Cheetahs' defence good enough
The Cheetahs have worked hard on plugging the gaps that made their defence the leakiest in Super Rugby last year.
Having let in an astonishing 59 tries, at almost four per game, those defensive frailties contributed significantly to the Bloemfontein side's lowly 14th place finish in 2014.
Speaking to rugby365 ahead of Friday's second pre-season outing against the Stormers at Newlands, Drotské said game time is important and that is why most of his first-choice starting line-up is on the replacement bench.
"Next week we'll play the starting XV – likely to feature against the Sharks [in the competition's opening round on February 14] – when we have our final trial run against the Griffons."
However, it is defence that they paid most attention two in the off-season.
"I felt our defence is coming along nicely and we are very optimistic about it," he said in reference to his team's 13-30 loss to the Bulls last week.
While the Pretoria outfit scored three tries, Drotské said it is not an indication that his team was set another season of chasing shadows.
"The tries the Bulls scored against us [last week] came from a high kick, the other was a turnover they kicked ahead and the third from a maul.
"However, during the 60 minutes our first-choice players were on the field we did not concede a try."
The Cheetahs will also get a chance to give their attack a good trial run against a defence-orientated side like the Stormers.
"We are all familiar with their defensive strategy and it will certainly test our attack," Drotské told rugby365.
The Cheetahs mentor also explained why he will be starting his back-up squad against the powerful Stormers, but will bring his big guns back when they face the lowly Griffons next week.
"It is important in the pre-season that you have a look not only at your frontline selections, but also the back-up players," the Cheetahs coach said.
"We all know Willie le Roux is the first choice at fullback, but if he was to get injured in the first match, you can't start experimenting to find out who of Coenie van Wyk or Clayton Blommetjies is your back-up," he said, adding that they need to give all the players a run.
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (vice-captain), 12 Huw Jones, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements – from: Bongi Mbonambi, Alistair Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Jurie van Vuuren, Jean Kleyn, Neil Rautenbach, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Johnny Kotze, Robert du Preez, EW Viljoen.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Phillipus du Plessis, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Danie Dames, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz (captain), 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements – from: Stephan Coetzee, Danie Mienie, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Uys, Lodewyk de Jager, Tienie Burger, Shaun Venter, Francois Brummer, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Willie le Roux.
Date: Friday, January 30
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19.00 (19.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
