VIDEO: 'Massive' blow as three Cheetahs return home
NEWS: The Cheetahs head into their Round Two Challenge Cup match against the powerful French outfit Stade Francais.
The Paris-based French Top 14 powerhouse heads into the face-off with the Cheetahs at Amsterdam’s NRCA Stadium on the back of an impressive 38-17 demolition of Cardiff last week.
In contrast, three of the Cheetahs’ most valuable players have already returned home.
Seasoned lock Victor Sekekete, international flyhalf Jaco van der Walt and star centre Zander du Plessis have all returned home with an assortment of injuries.
Coach Frans Steyn revealed that Sekekete suffered a cheekbone fracture in the Cheetahs’ season-opening 12-42 loss to Exeter Chiefs last week.
Scotland-capped Van der Walt and Du Plessis are both struggling with hamstring injuries.
“We don’t know the extent of the injury,” Steyn said, adding that they are awaiting feedback from the doctor.
Curtly Thomas, signed in July from the Griffons, will fill in the gap left by Sekekete’s departure.
George Lourens also joined to squad as flyhalf cover.
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“It is more precautionary,” Steyn said of the decision to send their international No.10 home.
“We still have [two more] EPCR [Challenge Cup] games remaining in January.
“That will be followed by the SA Cup[ and the Currie Cup.
“We don’t want to risk people aggravating their injuries.”
The coach described the injuries as ‘massive’ losses.
“It is also an opportunity for other players to show what they are worth,” Steyn said.
It also leaves the Cheetahs, desperate for a win in Europe, with a leadership challenge.
Hooker Louis van der Westhuizen will retain the captaincy, but the experience of the seasoned lock, Sekekete, will leave a massive void.
The Exeter Chiefs backed up their impressive start to the season in Challenge Cup Round One against the Cheetahs.
The invited South African outfit couldn’t get near the English side for the most part, as Chiefs pierced their backline five times in the first half.
Cheetahs did race to a second-half score, but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso soon hit back for the Devonshire side’s sixth.
They face a Stade Français team that stormed past Cardiff to continue its impressive start.
It was a dominant win for the Parisians, as their impressive start to the season continues.
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