Cheetahs out to chase their Blues away

The Cheetahs remain hopeful they can break their losing run when they open their Super Rugby away leg against the Blues in Auckland tomorrow morning.

The Cheetahs yesterday named two changes to their starting team, while the Blues will be without the imposing centre Sonny Bill Williams who is recovering from concussion.

The Cheetahs have named Neill Jordaan at openside flank in the place of the injured Paul Schoeman, while in a rotation loosehead Charles Marais starts ahead of Ox Nche.

In another change to the match day squad, centre Clinton Swart has been added to the bench.

The Cheetahs have lost to three Kiwi teams, going down to the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders, and next week they face their final Kiwi opponent in the form of the Hurricanes. Although they have lost eight of their 10 games, coach Franco Smith said he has taken notice that Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said they were a more difficult opponent than the Stormers or the Bulls.

“We surrendered a big 41-24 lead against the Highlanders only because of the players’ probable fear of losing and protecting the lead, instead of carrying on playing,” he said.

Clayton Blommetjies, Sergeal Petersen, Francois Venter (capt), William Small-Smith, Raymond Rhule, Fred Zeilinga, Tian Meyer, Henco Venter, Oupa Mohoje, Niell Jordaan, Francois Uys, Carl Wegner, Tom Botha, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Charles Marais.

Elandre Huggett, Ox Nche, Johan Coetzee, Armandt Koster, Uzair Cassiem, Shaun Venter, Niel Marais, Clinton Swart.

Bench: