Just when you thought the Cheetahs might be limping into their next clash, Franco Smith has flipped the script, shaking off an ankle injury to secure his spot as the starting flyhalf against Western Province this Saturday in Bloemfontein. The 25-year-old maestro's participation had been up in the air after a dicey exit from Tuesday's practice, but it seems he's all set to dazzle the home crowd in his first Currie Cup start of the season.
Not only will Smith be steering the ship from the No 10 jersey, but the Cheetahs are also throwing new blood into the mix with Mihlali Mosi making his team debut. After honing his skills with the Vodacom Bulls, Mosi is back in Bloemfontein, ready to rumble as a loose forward. Meanwhile, the seasoned Clayton Blommetjies will be riding pine, providing some veteran depth from the bench.
"Every game is a big game, but playing in front of our home crowd with so much at stake, that's something special," said Smith, keen to make his mark after the injury scare.
Last week's nail-biter against the Sharks saw the Cheetahs scrape through with a 7-5 victory in Durban, a win that nudged them up to second place on the log. In contrast, Western Province has been floundering at the bottom, still searching for their first win of the season.
The Cheetahs’ lineup for the upcoming battle reads like a who's who of rugby hopefuls and seasoned campaigners: James Verity-Amm at fullback, Banie Britz and Marco Jansen van Vuren on the wings, Ali Mgijima in the midfield alongside Cohen Jasper, and the scrum anchored by Neels Volschenk and the indomitable captain Victor Sekekete. The bench looks just as formidable with new talent ready to burst onto the scene at a moment's notice.
As the weekend approaches, all eyes will be on Smith and his crew as they look to cement their standing and give the home crowd something to cheer about. If Western Province isn't careful, they could be just another rung on the ladder in the Cheetahs' climb up the Currie Cup standings.