Oupa first black Cheetahs captain
FORMER Shimlas Varsity Cup captain Oupa Mohoje has taken the next big step in what is predicted to be a star-studded career for the 25-year-old.
Having missed out on World Cup selection, the hard-working flank has been handed the captaincy of the Free State Cheetahs for their round six Currie Cup match against the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth tomorrow. Mohoje takes over from lock Francois Uys, who’s been rested for the match. Uys will start from the bench.
Mohoje, who can play in the second row and at loose forward, played Varsity Cup rugby for three years and was named the competition’s “Player that Rocks” in 2013. His disappointment of not making the final 31 who’ll be going to the World Cup tomorrow has now been offset somewhat by being named the Cheetahs’ first black captain.
He’s earned eight test caps since making his Springbok debut in 2014, but feels he’s still got a bit to learn about captaincy at the highest level.
“It’s quite an experience for me, but the coach backs me and I’m glad for that,” Mohoje told Ofm Sport yesterday. “Hopefully in future I can grow into the position.
“There’s obviously quite a bit to learn... I was captain of Shimlas, but there is a difference. Hopefully I can learn as much as I can so in future I can captain again.”
Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has rung the changes for the match. At the back, another Bok who missed World Cup selection, wing Cornal Hendricks, comes into the starting team for his Currie Cup debut for the Cheetahs. Upfront, Mohoje replaces Henco Venter, Reniel Hugo swaps places with Uys while Elandre Huggett starts ahead of Jacques du Toit.
The Cheetahs go into the game on the back of a narrow loss to the Blue Bulls at Loftus, which saw them slip to fifth in the standings, while the winless EP Kings will be looking to build on their good showing against the log-leading Golden Lions at Ellis Park. Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Sergeal Petersen, Francois Venter, Ryno Benjamin, Cornal Hendricks, Fred Zeilinga, Shaun Venter, Niell Jordaan, Oupa Mohoje (captain), Gerhard Olivier, Reniel Hugo, Armandt Koster, Luan de Bruin, Jacques du Toit, BG Uys. Bench: Elandre Huggett, Teunis Nieuwoudt, Francois Uys, Henco Venter, Freddy Ngoza, Ruan van Rensburg, Sias Ebersohn.