Super Rugby returns to Bloemfontein in the fourth match on Saturday where the Cheetahs host Canberra’s Brumbies.
The Cheetahs have played four matches so far this season and they have won one (Sunwolves) and lost three. They have yet to win at home this year.
The Brumbies have also played four matches but they have won three and lost one (Stormers). After last week’s controversial loss (Lleyds try) the Brumbies will be very hungry to get back to winning ways.
The Cheetahs have played the Brumbies 10 times since 2006 and they have won three matches and lost seven. The Cheetahs have hosted the Brumbies 4 times in Bloemfontein and they have won three. This gives the Chiefs a record of winning 75% of their matches against the Canberra side.
The average score when the Cheetahs play the Brumbies in Bloemfontein is : Cheetahs 35 Brumbies 29.
For this week’s match the Cheetahs have rotated their played with Ox Nche, Johan Coetzee, Francois Uys and Boom Prinsloo all being named in the starting line up.
Charles Marais, Maks van Dyk, Carl Wegner and Henco Venter have been named on the bench. Paul Schoeman moves to number 8, sending Henco Venter to the bench and Boom Prinsloo will start the match wearing the number 6 jersey.
Joubert Engelbrecht will be making his Super Rugby debut, replacing William Small-Smith on inside centre.
The Brumbies on the other hand have named Ita Vaea and Robbie Coleman in the starting line up. Vaea comes in for Jarrad Butler who has a knee injury and Coleman comes in for Henry Speight who fractured a bone in his face playing against the Stormers.
Vaea returns to the starting line up for the first time since round two when the Brumbies beat the Waratahs in Canberra while Coleman gets his first start of the season.
In other changes to the squad, Ruan Smith has been named as a reserve for his first Super Rugby match of 2016.
The Brumbies were the pace-setters for the first three rounds and went into last week’s match as the favourites. One controversial loss won’t make them a bad team but it should make them a hungry and dangerous team.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 3.
Average score: Cheetahs 24 Brumbies 32
Last five results
04 Apr 2015 Cheetahs v Brumbies 3-20 Canberra
17 May 2014 Cheetahs v Brumbies 27-21 Bloemfontein
21 Jul 2013 Elim Cheetahs v Brumbies 13-15 Canberra
10 Mar 2012 Cheetahs v Brumbies 23-24 Canberra
29 Apr 2011 Cheetahs v Brumbies 47-36 Bloemfontein
Cheetahs overall record against the Brumbies
Played 10 , Wins 3 , Losses 7, Draws 0
Match No.38: Cheetahs v Brumbies
Date : Saturday 26 March 2016
Venue : Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick Off local: 15:05 local
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref 1:Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Ref 2:AJ Jacobs
TMO : Willie Vos
Teams
Cheetahs
1. Ox Nche , 2. Torsten van Jaarsveld , 3. Johan Coetzee , 4. Lodewyk de Jager (vc) , 5. Francois Uys , 6. Boom Prinsloo , 7. Uzair Cassiem , 8. Paul Schoeman , 9. Shaun Venter , 10. Niel Marais , 11. Raymond Rhule , 12. Joubert Engelbrecht , 13. Francois Venter (C) , 14. Sergeal Petersen , 15. Clayton Blommetjies
Replacements: , 16. Jacques du Toit , 17. Charles Marais , 18. Maks van Dyk , 19. Carl Wegner , 20. Hilton Lobberts , 21. Henco Venter , 22. Tian Meyer , 23. Fred Zeilinga , , ,
Brumbies
Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (c), Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, David Pocock, Ita Vaea, Tomás Cubelli , Christian Lealiifano (c), Robbie Coleman, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani, Joe Tomane, Aidan Toua
Replacements : Robbie Abel, Allan Alaalatoa, Ruan Smith, Tom Staniforth, Jordan Smiler, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Nigel Ah Wong
