Rosko Specman returns for the Free State Cheetahs as coach Hawies Fourie backs his speedsters to outrun a “desperate” Western Province on Friday in Cape Town.
Specman will start at No 11 having fully recovered from a concussion suffered from a nasty blow to the head in a tackle during the Free Staters’ 24-17 win, ironically, against WP on 16 March.
In other changes for the Cheetahs from a 29-15 win over the Sharks on 23 March, Cohen Jasper switches to fullback for the injured Clayton Blommetjies (knee), while Reinhardt Fortuin will deputise at No 10 for the ill Siya Masuku.
Among the forwards, Jeandre Rudolph comes in at No 8 for Mihlali Mosi as part of a rotational switch. Louis van der Westhuizen also starts at hooker ahead of Marnus van der Merwe and Alulutho Tshakweni is the loosehead prop in place of Schalk Ferreira.
Meanwhile, prop Aranos Coetzee is set to make his 100th appearance for the Cheetahs. The 34-year-old, who has played 24 Tests for Namibia, becomes the first Namibian rugby player to achieve this milestone for a South African team.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s match at Cape Town Stadium, Fourie said: “It’s good to have Rosco back, he gives us energy and can score tries out of nothing, and he also works well off the ball.
“Cohen is a good attacking player, with speed and quick feet and while it’s a big loss not having Masuka, Reinhardt trained well in his absence; he’s a great defender and also an attacking flyhalf.
“We’ve got lots of speedsters in our backline who are looking forward to that firm ground in Cape Town.”
The Cheetahs are second on the Currie Cup log, while WP are second from the bottom, but Fourie says that’s what will make the Cape side even more dangerous on Friday.
“We have to give everything; WP will be desperate because if they don’t win they’re completely out of it,” the coach added.
It has been a lengthy break in the competition for the Cheetahs, and Fourie has had to get innovative to keep his unbeaten side match ready.
“[The break] was a bit disrupting, but it gave Specman time to recover, allowing us a bigger pool of players to choose from,” he said. “But other teams have had game time.
“We had a simulation game against Shimlas last week – non-contact – and they also play a good running game to WP, so that helped.”
Cheetahs – 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (c), 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Subs: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Robert Ebersohn.
