VIDEO: Oupa to 'revive' his career in Amsterdam?
The Cheetahs will take a “settled” squad on tour when they depart for Amsterdam on Monday, ahead of a two-match Challenge Cup trip.
After a successful start to their second season in Europe – with wins over Zebre (33-15 in Parma) and the Sharks (32-29 in Bloemfontein), the Cheetahs sit pretty at the top of Pool One.
They now ‘host’ Section Paloise in Amsterdam on Sunday, January 14, and then play Oyonnax at Stade Charles Mathon on January 20.
One of the EPCR’s conditions for the Cheetahs’ participation in the 2023/24 Challenge Cup was for the team to be based in Europe.
The first tour game is at the National Rugby Centre Amsterdam, also known as NRCA Stadium, which has a capacity of 5,000.
The complex is situated within the Sportpark de Eendracht in the district of Geuzenveld-Slotermeer.
It is there that forgotten Springbok Oupa Mohoje will look to put a new lease on life as a player, after a few troubled seasons.
The 33-year-old, who played the last of his 19 Tests against Wales at RFK Stadium in Washington in June 2018, is looking to convert his impressive training ground form into another match-winning performance.
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie believes Mohoje still has some serious rugby left in his legs.
(WATCH as Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie chats to @king365ed about the selection of forgotten Springbok Oupa Mohoje in their tour squad for a two-match trip to Europe…)
“He played well against Pau in France last year,” Fourie told @rugby365com, adding: “He scored the winning try in that game.
“However, he was cited, banned for two weeks and then he was injured.
“Players like Friedle [Olivier], Jeandré [Rudolph] and Gideon [van der Merwe] took their chances.
“It was difficult for him [Mohoje] and Sibabalo Qoma to find their way back into the team.
“However, I am happy with where Oupa is and I am sure he will take his chance if he gets it.”
Fourie said he is confident his team is up for the challenge, even though the French team will have revenge on their minds, after last season’s back-to-back losses to the Cheetahs – 16-21 in December 2022 and 6-9 in the return match in January 2023.
“We have a good culture and a good vibe in the team going,” Fourie said.
Captain Victor Sekekete said they want to continue where they left off last year – after beating Zebre and the Sharks.
“We know their [Paloise] forwards will cove for us, especially after what happened last season,” the skipper said.
“We know their egos are bruised and it will be a tough game.
“Our kicking game and defence will be key.”
The Cheetahs depart South Africa on Monday, arrive in Amsterdam on Tuesday and will have a light ‘flush-out’ session on Thursday.
They also have training sessions planned for Friday and the captain’s run on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game.
CHEETAHS TOUR SQUAD
FORWARDS: Rynier Bernardo, Aranos Coetzee, Schalk Ferreira, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Daniel Maartens, Oupa Mohoje, Friedle Olivier, Sibabalo Qoma, Jeandre Rudolph, Victor Sekekete (captain), Alulutho Tshakweni, Henus van Wyk, Gideon van der Merwe, Marnus van der Merwe, Louis van der Westhuizen, Laurence Victor, Carl Wegner.
BACKS: Evardi Boshoff, Reinhardt Fortuin, Munier Hartzenberg, Cohen Jasper, Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger, George Lourens, Tapiwa Mafura, Ali Mgijima, Ruan Pienaar.
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