Force kicks off South Africa tour against the Cheetahs

May 8 • General News, Super Rugby • 1687 Views • Comments Off on Force kicks off South Africa tour against the Cheetahs

The Western Force kicks off their South African tour against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday night (11.05pm AWST).

The Force returns to the field following a bye and will be chasing their seventh victory for the season and their third on the road in 2014.

Flyhalf Sias Ebersohn will play his first match against his former club in Bloemfontein since joining the Western Australian club from the Cheetahs for the 2013 Asteron Life Super Rugby season. Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will also play against his former teammates, having played 13 matches for the Cheetahs in 2012.

The Force has named an unchanged line-up from the side that overcame the Bulls, 15-9, in inclement weather in Round 11 at the ‘Force Field (nib Stadium).

The Cheetahs have elevated Springboks Johan Goosen (flyhalf) and prop Coenie Oosthuizen to the starting XV, replacing Elgar Watts and Maks van Dyk, who will start from the bench.

Raymond Rhule has kept his spot on the wing despite aggravating an ankle injury but will be replaced by Cornal Hendricks should he not prove fit for the match. Teboho Mohoje will make his run on debut in the openside flanker jersey.

Cheetahs v Western Force
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Saturday, 10 May, 2014
Time: 11.05pm (AWST) / 5.05pm (local)
Coverage: Live on 990am (WA listeners). Live on Fox Sports 2 and 2HD from 11pm.
Weather Forecast: Min: 2C Max: 15C Cloudy. High level clouds with south westerly breeze.
Official Twitter hashtag: #CHEvFOR
Live match updates available on Twitter (@westernforce) with half-time/full-time scores available on Facebook (facebook.com/westernforce)

Last Meeting: Cheetahs 19 def Western Force 10 in (2013)
Head to head: Played 7 – Western Force 4; Cheetahs 3
In Perth: Played 3 – Western Force 2; Cheetahs 1
Biggest win: Western Force 45 def Cheetahs 17 in Perth (2007)
Biggest loss: Cheetahs 29 def Western Force 14 in Bloemfontein (2010)

2014 record:
Western Force: Played 9; Won 6, Lost 3; 27pts (5th)
Cheetahs: Played 11; Won 2, Lost 8, Drawn 1: 15pts (15th)

Western Force: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Adam Coleman, 5. Sam Wykes, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Marcel Brache, 14. Dane Haylett-Petty, 15. Jayden Hayward. Res: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Oliver Hoskins, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Justin Turner, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Chris Tuatara-Morrison.

Cheetahs: 1. Caylib Oosthuizen, 2. Adriaan Strauss (c), 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Andries Ferreira, 5. Francois Uys, 6. Heinrich Brussow, 7. Teboho Mohoje, 8. Boom Prinsloo, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Willie le Roux, 12. Rayno Benjamin, 13. Johann Sadie, 14. Raymond Rhule/Cornal Hendricks, 15. Hennie Daniller, Res: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Maks van Dyk, 19. Carel Greeff, 20. Waltie Vermeulen, 21. Shaun Venter, 22. Elgar Watts, 23. Cornal Hendricks/Howard Mnisi

Referee: Chris Pollock