JEREMY PROOME looks at the upcoming battle between the scrumhalf talents of SA with Cobus Reinach taking on Francois Hougaard.

COBUS REINACH

Reinach seems to have leapfrogged Charl McLeod for the Sharks No 9 jersey, and it's not something he should overlook. Reinach had a great Super Rugby and Currie Cup season last year and the added motivation of the Bok camp in April 2013 would have made him aware he needs to make his presence felt with a strong start on Saturday. Reinach has always worked well with Pat Lambie, and he will need to highlight that attribute of his game as much as possible, as well as having a number of snipes himself, which is something that makes his game stand out.

FRANCOIS HOUGAARD

Hougaard is an undoubted talent and has always thrived on the field, whether it be on the wing or at scrumhalf, but with the No 9 Bulls jersey vacant, and with there being some dedicated wingers in the squad, the 25-year-old finally has the opportunity to do what he does best. One thing Hougaard has on his opposite numbers around the country is the X factor. He has the ability to cut through any defence and the footwork to beat most defenders one-on-one. What Hougaard offers from a ball-delivery perspective is in line with his running capabilities. His battle with Reinach will be an interesting one.

Photos: Barry Aldworth BackpagePix/Sabelo Mngoma/Backpage Pix