Nice to see Coenie starting and at loosehead

This looks to be indicating Coenies kneck issues are behind him.

Ex Supersport

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made only one change to his side who face the Sharks in their Super XV encounter in Durban on Saturday.

Drotske has brought in Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen into the starting line up for the first time this season.

Oosthuizen, who took part in the first Springbok training camp in Cape Town and has been on the bench for the majority of the Cheetahs' games this year, comes in for Trevor Nyakane, who moves to the bench.

"Coenie has a lot of intensity, both on attack and at the break down area. He will also give us added power in the scrums against the Sharks. Things didn't go the way we would have liked against the Bulls, said Drotske.

"We got the bonus point, but we let ourselves down with regards to a victory. This weekend it is crucial that we deliver a winning performance."

Drotske felt his side's decision making against the Bulls was not too the required standard, with other aspects of their game also needing attention.

"Our decision making was left wanting against the Bulls. That is one area that we cannot afford to come up short against the Sharks," he said.

Loosehead is Coenies better position in fact. Trevor though has played well. He has that nice short compact stature ideal for a tighthead. Wonder if he could be swopped around.

 It is a stupid move playing Coenie at loosehead. The quest is to turn Coenie into a tighthead, which he has done with conviction coming off the bench for the Cheetahs this season.

Why then start him at loosehead, especially considering how well Nkanyane has been at loosehead. Typical stupidity from the coach.

Adriaanse has been a good find for the Cheetahs at 3, but Nkanyane has been a standout at loosehead and its pretty pathetic that he did not get a Bok training squad call up. It would have made sense starting Coenie at 3 with Trevor retained at 1

Coenies barn strming runs are mosre effective from the loosehead position.

Snapster I have not been overawed by Coenie's scrumming on the tighthead. He has however been improving and could well make it there as well. Coenie and Trevor I agree are their two best props.

I cant see Coenie lasting much more than a half so Trevor, who also needs some rest possibly (Has an excellent work ethic),  will have an important role to play.

Given JP is also out the Cheetahs can win this one if they are on song. Then they beat the Kings and have a good rest with a second break still to come.

Oh what complete and utter rubbish. How on earth do you think a loosehead can get into the position to run the ball from a scrum. Do you know anything about rugby?

Coenie has been huge at scrum time at tighthead this year, dominating all and sundry......I think you might have noticed how he tore Kitshoff to threads.

Wake up Beenkop, you are missing some good rugby and you need to revisit your take on a loosehead breaking away from a scrum and getting into a position to recieve a ball to go on a charge....bwhaaahaaaa

Good one Beenkop

Snapster your tighthead is the cornerstone of your scrum. He is shoving against both the opposing hooker and the loosehead. Its a very demanding and draining job. Looseheads tend to be more mobile and do a bit more in the loose. Coenie thrives in the loose. Let him put as much energy into driving up the ball a possible - it is an aspect of play in which he excels.

Wake up snapster this is elementary!!

I can also add tha tthe tighthead i smore tightly bound at scrum time and takes slightly longer to break free. Finer points of the game uo snaster that as a coach you need to be aware of - even at under 16 level. Hahahahahahahaha

Beenkop, you are speaking utter hogwash. You will find that scrumming takes it out of both props and the fact that a loosehead is able to break free slightly sooner than a tighthead does not detract from the fact that neither prop is able to play a part in running the ball up from a scrum you fool.

The idea is to convert Coenie into a tighthead, which is good news as we need a replacement for Jannie. For that very reason Coenie should be starting at 3 for the Cheetahs in order to progress his development at 3, but you are too stupid to pick up on the obvious point.

The two best Cheetahs props are Trevor and Coenie, therefore logic dictates that Trevor play 1 and Coenie 3 - its simple really