Pietersen to start for Cheetahs Super Rugby opener

Joe Pietersen will start at flyhalf for the Cheetahs in their first game of the Super Rugby competition on Saturday against the Sharks in Durban.

Pietersen was preferred by Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske over Willie du Plessis.

"Joe has impressed since joining us from the Stormers and Western Province and has earned his start against the Sharks. We are eager to see how he performs in Durban," Drotske said.

The Cheetahs coach also confirmed that lock Francois Uys has been appointed captain for the series in place of Springbok Adriaan Strauss, who moved to the Bulls at the end of last season.

"Francois is a senior player that has the support of everyone in the group.

"He is also vital in our line-out play. We also appointed scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius as vice captain. He is a special player that leads from the front," Drotske said.

While Springbok fullback Willie le Roux will be at his post against the Sharks, flanker Heinrich Brussow and centre Johann Sadie have not been considered for the Sharks game after their stint in Japan.

New centre Michael van der Spuy, who also joined up from Province, gets a start in midfield alongside regular Francois Venter, with ex-Lions loose forward Willie Britz also in the lineup.

At hooker, Torsten van Jaarsveld starts in place of Strauss. Van Jaarsveld captained the Free State Cheetahs in last year's Currie Cup competition.

Clayton Blommetjies will do duty at wing in place of Springbok Cornal Hendricks.

The Cheetahs team: Willie le Roux, Clayton Blommetjies, Francois Venter, Michael van der Spuy, Raymond Rhule, Joe Pietersen, Sarel Pretorius, Willie Britz, Oupa Mohoje, Jean Cook, Francois Uys (captain), Lood de Jager, Coenie Oosthuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie.

Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Maks van Dyk, Carl Wegner, Boom Prinsloo, Tian Meyer, Willie du Plessis, Cornal Hendricks.