It's been a long time between drinks for philosophical Steyn

It sounds dramatic, because it is dramatic!

The last time the Cheetahs beat Griquas in any competition, Director of Rugby and now coach François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn was still playing.

Steyn, now 38, started at inside centre and fellow Springbok legend Ruan Pienaar (42) was at scrumhalf on 10 March 2023, when the Cheetahs dismantled Griquas (42-19) in the opening round of the Currie Cup.

The two Boks, with the experience of 160-odd Tests and more than 500 first-class games between them, were central to the rout, Pienaar contributing 17 points (four conversions and three penalties) in a one-sided affair.

On Friday evening, when the Cheetahs are ‘fighting for survival’ in an SA Cup crunch match at the Free State stadium in Bloemfontein, the duo will be in the coaches’ box, unable to contribute on the playing field.

Their contribution is now limited to the training ground, team room planning and messages relayed to the players from the stand during the match.

It has been more than 1150 days since that glorious win in Kimberley, and the fortunes of both teams have changed dramatically.

Griquas are on a 10-match winning streak, they are the defending Currie Cup champions and sitting pretty, well clear at the top of the SA Cup table.

The Cheetahs’ desperation stems from the fact that nothing less than a win will ensure they are not knocked out of the Currie Cup for the first time.

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Steyn admitted there is a lot at stake on Friday, leaving no room for sentimental flashbacks.

“Everybody knows the situation we put ourselves into,” Steyn said ahead of Friday’s big face-off.

He added that the only ‘scenario’ applicable to the game is that the Cheetahs “must win” to book their place in the Currie Cup.

“We have put ourselves in this situation, and we need to get out of it.

“We want to fix it, and we are going to fix it.”

A philosophical Steyn admitted there is a level of ‘pressure’, given their position, adding that you “get to know people” during tough times.

(WATCH as Cheetahs Director of Rugby Frans Steyn talks about the ‘desperation’ of his team to keep their Currie Cup dream alive…..)

“You need to go through ups and downs, you need to learn from it and fix your mistakes,” a frank Steyn said.

He added that they will tackle the enormous challenges ‘head-on’.

The Cheetahs coach said they can’t really bank on home ground advantage, as their track record in Bloemfontein is not the greatest.

“It is not like Griquas will be on a bus for 10 hours,” he said of the 160-kilometre trip to the Free State capital.

“The players, how they pitch up on Friday, and the coaches will determine the outcome.

“Did we do our work during the week? How well did we prepare them? That will determine the outcome.”

Griquas’ efficient maul tactics, their loose forwards and their fast outside backs are among the biggest threats.

Steyn also had plenty of praise for seasoned Griquas coach Pieter Bergh.

“Piet Bergh did an amazing job, and that is why they won the Currie Cup last year.

“It is going to be a massive challenge for us on Friday,” he said of the table-topping Kimberley outfit.

He then spoke about the unpredictability of his opposing coach.

“Does anybody really know Piet Bergh really well?

“He always has a plan [trick] up his sleeve. The same with Jimmy [Stonehouse, Pumas coach] and Heyneke [Meyer, SWD].

“There is always something to learn from these guys that has been in the job for years.

“At some point in their careers, they went through something like we [Cheetahs] are at the moment.

“They got out the other end better equipped.”

@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com