Can Cheetahs hit another 'home run'?
SPOTLIGHT: It has been three years since the Cheetahs last secured silverware of any kind.
Despite the Free State having a rich history of trophies, most notably winning the prestigious Currie Cup seven times (1976, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2019, and 2023), the last few years have seen a sharp decline in their fortunes.
On Friday, they travel to Nelspruit to take on the defending champions, the Pumas, in an SA Cup semifinal.
They booked their spot in the play-offs dramatically in Bloemfontein this past weekend, when the Cheetahs ended the table-topping Griquas’ eight-game winning run with a last-gasp win.
It not only secured them a place in the Currie Cup this year, but also kept alive their dream of ending their trophy drought.
The last trophy the Cheetahs collected was when they beat the Pumas 25–17 in the Currie Cup Final in Bloemfontein in 2023.
Coach Frans Steyn was cautiously optimistic that his team could secure back-to-back wins over the two top teams in the SA Cup.
Steyn stated that the Cheetahs were still ‘positive’, despite a short week that includes an arduous bus trip from Bloemfontein to Nelspruit (about 750 kilometres).
“We need to get the players fresh before Friday,” he said of the gruelling one-point win (32-31) over Griquas last week.
The Cheetahs coach added that he was looking for ‘improvement’ in their performance against Griquas, a game they almost let slip in the latter stages.
With the pressure of qualifying for the Currie Cup now off their backs, the Bloemfontein-based outfit may be able to ‘enjoy’ themselves again.
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‘There is an argument to be made to expand the Currie Cup’ – Jimmy Stonehousehttps://t.co/0ShqBoULEt
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“To get to a stage where the players have the belief to jut go out and enjoy themselves is a challenge,” Steyn said.
“We need to be cautious against a team coached by Jimmy [Stonehouse]. They have that belief.”
The coach said they need to match the level of physicality they showed against Griquas last week.
“The challenge for us is to get into the same mindset and get up for the game again.
“Hopefully we can reproduce that form and score another ‘home run’.”
The physicality of the Pumas will be a major threat on Friday.
“If they dominate the gainline, we will be in trouble.
“We need to be up for it,” he added.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
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