
Teams:
Kings
15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Lionel Cronje (captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Mzamo Majola
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Irne Herbst/Mzwanele Zito, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Masixole Banda, 23 Waylon Murray/Yaw Penxe
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Uzair Cassiem, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Armandt Koster, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Chris Dry, 22 Ruan van Rensburg, 23 Niel Marais