Preview: Cheetahs v Reds

Reds David Croft and Stormers Tiaan Liebenberg go toe-to-toe

VENUE & TIME: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, Sunday April 5, 02.00 AEDT.

HEAD TO HEAD:  Played 2 – Reds 1, Cheetahs 1

LAST TIME: April 21, 2007 (Brisbane) – Reds 23 Cheetahs 13

WALKING WOUNDED:  Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske gets back Springbok lock Barend Pieterse, while centre JW Jonker also makes his return and Hendro Scholtz takes the place of Darron Nell at flank. Springbok flank Juan Smith has passed a fitness test on his knee injury and will play off the bench. The Reds welcome back Sam Cordingley from his calf injury, but reserve prop Rod Blake is out after injuring his ankle. Digby Ioane has returned home with broken finger. Brando Va'aulu, Ben Lucas and Ben Coutts move onto the bench.

FORM:  The Cheetahs have had an abysmal season losing all seven matches to sit below all but the battling Highlanders on the table. There were some positive signs in last week's loss to the Waratahs in Sydney, with the then tourists only beaten 23-19. The Reds were also reasonable against the in-form Sharks last week, going down 22-10 after wilting late in the game. They have won two of seven matches so far with one draw in their opening match of their South African tour against the Lions.

WHO'S HOT:  David Croft produced an excellent solo effort to score against the Sharks last week in a performance which wound back the years. His strength in possession will be very important in the Reds getting control of this match. Cheetahs winger Jongo Nokwe showed his blistering pace against the Tahs last week, scoring a cracking try. The Reds will have to be very wary of him. 

TEAMS:

Reds: 1 – Greg Holmes, 2 - Stephen Moore, 3 - Dayna Edwards, 4 - Van Humphries, 5 - James Horwill, 6 - John Roe, 7 - David Croft, 8 - Leroy Houston, 9 - Sam Cordingley (c), 10 - Quade Cooper, 11 - Peter Hynes, 12 - Berrick Barnes, 13 - Morgan Turinui, 14 - Clinton Schifcofske, 15 - Chris Latham.

Reserves: 16 - Sean Hardman, 17 - Ben Coutts, 18 - Ed O'Donoghue, 19 - Poutasi Luafutu, 20 - Ben Lucas, 21 - Charlie Fetoai, 22 - Brando Va'aulu.

Cheetahs:
1 - Wian du Preez, 2 - Adriaan Strauss, 3 - CJ van der Linde, 4 - Rory Duncan (c), 5 - Barend Pieterse, 6 - Heinrich Brüssow, 7 - Hendro Scholtz, 8 - Duanne Vermeulen, 9 - Tewis de Bruyn, 10 - Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 11 - Jongi Nokwe, 12 - Meyer Bosman, 13 - JW Jonker, 14 - Eddie Fredericks, 15 - Hennie Daniller,

Reserves: 16 - Richardt Strauss, 17 - Bees Roux, 18 - David de Villiers, 19 - Juan Smith, 20 - Falie Oelschig, 21 - Conrad Barnard, 22 - Hendrik Meyer.