The Cheetahs could head into their last Super Rugby Unlocked match against Griquas on Saturday without captain Junior Pokomela.
The Cheetahs host Griquas in Bloemfontein but, at the team announcement on Thursday, coach Hawies Fourie was forced to bracket the provisional selection of Pokomela at blindside flank with that of Aidon Davis.
It’s believed Pokomela aggravated a pre-existing wrist injury he had been playing with over the past two weeks. He will undergo scans on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury and his availability for the match against Griquas.
Should he be ruled out, Davis will start at blindside flank and lock Carl Wegner will take over the captaincy.
Meanwhile, Fourie has made three other changes to the starting lineup, where Rhyno Smith replaces Malcolm Jaer on the wing, Howard Mnisi takes over from William Small-Smith at outside centre and Cheetahs debutant Hencus van Wyk starts at tighthead prop.
Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela (c)/Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Boan Venter.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Aidon Davis/Chris Massyn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 William Small-Smith.
Griquas – 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli.
Subs: Monde Hadebe, Andrew Beerwinkel, Madot Mabokela, Ewan Coetzee, CJ Velleman, Theo Maree, André Swarts, Daniel Kasende, Bandisa Ndlovu, Sibabalo Qoma, Ashlon Davids.
Photo: Getty Images
