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Blommetjies returns to SA after being branded unfit in nightmare season in Europe

Cheetahs' Clayton Blommetjies is tackled Hurricanes' Brad Shields in 2017... he has now pitched up at Leicester in the Premiership (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Fullback Clayton Blommetjies will be playing Currie Cup rugby for the Free State Cheetahs.

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Netwerk24 revealed that the Cheetahs have brought in Blommetjies after Malcolm Jaer was ruled of the entire Currie Cup with a groin injury.

The 28-year-old Blommetjies was released by Scarlets after being with the Welsh side for one season after joining from the Cheetahs.

He failed to make an impact with the Scarlets and played in just six matches before being loaned out to English side Leicester Tigers.

Former Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac was not happy with Blommetjies’ fitness levels.

“We do things a bit differently from the Cheetahs and expectation on the players is to be in a certain shape and Clayton has a bit of work to do in that area,” Pivac said at the start of last season.

The Free State Cheetahs open their tournament with a challenging fixture against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, July 19.

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Blommetjies came through the ranks at the Bulls, playing all his junior rugby there, and later at the age of 20, made his senior debut in the Currie Cup. He has become an integral part of the Cheetahs side with many of their successes attributed to his play.

He made 39 appearances for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition scoring six tries and has represented South Africa at four levels; SA Schools Academy, SA Students, SA Under 20s and SA Sevens.

Paarl born Blommetjies made an impact in his debut Guinness PRO14 season scoring four tries, making five try assists and features in the top five for metres gained.

However he has failed to impress during his stint in European rugby.

– Rugby365

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RedWarrior 45 minutes ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.

Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.

Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.

They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.

That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.

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