Falcons fullback Riaan Smit will replace suspended wing Johan Swartz for their Currie Cup fixture against the Free State Cheetahs at Vodacom Park this Friday.

Swartz received a red card after his spear tackle on Western Province's Gio Aplon during the Falcons' 38-32 win last Friday at Bosman Stadium in Brakpan.

The big wing has been banned for one week at a tribunal meeting at Ellis Park on Thursday night after his red card offence.

Strangely, both Province players who were yellow carded for a similar offence, lock Ross Skeate and flanker Francois Louw, got off scot free, showing up the irregularities in the judicial system.

Smit, who played at flyhalf before injuring his heel, will start at fullback while the speedy Nicky Kritzinger moves to the left wing.

Smit will fondly remember his last game in Bloemfontein last season when he scored a hat-trick for the Pumas against the Free State in the Vodacom Cup.

Flyhalf Len Olivier has done an excellent job since replacing Smit at pivot and he threatened the Western Province and Sharks defence on numerous occasions.

Coach Rudy Joubert made one change to the pack after their historical victory over WP, with strong man Gavin Whittingham returning to the front row.

The rest of the pack stays unchanged with lock Marius Coetzer having recovered to partner Wouter Moore.

New reserve Johan Jackson has opted to represent the Falcons on Friday night after being selected for the SA Students side to meet Namibia in Windhoek on Saturday. He joins new recruits Freddie van Zyl and Jody Jeneker on the bench.

Both made their Falcons debuts last weekend.

Falcons: 15 Riaan Smit, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Rouan Cloete, 12 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 11 Nicky Kritzinger, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Warren Perkins, 6 Reg Muller, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Gavin Whittingham.
Replacements: 16 Jody Jeneker, 17 Frik Venter, 18 Reggie Perkins, 19 Emile Verster, 20 Freddie van Zyl, 21 Johan Jackson, 22 Jeff Perkins.

Date: Friday, July 25
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Gareth Lloyd-Jones
Touch judges: Theuns Jonker, Peter de Bruin
Television match official: Willie Roos

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