The Cheetahs have retained their winning formula, with two returning Springboks set to play off the bench against the Bulls.
Following their impressive win over the Stormers last week, the men from Bloemfontein will look to continue their long climb away from the foot of the table when they travel to Pretoria to take on the bumbling Bulls on Saturday.
While the starting XV remained unchanged for the Loftus Versfeld Super Rugby Round 12 encounter, the replacement bench shows three changes – including the return of Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen.
Oosthuizen has finally recovered from the neck injury that saw him prematurely return home from their Australasian tour, while Goosen has been sidelined with concussion in recent weeks.
Veteran lock Rynhardt Landman is also making a comeback from injury and after a few Vodacom Cup appearances for Griquas is back on the Cheetahs’ bench.
Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie told rugby365 that they are awaiting “final conformation” for Goosen’s return on Wednesday, but it is almost certain he will be cleared.
“There are three stages of testing to be done once a player had concussion,” Fourie said, adding: “He easily passed the first two, so we have no doubt he’ll be cleared on Wednesday.”
The return of the trio gives the Cheetahs some major fire power off the bench in what is sure to be a brutal battle at Loftus.
“They are both Boks,” the backline mentor said of the return of Goosen and Oosthuizen.
“They will both make a huge difference.
“It is great to have two such good players to bring off the bench for what will be a very tough game at Loftus.
“It is crucial to be able to bring such quality and experience into the game in the last 20 minutes.”
The Cheetahs assistant coach said they were “relieved” to have gotten back onto the winning track, following the 35-22 demolition of the Stormers.
“It was frustrating the past month to get so close, only to lose,” he told this website.
“This win will make a huge difference to the morale of the team. It was vital to get a good result last week.”
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Johannes Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Rynhardt Landman, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
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