Goosen the enigma for Kings
MERCURIAL Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen is racking up the air miles before his team’s PRO14 clash against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The former Bok No 10 was in France for medical tests earlier this week for his new club Montpellier after he was bought out of his contract at Racing 92.
Goosen, who played 67 minutes for the Cheetahs two weeks ago against Munster, will return to France on a full-time basis in June to play for Montpellier.
Coach Rory Duncan is not giving much away about how his team will line up in Port Elizabeth.
“Goosen will be considered for the Kings match,” he said as his team regrouped after their bye week.
The Springbok utility back‚ who last represented the Cheetahs in 2014 before leaving on a mega contract for Paris‚ has been in limbo since controversially telling his employers of his desire to retire.
Big-spending Montpellier have lured Goosen out of retirement and had to part with close on R20-million to Racing 92 to free him up.
After a two-year break from the game, Goosen has been given the all-clear to regain his fitness with the Cheetahs before joining Montpellier.
With just one round left before the playoffs, the Cheetahs are in a comfortable position of having a five-point lead over their nearest rivals, the Cardiff Blues, in Conference A.
It would require the Cheetahs to lose by a big margin to the Kings and the Blues thrashing the Ospreys to keep the Free Staters out of the playoffs.
Because the Cheetahs game in Port Elizabeth has an early 3pm kickoff, they could put the playoffs out of Cardiff’s reach even before they kick off.
If they progress to the playoffs, they will face an away game against either Edinburgh or the Scarlets. The Kings have a few injury concerns. If skipper Schalk Ferreira fails a fitness test, then loose forward Ruaan Lerm may be captain.
Ferreira, who popped a rib during his team’s last match against Cardiff Blues, is being assessed by medical staff.
Apart from Ferreira’s injury, centre Berton Klaasen sustained a concussion during the last minute of the Cardiff game.
Alshaun Bock (hamstring tear) and Luzuko Vulindlu (left calf tear) are also facing late fitness tests.
The way PRO14 is structured the Kings and Cheetahs play each other three times this season.
The Cheetahs won the first game in Port Elizabeth 45-21, then achieved the double with a 45-24 victory a week later in Bloemfontein. The Kings will name their team tomorrow. The Super Sport Challenge clash between the EP Elephants and the SWD Eagles will kick off at 12.15pm on the main field before the PRO14 clash.