Naka Drotske has named his Cheetahs side to face the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Friday.
SARugby.com brings you our eagerly anticipated Super 14 team previews. As the build-up to the 2010 season reaches a climax, we'll be bringing you all you need to know about the 14 teams including squad news, players to watch and fixture lists.
Naka Drotske has received a boost ahead of the opening match of the Super 14 with a number of players returning from injury.
The Cheetahs have scrapped their scheduled pre-season friendly against Namibia and will instead face-off in an internal warm-up as well as against the Griffons on Friday.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske is confident that a settled squad free of injury is sure to help his side put in a better Super 14 campaign than previous seasons.
The Cheetahs have lost very few players during the off season with only Jacques Louis Potgieter and Richardt Strauss seeking greener pastures. Added to that a number of Griquas players featured strongly during last season's Currie Cup and will give the Cheetahs coach extra options as the season gets underway.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske confirmed on Monday that Juan Smith will once again captain the Cheetahs this season after returning from a knee injury which curtailed his 2009 season.
Former Springbok lock Barend Pieterse has decided to come out of retirement a little more than a year after calling an end to his playing career.
Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez is poised to take up a three month contract with Irish club Munster.
The Vodacom Cheetahs announced the signing of Sharks hooker Skipper Badenhorst on Wednesday and the loan signing of Monty Dumond also from the Sharks.
The Cheetahs have issued a statement on their website confirming that star flanker Heinrich Brussow will remain at the union till the end of 2010.
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske believes that the 2009 Absa Currie Cup Champions – the Vodacom Blue Bulls are the best provincial rugby team on the planet.
Cheetahs flank Juan Smith and Blue Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle anticipates an epic forward battle when their teams face off in the Absa Currie Cup final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Cheetahs centre pairing Meyer Bosman and Corne Uys is confident that their tried and tested combination will bode the visitors well in Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup final against the Blue Bulls at Loftus.
Adriaan Strauss returns from injury to lead the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup final against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versveld on Saturday.
Strauss - who battled back from a broken thumb - takes back the captaincy from stand-in Nico Breedt.
Wian du Preez may only be 26-years-old, but he's already playing in his fourth Currie Cup final and will bring some vital experience to the Cheetahs pack as he looks to win his fourth title this weekend.
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