Clayton Blommetjies is set to mark his 150th game for the Cheetahs in an upcoming showdown with the Sharks XV at the Free State Stadium. This veteran, who first donned the Cheetahs jersey in 2014, will reach this impressive career milestone amidst a lineup that shows a few tactical twists from last week’s nail-biter against the Lions.
The team sees Faf de Klerk holding onto the No. 9 jersey after a stellar debut, partnering once more with Jaco van der Walt in the halves. The forward pack gets a refresh with Neels Volschenk as captain and a new second row combination of Victor Sekekete and Curtly Thomas. Blommetjies voiced his enthusiasm for the match, noting,
"It's a special moment reaching 150 games, and I'm eager to make it memorable with a solid win."
Wing positions also see adjustments, with Michael Annies moving to No. 14 and Prince Nkabinde stepping up to start. Off the bench, Henry Immelman is poised to make an impact in his first game back with the team.
The squad for the day lines up as follows: 1. Tielman Nieuwoudt, 2. Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3. Aranos Coetzee, 4. Victor Sekekete, 5. Curtly Thomas, 6. Ramon Uys, 7. Juan Venter, 8. Neels Volschenk (c), 9. Faf de Klerk, 10. Jaco van der Walt, 11. Prince Nkabinde, 12. Zander du Plessis, 13. Munier Hartzenberg, 14. Michael Annies, 15. Clayton Blommetjies.
Substitutes include: 16. Juan Smal, 17. Tebogo Nkosi, 18. Ben Pitout, 19. Simon Miller, 20. Sisonke Vumazonke, 21. Daniel Maartens, 22. Marco Janse van Vuren, 23. Henry Immelman.
Blommetjies also added,
"I want to help the newer guys blossom. We’ve got a fresh mix here, and it’s about blending the old with the new to get those wins!"
The clash promises to be more than just a milestone celebration for Blommetjies; it's a pivotal game for the Cheetahs as they continue their competitive surge in the Currie Cup.
