THREE-WAY BATTLE FOR CHEETAHS’ 10 JERSEY
Cheetahs head coach, Naka Drotské, is keeping his flyhalf options open with Joe Pietersen, Willie du Plessis and Francois Brummer all having the opportunity to stake a claim for the 10 jersey according to rugby365.
With Elgar Watts ruled out by a knee injury for the opening five to six weeks of the season, Drotské will use the three upcoming trial matches to assess his backline options ahead of the Cheetahs’ Super Rugby opener against the Sharks on 14 February.
Pietersen is a veteran with 50 Super Rugby caps to his name (all with the Stormers) and has had stints at Bayonne (2010-11) and Biarritz (2013-14) before joining the Bloemfontein-based franchise for the 2015 season.
Du Plessis, 24, arrives at the Cheetahs after provincial stints with the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions and will be hoping to earn his first cap at this level.
Brummer meanwhile has a pair of caps to his name (one at the Bulls and one at the Cheetahs), in addition to over 100 provincial appearances.
The Cheetahs started their pre-season in early November and are gearing up for three trials before the action begins on 14 February.
January 24 vs Bulls, Polokwane
January 30 vs Stormers, Cape Town
January 31 vs B Team Griffons, Bloemfontein
Courtesy of SANZAR
