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Du Randt ready for the trip to Perth
Veteran Springbok prop Os du Randt will be fit and ready to travel with the Cheetahs when they head across the Indian Ocean to face fellow Super 14 newcomers the Western Force in a pre-season fixture in Perth on Saturday.
Du Randt, who left the field in the first half of the Cheetahs' 48-0 victory over the Southern Spears at the weekend, has been cleared to join his teammates for their first trip abroad as a Super 14 franchise.
Cheetahs team manager Naka Drotske said on Sunday that Du Rant was taken from the field in Port Elizabeth "only as precaution" and that the injury was not serious.
Another injury concern, that of hat-trick hero and man-of-the-match Kabamba Floors, has also been cleared up. He too will make the trip to Perth.
Drotske said the Cheetahs were happy with their performance in Port Elizabeth against a very resolute Spears outfit, with the defence in particular a pleasing aspect of the Cheetahs' game.
"The fact that we prevented them from scoring a try is very pleasing," Drotske told this website.
"Defence is going to be very important in the Super 14 and that is one of the aspects we focussed on. It was very pleasing that we kept them out."
He added that the Cheetahs achieved all the goals they had set out and as a pre-season game the trip to Port Elizabeth had served its purpose.
Having scored eight tries without reply, the Cheetahs showed they will not be just a defensive unit ... although they can "tackle" any opposition.
But the goal-kicking of fly-half Willem de Waal, who succeeded with just four of his eight conversion attempts, and the discipline of some players will be cause for concern.
Lock Ockert van Zyl and the Cheetahs' Samoan hooker Trevor Leota were both yellow carded late in the game.
But the Cheetahs still have this coming Saturday's encounter in Perth (against the Force) and the game against Treviso in Welkom a week later to sort out any problem areas.
Coach Rassie Erasmus will continue to rotate players and give all his squad members as much game time as possible.
By Jan de Koning