Cheetahs 2010

[PaarlBok]

Look like the Tin Ears are heading into the right direction, D E F E N S E!
superrugby

It's all defence for Cheetahs

The Cheetahs want to pride themselves on their defence in the Super14 this year and Eastern Province are the first team in their sights in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Coach Naka Drotské picked his strongest available side for the pre-season match and the Cheetahs are out to register a clinical victory over De Wet Barry and his team-mates.

That is why Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie does not want to see their opponents get opportunities to score tries.

“Defence is the one thing we want to focus on in the Super14 and we don’t want EP to score a single try against us. If they manage a try, it has to be through an intercept or a ball that is kicked through,” said Fourie.

“We don’t want them to build phases and score points.”

The Cheetahs have never managed to make inroads in the Super14 and hope that solid defence can make all the difference.

“Defence is the one area where we are looking for improvement,” said Drotské.

“We are among the stingiest defenders in the Currie Cup every year, but then among the most generous in the Super14. We’d like to be among the top five defensive sides.”

Drotské will not be satisfied with anything but a resounding win over EP.

“We’ll have to win convincingly, no doubt about it. We picked our best available team and the players know it. We expect a big performance from the team.”

The Cheetahs are not concerned about their opponents and will only concentrate on their preparation for the Super14.

“We have not veered from our conditioning plan and are still planning for the Bulls game, so the guys are a little tired,” said Drotské.

Meanwhile, the arbitration between scrumhalf JP Joubert in the contractual dispute between the Free State Rugby Union and Golden Lions continues on Friday.

 

[Biffo]

PB, for some time some people referred to them derisorily as the "Cheaters". Is there any basis for that? I seem to recall there were some incidents but I have forgotten the details.

 

[PaarlBok]

PB, for some time some people referred to them derisorily as the "Cheaters". Is there any basis for that? I seem to recall there were some incidents but I have forgotten the details.

Its the Aussie thing when Rassie coached them three years back in the match against the Tahs and they slow the game down.

The Tin Ears has change a lot since then and play these days with a totally different team. Maybe the rise of that man Brussouw may help the cheater name course but thats his job on the field.

For old timers like myself they are Tin Ears, finish and klaar.

 

[Geeves]

PB, for some time some people referred to them derisorily as the "Cheaters". Is there any basis for that? I seem to recall there were some incidents but I have forgotten the details.

It had to do with Rassie using the sub rule with the props. Both would start have 20-30 min, swap them and then bring them back on with 20 to go nice and refreshed

 

[PaarlBok]

The Tin Ears struggle to get on top of EP, heart of the Kings franchise

Superrugby

EP give Cheetahs big scare

Eastern Province gave the Vodacom Cheetahs a hefty scare as they held them to a 13-9 scoreline in their pre-season friendly at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Mighty Elephants, who were using the friendly to push their claims for a place in the Vodacom Super 14, defended as if their lives depended on it, and disrupted the Cheetah game plan throughout.

The Cheetahs will be unhappy with their own performance, which was below their standard, and will have much food for thought as they prepare for this year’s Super 14 competition.

With a side relatively close to the one which will start against the Vodacom Bulls on February 12 in their opening game, the Cheetahs made way too many mistakes on the evening and allowed their opposition to disrupt them throughout.

Having said that, Cheetahs manager Eugene van Wyk concedes that the Elephants played above themselves and certainly made the scoreline fair in front of a good crowd of 15 000.

One aspect that coach Naka Drotske will be happy with, is the performance of young flyhalf Sias Ebersohn. Ebersohn got the backline moving a lot smoother and scored the only try of the game, finishing off a backline move which started when the Elephants failed to kick the ball out.

For the Cheetahs, their loose trio of Ashley Johnson, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussow stood out, while Eastern Province’s captain De Wet Barry and flanker Zolani Mofu were the pick of the players for the home side.

Tewis de Bruyn kicked the conversion for Ebersohn’s try, as well as two penalties while EP’s points came through three penalties from the boot of Justin Peach.

“It was a lot closer than we would have liked,” admitted Van Wyk afterwards, “We made a lot of mistakes but we must give EP credit for the way they played against us. They certainly gave us a good game.”

Scorers:

Vodacom Cheetahs – try: Sias Ebersohn. Conversion: Tewis de Bruyn. Penalties: De Bruyn (2)
Eastern Province – penalties: Justin Peach (3)

 

[PaarlBok]

The Tin Ears move this weekend to the tiny country little town of Douglas to play the Biltong Eating Griquas. They picked a very much backup team

Cheetahs vs. Griekwas: Gulo Ramashala; Alex Mahlangu, Philip Snyman, Barry Goodes, Shagan Windvogel; Louis Strydom, Piet van Zyl; Kabamba Floors, Rudi Mathee, Dirk Wessels, Philip Steyn, Isak van der Westhuizen, Kobus Calldo, Hans Grobler, Jean Botha. Reserwes: Hercu Liebenberg, Trevor Nyaki, Riaan Vermeulen, Piet Gouws, Johan Wessels, Gerrie Pretorius, Tertius Carse, Riaan Britz

Some surprising picks in the team like Piet van Zyl in 9, Hans Grobler in 2 and Johan Wessels on the bench. Thought Johan would have played for the Sharks, very talented young flanker.