Os back in the mix ahead of rugby Currie Cup final

BLOEMFONTEIN – Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus will give a lot of thought to the fact that Os du Randt has never lost a scrum against Andries Human.

Erasmus will have to give careful thought to his 22-man squad, and especially his props, to play the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup final at Loftus in Pretoria on Saturday. Ollie le Roux’s physical and intimidating presence against the Bulls cannot be ignored either, while Wian du Preez has not taken a step back in the scrums this season.Le Roux operated as replacement hooker and loosehead prop against Province, while the physical presence of the Samoan hooker Trevor Leota could make him the favourite to be Naka Drotske’s understudy.Erasmus acknowledges that he has a huge problem, but said: “It’s always a pleasure to have such a problem.All the players know it’s about the team and not the individual.”I first want to see how Os looks in training this week before making a final decision,” the coach said.Du Randt injured his thigh before the victory over Province, but his experience could be critical.It is not just at loosehead where Erasmus will have to consider all his options, but at tighthead both CJ van der Linde and Jannie du Plessis have performed well.Their instructions will be to curtail Bulls loosehead Kees Lensing.Van der Linde has become one of the world’s top tightheads since the final in Pretoria last year.Du Plessis is looking like a future Bok in every match and grabbed his chance to show what he can do in Van der Linde’s absence.Du Randt and Leota, as well as Eddie Fredericks (right wing, groin injury) all took part in the training session, but Erasmus did not include lock Heino Senekal in his practice.Cheetahs Bok flank, Hendro Scholtz does not have to appear before a disciplinary hearing this week after being shown a yellow card against Province.The Cheetahs also did not cite Province lock Ross Skeate.His punch to the jaw of Boeta du Plooy (lock) can be clearly seen on the video and it will not be a surprise if the Free State Rugby Union institutes legal action against him.-News24Ollie le Roux’s physical and intimidating presence against the Bulls cannot be ignored either, while Wian du Preez has not taken a step back in the scrums this season.Le Roux operated as replacement hooker and loosehead prop against Province, while the physical presence of the Samoan hooker Trevor Leota could make him the favourite to be Naka Drotske’s understudy.Erasmus acknowledges that he has a huge problem, but said: “It’s always a pleasure to have such a problem.All the players know it’s about the team and not the individual.”I first want to see how Os looks in training this week before making a final decision,” the coach said.Du Randt injured his thigh before the victory over Province, but his experience could be critical.It is not just at loosehead where Erasmus will have to consider all his options, but at tighthead both CJ van der Linde and Jannie du Plessis have performed well.Their instructions will be to curtail Bulls loosehead Kees Lensing.Van der Linde has become one of the world’s top tightheads since the final in Pretoria last year.Du Plessis is looking like a future Bok in every match and grabbed his chance to show what he can do in Van der Linde’s absence.Du Randt and Leota, as well as Eddie Fredericks (right wing, groin injury) all took part in the training session, but Erasmus did not include lock Heino Senekal in his practice.Cheetahs Bok flank, Hendro Scholtz does not have to appear before a disciplinary hearing this week after being shown a yellow card against Province.The Cheetahs also did not cite Province lock Ross Skeate.His punch to the jaw of Boeta du Plooy (lock) can be clearly seen on the video and it will not be a surprise if the Free State Rugby Union institutes legal action against him.-News24