Young Cheetahs to face strong EP Kings led by Watson
The Free State Cheetahs named an upcoming team to face the EP Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in a Currie Cup warm-up match on Friday night with the coaching staff of Os du Randt and Michael Horak deciding to put their youngsters to the test against an almost full strength EP King side.
With the bulk of the Super Rugby squad being rested ahead of the Currie Cup, the youngsters will be excited at the opportunity to impress Naka Drotske and earn themselves a permanent spot in the team. Guys like Michael van Vuuren and Johan Goosen, who just returned from Italy with the BabyBoks will be out to prove why they are rated as the next big things. Then you also have Shimlas stars like Willie Britz, Cameron Jacobs and Trevor Nyakane who will be wanting to make the big step up to the Currie Cup.
Senior players Philip Burger, Riaan Smit, Ryno Benjamin, Francois Uys and Pieter Myburgh will provide some experience to the side and also get match fit as they did not play too much SuperRugby this season due to injuries or other factors.
The EP Kings just returned from Romania where they were crowned IRB Nations Champs and through the leadership of Luke Watson will be out to prove just why they think they deserve a spot in the 2013 Super Rugby competition. They also boast a few ex-Cheetah players in their ranks with Louis Strydom, Falie Oelschig and Barend Pieterse all included in the starting line up.
FS Cheetahs:
1. Marcel van der Merwe; 2. Michael van Vuuren; 3. Trevor Nyakane; 4. Francois Uys; 5. Izak van der Westhuizen; 6. Pieter Myburg; 7. Pieter Labuschagne; 8. Boom Prinsloo; 9. Tewis de Bruyn; 10. Riaan Smith; 11. Cameron Jacobs; 12. Johan Goosen; 13. Phillip Snyman; 14. Nico Scheepers; 15. Philip Burger
Replacement: 16. Schalk van der Merwe; 17. Hercu Liebenberg; 18. JC Astle; 19. Willie Britz; 20. Piet van Zyl; 21. Robbie van Schalkwyk; 22. Ryno Benjamin
EP Kings:
15. Mzwandile Stick; 14. Norman Nelson; 13. Siyanda Grey; 12. Wayne Stevens; 11. Joe Breytenbach; 10. Louis Strydom; 9. Falie Oelschig; 8. Luke Watson; 7. Devin Oosthuizen; 6. Jacques Potgieter; 5. Ross Kennedy; 4. Barend Pieterse; 3. Clint Newland; 2. Hannes Franklin; 1. Jaco Engels
Replacements: 16. Frank Hearne, 17. Riaan Vermeulen, 18. Wayne van Heerden, 19. Jacques Engelbrecht, 20. Danie Faasen, 21. Shane Gates, 22. Jaco Bekker
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