Cheetahs
The Vodacom Bulls sounded a stern warning ahead of their Super Rugby campaign as they demolished the Toyota Cheetahs 32-10 in their pre-season friendly at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The Cheetahs have announced their group of 35 players for this year’s Super Rugby tournament. It differs substantially from last year’s squad, with numerous players having pursued careers overseas. Considering that ten of last year’s squad’s names don’t appear, one could be forgiven for expecting a weaker squad but it looks like a good squad overall.
Scans of Johan Goosen’s troublesome left heel have shown that there is no damage other than bruising.
The teams for Saturday 9 February’s warm up match between the Vodacom Bulls and the Toyota Cheetahs in Polokwane, have been announced. Springboks will captain both sides, with Pierre Spies making a return for the Bulls, and Adriaan Strauss leading the Cheetahs charge.
Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen is still under wraps! According to Hawies Fourie, the knee that was operated on last year is fine, but that Goosen is still experiencing discomfort with his left heel when kicking at goal. He will undergo a scan to determine if a hairline fracture of the heel may be the cause. If that is the case, he may only be out for an extra week.
His brief was just to complete his 30 minutes of rugby and walk off the field uninjured. However his time on the field showed why his return has been so keenly anticipated, not only by the Cheetahs fans but by most rugby lovers. He hardly looked as if he had been away from the game for two years.
Cheetahs (0) 27 / 26 (11) Stormers (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers did battle in the Free State Reconciliation Challenge at X at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Veteran Springbok flank Juan Smith could be the bolter in the Cheetahs team when they face the Stormers in a pre-season match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Lions (7) 33 / 17 (12) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in a MTN Lions Challenge and Super Rugby wrm-up game at Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs coach Naka Drotskè is facing a possible second row crisis, as both his preferred starting locks are unavailable to start the season. Martin Muller who missed most of 2012, has injured his groin, and will be out for at least 3 months. That effectively rules him out for the bulk of the tournament. Andries Ferreira is still recovering from his knee injury, and will miss the opening match versus the Sharks, as well as the initial overseas leg.
Juan Smith has joined the Cheetahs and has taken part in the fitness sessions, but hasn’t taken any contact. Juan has been out since February 2011, so it is understandable that the coaches are taking a conservative approach. Apart from Smith, several of the Cheetahs frontline players will not feature in the warm-up match versus the Lions on Saturday.
New Cheetahs prop Caylib Oosthuizen says the prospect of being coached by his childhood hero, Os du Randt, played a big role in his move to Bloemfontein.
Johan Goosen and Coenie Oosthuizen have given the Cheetahs a boost with news that the Springbok duo will be fit for the start of the Super Rugby season.
Naka Drotske has reason to smile, as it is reported that Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen (back) and Johan Goosen (knee) are progressing well. Willie le Roux (groin), Phillip van der Walt (knee), Lappies Labuschagne (ankle) and Springbok Heinrich Brüssow (shoulder) are all on track for early participation in this years Super Rugby Competition.
Following on our series of articles about the player pedigrees, it was suggested we do the same for the coaching teams. To do the entire spectrum of a Super Rugby Coaching personnel would be too encompassing (the research was hard enough), so I am going to focus only on the people responsible for the main portfolios of Head, Backline, Forwards and Defence coaches.
The Cheetahs have assembled some real speed merchants in their wider training squad, and the competition will be fierce for starting spots. With players like Piet van Zyl, Johan Goosen, Robert Ebersohn and Johann Sadie, one can expect the pace men to get plenty of opportunity to stretch the hamstrings.
Fiery Cheetahs flanker, Frans Viljoen, has no contract with the Cheetahs but has asked coach Naka Drotské for a chance to prove his mettle. He is willing to play without a contract and just earn match fees. Viljoen showed in only a handful of matches in the Currie Cup, the value of his physical presence in the Cheetahs team. He will get a chance to prove his fitness in the warm up matches versus the Lions (26 January) or versus the Bulls (9 February).
With the 2013 Super Rugby season just around the corner the fixture list of all warm up games has been released.
Some teams have opted for tougher opponents and some less so, much of course depending on their requirements and strategies they have planned for. The tournament itself kicks off on the 15 February 2013.
With most of the pre-season fitness programmes out of the way, the next few weeks will be vital as each side starts to focus on honing their game ahead of another grueling season. Teams will be trying to get their best combinations together as to find cohesion, coaches of course will hope not to pick up injuries as some teams are starting the season with numerous injured stars.
A final decision regarding the playing future of Springbok flank Juan Smith will now only be made at the end of January.
The Lions have finally announced their proposed fixtures to be played in lieu of Super Rugby participation in 2013.
The fixtures include matches from the “Lions Challenge”, as well as some friendlies against Super Rugby opposition as well as a number of international, American and European club sides.
The full media release from the Lions follows:
The Cheetahs are doing everything within their powers to try and stop loose forward Juan Smith from moving to France.
The Cheetahs started their preparations for the 2013 Super 15, with fitness assessments today. All the injured players, and new signings were present, except Cornal Hendricks, who the Cheetahs have contracted, but SARU maintain he is still contracted to them.
Cheetahs (10) 30 / 37 (15) Sharks (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and The Sharks did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, 6, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Sevens specialist and Boland winger Cornal Hendricks swops places with Phillip Snyman. Snyman will join the Bok 7’s squad and Cornal Hendricks will add further depth to the Cheetahs squad. It is a win-win situation, as the Cheetahs have great depth at centre but need good quality wingers.
Cheetahs (17) 35 / 20 (6) Griquas (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and GWK Griquas did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 14:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, M-Net on TV in SA.
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Like last week and probably the weeks to come a condensed version, team by team of the selected sides for this weekend’s Currie Cup Premier Division matches.
Continue reading
Cheetahs (19) 22 / 29 (13) WP (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and DHL Western Province did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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In stead of doing seperate Articles on every possible Currie Cup team, herewith a condensed version, team by team of the selected sides for this weekend.
Continue reading
Sharks (6) 34 / 32 (21) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Sharks and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Mr Price Kings Park at 17:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Any thoughts that Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer may have about selecting Toyota Free State wunderkid Johan Goosen should be shelved until the Boks get back from Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to the new round of 3 matches this coming weekend, we have to report that Trevor Nyakane, prop of the Free State Cheetahs, has broken his thumb and might be out for the rest of the Currie Cup. Blue Bulls young monster looseforwar, Arno Botha, who was struggling with a hamstring strain seems to have strained the hamstring some more and indications are he is out for at least one week. Western Province has not escaped the injury bogey either with news that not only is Siya Kolisi out for the remainder of the Currie Cup season, but Tyrone Holmes is out for 2 weeks with a shoulder injury. The good news for Western Province however is that they will have Rynhardt Elstadt and Deon Carsten back from injury this week.
Griquas (10) 16 / 29 (10) Cheetahs (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Talented Cheetahs pivot Johan Goosen has been cleared to start and not surprisingly coach Naka Drotske has opted to start with him.
Cheetahs (23) 32 / 18 (10) Blue Bulls (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Naka Drotske and Hawies Fourie have reshuffled the backline to lend more impetus on attack. The most meaningful change is the return to the flyhalf berth for Sias Ebersohn.