Ruan Pienaar will make his comeback to South African rugby from the bench in the Cheetahs’ clash with the Lions in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Pienaar, who signed a two-year deal with the Cheetahs from Montpellier, will make his first appearance for the side since his move back to South Africa.

The 35-year-old will provide backup for captain Tian Meyer, who has overcome an injury niggle to start on Friday.

It will mark Pienaar’s first appearance for a South African team since 2010, when he left the Sharks to join Ulster.

Cheetahs – 15 Darren Adonis, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Marnus van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Reinach Venter, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Gerhard Olivier, 22 Ruan Pienaar, 23 Louis Fouche.

Photo: OFM