Zeilinga cleared to start against Highlanders
The Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has made a number of changes to the run-on side to face the Highlanders in a Super Rugby encounter in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.
Carl Wenger moves to number 4 lock, switching with Francois Uys, who will start in the number 5 jersey. Armandt Koster provides cover on the substitutes bench.
Paul Schoeman starts on the left flank and rotates with Uzair Cassiem, who will warm the bench. Henco Venter will start at eighth man.
In the backline, Tian Meyer makes way for Shaun Venter at the base of the scrum. Meyer will be making his 50th Super Rugby appearance, 38 of which have been in the colours of the Cheetahs.
In a significant change, Fred Zeilinga returns from an injury layoff at flyhalf, with Neil Marais reverting to the bench, while William Small-Smith replaces the injured Nico Lee at inside centre.
"I still believe in the growth of this side and it has been immense," says coach Franco Smith.
"To have a team to play against the best every week is the only way to get better. We are a good team with ball in hand and we want to continue playing to our strengths," added Smith.
Team: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche.
Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett,17 Charles Marais, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Armandt Koster, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Niell Jordaan, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Niel Marais.