Smith to wing it for Cheetahs

Rhyno Smith will start on the wing in one of two changes to the Cheetahs team to face Western Province in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has made just two changes from the side that claimed a convincing win over the Sharks last weekend, one in the backline and one in the forward pack.

Smith will return to the starting lineup after playing off the bench last Sunday as he replaces William Small-Smith, who will miss the match with a knee injury, on the right wing.

The only other change sees Wilmar Arnoldi start at hooker, with Marnus van der Merwe dropping to the bench as a result.

Fourie has opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench, with George Cronje and Chris Massyn both providing backup at loose forward, while Tian Meyer and Howard Mnisi are the only backline replacements.

The Cheetahs are currently in fifth place on the Currie Cup log, but could climb above the Lions to third if other results go their way. A bonus-point win would see the Bloemfontein team go level on 31 points with second-placed Province.

Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner (c), 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Boan Venter.
Subs: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Erich de Jager, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 George Cronje,  22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Tian Meyer.