Cheetahs buoyed by rollercoaster run
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:26
Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske says his team's resurgent performance in this year's Currie Cup is a major positive ahead of the 2010 Super 14.
The Cheetahs got their 2009 domestic campaign off to the worst possible start but they clawed their way back into play-off contention and pushed the Blue Bulls all the way in last Saturday's final.
While Drotske is disappointed by the loss against the Bulls he is upbeat about the Cheetahs' prospects in next year's Super 14.
"What happened in the Currie Cup and the final gives us a lot of confidence. We must take this self-belief into the Super 14. That [Super 14] is the one series that we haven't performed well over the last few years and the challenge is to improve on that, " Drotske told Beeld newspaper.
Unlike previous seasons, the Cheetahs won't be experiencing a mass exodus of top players with only Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bulls), Richardt Strauss (Leinster) and Fabian Juries (Western Province) leaving the Bloemfontein outfit while Griquas' new Boks Riaan Viljoen (fullback) and Davon Raubenheimer (flank) will boost the central franchise in next year's tournament.
"It's a positive thing for Free State rugby. When I took over in 2007 we lost 17 players and last year we lost nine," Drotske said.
"This year we have a lot more stability and that is important for momentum in the Super 14. During the past two Super 14 series we lost against ourselves at the start of the season. We lost one or two early games which really cost us.
"Next year we have a favourable draw...we will only tour for four weeks and we play our first six games in South Africa. So a good start will be important."
The Cheetahs front row was particularly impressive this season and prop Wian du Preez's omission from the Bok touring squad was a major shock, according to former Cheetahs scrum coach Dougie Heymans.
Du Preez was arguably the strongest
scrummager in the Currie Cup while Lions prop Heinke van der Merwe was included despite being sidelined for the entire Currie Cup.
"I think his omission is unfair," Heymans said.
"You would think that because he was already there [Du Preez toured with the Boks in 2007] that he was a logical choice in the expanded group."
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