Smith delivers on pre-season promise to play Cassiem at openside for Cheetahs

23 February 2017 - 17:25 By Craig Ray
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Sharks Ruan Botha and Toyota Cheetahs Uzair Cassiem during the 2017 Super Rugby Warm-Up match between Cell C Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs at King Zwelithini Stadium on February 03, 2017 in Durban, South Africa.
Sharks Ruan Botha and Toyota Cheetahs Uzair Cassiem during the 2017 Super Rugby Warm-Up match between Cell C Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs at King Zwelithini Stadium on February 03, 2017 in Durban, South Africa.
Image: Howard Cleland/Gallo Images

Cheetahs coach Franco Smith lived up to a pre-season promise that he would play Bok flank Uzair Cassiem at openside when he named his team for their Super Rugby opener against the Lions on Thursday.

Cassiem will join fellow Springbok Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoje and No 8 Paul Schoeman in a back row that boasts lots of firepower in terms of ball-carrying ability.

In November last year Cassiem made his Test debut as a blindside flank against Wales and was one of the few players to come out of the 27-13 defeat with his reputation enhanced.

Smith‚ though‚ isn’t a believer in out-and-out opensides and prefers that all his players have the skills to perform multiple tasks at a high level.

“For me the number on a player’s back‚ especially in certain positions‚ is irrelevant‚” Smith said.

“The looseforwards have to be able to do everything and we need to adapt.

“The idea of a big No 7 that smashes it up has been gone for a while at the top end of the game and we shouldn’t hang on to it.

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"I’d rather have more potential ball carriers.

“In SA we are still very traditional‚ so I want to better the specific skills of all the back row players‚ especially at the breakdown‚ instead of banking on one player.

“It’s also about learning which breakdowns to target by recognising if there is one that we’re unable to win.

"It’s not about chasing rucks all day for the sake of it.”

As expected captain and Bok centre Francois Venter was not considered for selection as he overcomes a calf strain‚ so Clinton Swart will start at 13 alongside the talented Nico Lee.

Swart will make his Super Rugby debut as will lock Justin Basson.

Both were members of the team that won the Currie Cup in 2016. Namibian hooker Tortsen van Jaarsveld will captain the Cheetahs with scrumhalf Tian Meyer‚ who starts ahead of new recruit Zee Mkhabela‚ acting as vice captain.

Prop Ox Nche‚ who caught the eye during the Currie Cup‚ is on the bench. “I’m satisfied with where we are after the pre-season‚” Smith said.

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“Everyone trained really hard and we are as prepared as possible.

"The majority of the players have played Super Rugby and know what the intensity will be like.” Van Jaarsveld added:

“The team has more experience than at the start of 2016.

"We have a lot of strong leaders in the team and I’m looking forward to see how the team has grown.”

CHEETAHS: 15 Clayton Blommetjies‚ 14 Sergeal Petersen‚ 13 Nico Lee‚ 12 Clinton Swart‚ 11 Raymond Rhule‚ 10 Fred Zeilinga‚ 9 Tian Meyer‚ 8 Paul Schoeman‚ 7 Oupa Mohoje‚ 6 Uzair Cassiem‚ 5 Reniel Hugo‚ 4 Justin Basson‚ 3 Johan Coetzee‚ 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld (capt)‚ 1 Charles Marais Bench: 16 Elandre Huggett‚ 17 Danie Mienie‚ 18 Ox Nche‚ 19 Francois Uys‚ 20 Niell Jordaan‚ 21 Zee Mkhabela‚ 22 Niel Marais‚ 23 Ryno Benjamin LIONS: 15 Andries Coetzee‚ 14 Lionel Mapoe‚ 13 Howard Mnisi‚ 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg‚ 11 Courtnall Skosan‚ 10 Elton Jantjies‚ 9 Faf de Klerk‚ 8 Warren Whiteley (capt) 7 Ruan Ackermann‚ 6 Jaco Kriel‚ 5 Franco Mostert‚ 4 Andries Ferreira‚ 3 Ruan Dreyer‚ 2 Malcolm Marx‚ 1 Jacques van Rooyen Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe‚ 17 Corne Fourie‚ 18 Johannes Jonker‚ 19 Lourens Erasmus‚ 20 Kwagga Smith‚ 21 Ross Cronje‚ 22 Harold Vorster‚ 23 Jaco van der Walt

- TMG Digital

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