Cheetahs make three changes and captain

The Free State Cheetahs who are sixth on the Currie Cup log, need a five-pointer from their match against the Leopards in Bloemfontein on Saturday to keep up their challenge for a place in the Currie Cup semifinals.

The Cheetahs will have to do so with a new captain and three changes from the side which narrowly lost 30-27 to the Blue Bulls at Loftus last weekend.

Captain Adriaan Strauss has injured his thumb and is out for the season, it seems.

Lock Nico Breedt takes over the captaincy from the Springbok hooker and becomes the Cheetahs’ fifth captain of the season.

Bok sensation, fetcher Heinrich Brussow, gets a break and is replaced by veteran Hendro Scholtz, and Tewis de Bruyn, fit again after injury, replaces JP Joubert at scrumhalf. Strauss’ position at hooker is taken by his cousin Richardt Strauss.

Only three forwards have been named on the bench because of the versatility of No 8 Ashley Johnson, who can also be deployed as a hooker.

The Cheetahs team is:

Hennie Daniller, Lionel Mapoe, Corné Uys, Meyer Bosman, Fabian Juries, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Tewis de Bruyn, Ashley Johnson, Frans Viljoen, Hendro Scholtz, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt (capt.), WP Nel, Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez.