Cheetahs Blog » Blog Archive » Coenie benched for Crusaders
Ashley Johnson on the charge against the Crusaders in Bloemfontein 2011. Photo by Rugby15
Morgan Piek – Still smiling after the Toyota Cheetahs dramatic last minute win against the Rebels in Melbourne early Sunday morning (SA time), many Cheetahs supporters have dropped their “doom-and- gloom-outlook” and replaced it with a more “upbeat” one.
Getting their first win on the board was something that was haunting their coach Naka Drotske. But, that is one less headache for the Drotske, time to move on and focus on the next game.
The Cheetahs now have the arduous task of facing the mighty Crusaders in their stronghold, Christchurch. The biggest hurdle will actually not be facing the Crusaders on their home turf, or the fact that Dan Carter will be making his return against them. The biggest hurdle however will be their morale and being able to play for longer than 60 minutes.
Beating a pretty average Rebels outfit is one thing, but beating a wounded Crusaders outfit is whole different ball game altogether.
The Crusaders have narrowly lost two of their previous three games and will definitely be looking to make amends for their shock losses to both the Highlanders and the Chiefs. The Crusaders vs. Cheetahs game will be an historic occasion as this will be the home team’s first ever game in their new, refurbished home stadium. Their previous home ground, the AMI Stadium got destroyed in last year’s devastating Christchurch earthquakes.
Having a quick look at the Cheetahs team, I was stunned to see that both Coenie Oosthuizen and Ashley Johnson had both been benched for the game. Coenie had two blinders since his return to rugby and Ashley Johnson was very instrumental in the Cheetahs match winning try on Sunday. It’s a move which many Cheetahs supporters and I don’t agree with.
I’m very happy and impressed with the backline, especially since Willie le Roux made the side and has been shinning at wing. Willie le Roux has got the X-Factor and I would love to see another Cheetahs wing with Le Roux’s ability. Cameron Jacobs is a much underrated player; however, I believe the step up to Super Rugby may one bridge too far for the Shimlas speedster.
I cannot help but feel that the Cheetahs are “conceding” this game in order to be better prepared for the Hurricanes in Wellington the following week.
This is a crunch match for the boys from Bloem and they really have to play out of their skins to win this one. It is imperative they walk onto the park Saturday with the same self-belief and spirit as they did on Sunday. The Cheetahs have to remember that they convincingly thumped the Crusaders in Bloemfontein last year.
Kick-off will be at 8:35am Saturday morning (SA Time)
The Toyota Cheetahs team to play the Crusaders is as follows:
1. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain ), 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 4. George Earle, 5. Izak van der Westhuizen, 6. Heinrich Brussow 7. Justin Downey, 8. Philip van der Walt, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 10. Johan Goosen, 11. Willie le Roux, 12. Andries Strauss (Vice Captain) 13. Robert Ebersohn , 14. Cameron Jacobs, 15. Hennie Daniller.
16. Hercu Liebenberg, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Andries Ferreira, 19. Ashley Johnson, 20. Piet van Zyl, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Ryno Benjamin.
on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 at 1:43 pm	and is filed under Doctor's corner, General, Guestwriter: 15, Management, Marketing, Robert Ebersohn, The Team.
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6 Responses to “Coenie benched for Crusaders”
March 21st, 2012 at 11:28 am Die Cheetahs kan die wedstryd wen,speel 15 man rugby en genoeg VOORSPELERS by die afbreek punte.Vergeet van Dan Carter ens.Die reaksie moet so wees,jare gelede voor n Curriebeker wedstryd tussen Vrystaat en Noord Transvaal het n Televiesie man vir Gerrie Sonnekus gevra, toe die vrystaat kaptein,wat van Naas Botha hoe gaan julle hom tehok slaan,Gerrie Sonnekus se antwoord was,ons het n De Wet Ras.So Manne,ons het n Johan Goosen.Tackle hulle met mening, dryf hulle manne verwoes hulle looi hulle, as jy daai wit trui oor jou kop trek dan moet jy deur n muur hardloop.
March 22nd, 2012 at 11:08 am Ag nee ouens waar is kierie,chris,jj Theunsie,ChrisB,en al die ander bloggers.Kierie wat gaan aan daar in Korea dat jy so stil is maat.
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:48 pm Het jy gesien wie is die skeidsregter? Dis weer mnr Brown. Dis dalk hoekom WP en Coenie gebench is alhoewel WP uit die 22 is. Ek dink dis ‘n goeie skuif deur Naka. Dit gaan ‘n groot struid wees die saterdag, maar ek glo ons kan dit deurtrek. Ek sien uit hoe Goosen gaan vaar teen die Saders. Sterkte manne. Ek sit weereens vroeg voor die kassie om julle te ondersteun.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:41 am twee keer het aanslane deur ‘n stut op losskakel, en een keer deur ‘n flank op senter belowende agterlyn bewegings befoeter. Die één keer dat daar geen voorspeler betrokke was nie, word ‘n fantastiese drie op volspoed gedruk. Mnr Drotske en Fourie, hoeveel jare voor julle dit gaan insien… Die bal wegskop in die opposisie se hande ook weer gesorg dat ons besit weggesmyt is. Ek wil nie eers praat van die handdoek ingooi skop op die einde nie.
March 26th, 2012 at 8:07 pm THE GOOSE IS LOOSE? GOEIE GAME GEHAD GOOSIE…..Verloor is en bly niks lekka nie…maar wat verblywend is, is dat daar wel iets in die koppe van die SPELERS plaasgevind het, en dis dat hulle vir mekaar se, ons gaan nie toer om deur ander spanne geboelie te word of die melk koeie te wees waar n span n vinnige 5 punte uit ons gaan melk nie….DIE BRUMBIES se gatte was gered gewees, die REBELS het hulle gatte gesien, en die CRUSADERS was gelukkig om nie hulle gatte te gesien het nie…en ek se weer julle manne kan enige span op enige veld wen as jul glo en as n span speel…SO MANNE SLUIT DIE TOER NOU GOED AF MET N GOEIE WEN…@ BLOU BULL….BAIE GELUK MET DIE WEN TEEN REDS, DIS NOU HOE N MENS N AUSIE SPAN STAMP
September 26th, 2012 at 5:16 am Incredible points. Sound arguments. Keep up the great effort.