Can Cheetahs win the intercontinental battle of the cats?

two from two at home.

Because while the Argentines will miss the creativity of Sanchez at flyhalf, the man stepping into the No 10 jersey is no slouch; it’s none other than Juan Martin Hernandez

the super experienced flyhalf who led his side to a World Cup semi-final in 2007.

The Jaguares will thus still play the fast-paced, ballin-hand game that saw them sweep past the Lions last week so the Cheetahs can prepare themselves to make plenty of tackles. Also, the home team’s in-your-face style of rugby is something the visitors won’t be too familiar with.

On top of that, Cheetahs boss Franco Smith has, like Lions coach Johan Ackermann, opted to ring the changes to his starting team this week, handing starts to several fringe players. He’s taking a gamble, like Ackermann did, and if his team isn’t given a hiding it’ll be somewhat surprising.

Then again, the Cheetahs know they haven’t been given much chance of causing an upset and it is precisely at these times when they are at their most dangerous. With nothing to lose really Smith’s men may just pull off a victory.

Much will of course depend on how well their pack perform and here a player like the experienced lock Francois Uys will be crucial, but so too loose forwards Niell Jordaan, Oupa Mohoje and Henco Venter, who’ll not only be asked to make a number of tackles, but carry the ball strongly, too.

And then it’ll be up to captain for the day, scrumhalf Tian Meyer, and his No 10 Niel Marais to get the Cheetahs onto the front foot and into the right areas of the field. The only way the Cheetahs will come up trumps is if they’re able to put the pressure on the Jaguares and force them into making mistakes and turning ball over.