Cheetahs v Waratahs: Teams
The Cheetahs host the Waratahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday with both teams looking to halt losing runs.
Last Updated: 25/05/12 1:23pm
The Cheetahs host the Waratahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday with both teams looking to halt losing runs.
The hosts have lost their last two games, the latest a 34-20 home reverse to the Sharks, while the Waratahs have lost four games on the bounce.
The Cheetahs make three changes to their starting line-up, with Ashley Johnson coming in for Justin Downey, who has moved to the bench, while the injured George Earle has been replaced by Andries Ferreira, with Francois Uys taking his place on the bench.
Rocco Jansen replaces Cameron Jacobs, who has dropped out of the 22-man squad altogether.
Captain Adriaan Strauss is looking for the hosts to push for the full 80 minutes in search of victory after several near misses.
"It does not help us to come so close to winning games and then not land the knockout blow," he said.
Four changes
Waratahs coach Michael Foley has made four changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's hit-out.
Drew Mitchell will pull on the sky blue jersey for the first time in over 12 months this weekend, while Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas and Wycliff Palu return to the front, second and back rows respectively.
An injury to Rocky Elsom means Benn Robinson will captain the side for the seventh time and sees Dave Dennis revert to the blindside.
The absence of lock Dean Mumm will be covered by versatile forward Richard Stanford, who joined the squad earlier in the week. Stanford is one of four forwards on the bench, with Foley opting for a four/three split, allowing for the inclusion of direct running centre Tom Carter.
Also looking to make an impact is former Cheetahs scrum-half Sarel Pretorius.
Last season's leading Super Rugby try-scorer, Pretorius' inside knowledge of his former team-mates will be an asset to the visiting side, as will his Afrikaans, as the Waratahs look to nail the 80-minute performance that would have seen them secure several close encounters in recent weeks, including last week's 19-13 defeat to the Stormers.
Of the seven previous Super Rugby encounters between the Waratahs and Cheetahs, the men from Sydney have won on all but two occasions.
The most recent defeat came when the two sides last met and saw the Cheetahs secure their first ever win in Sydney, pulling off a 23-3 victory at the SFS.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman
Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 David Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (capt)
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Tom Carter