Cheetahs swap heat of Bloemfontein for snowy Amsterdam ahead of clash with Ulster
CHALLENGE CUP
Cheetahs assistant coach Ruan Pienaar pictured during his playing days for the union.
Image: Backpagepix
If anyone questions why the Cheetahs are regarded as the "poor relations" of South African rugby, they should consider that the Free Staters must play their Challenge Cup home games in Amsterdam rather than Bloemfontein.
It is a condition of their invitation to the tournament that they maintain a base in Europe for the duration of their participation.
To this end, the Cheetahs have entered into a partnership with Rugby Netherlands to host their matches at the NRCA Stadium. On Sunday, they host Ulster at 5.15pm in conditions that are a far cry from the simmering heat of the Free State. Assistant coach Ruan Pienaar told reporters that the players were battling the freezing weather brought on by Storm Goretti.
When storms are given a name, they usually mean business — as the Cheetahs are currently discovering.
“We were training in 30 to 32 degrees at home, and then you have to prepare for minus three,” Pienaar said. “I don’t think everyone understands how difficult it is to go from that kind of heat to snow and rain. We have a young group, and not everyone is used to these kinds of conditions.”
The Cheetahs are winless in Pool 3 following defeats to Exeter and Stade Français. Their final pool game takes place next week in Paris against Racing 92. Despite the setbacks, head coach Frans Steyn insists his team has put the two defeats behind them.
“I think we've made massive strides in the last year, and the squad is coming along nicely,” Steyn said.
“We need continuity. We had no rugby over Christmas and New Year, and now we have to get going again. We need game time. When the SA Cup starts, we'll get proper game time week in, week out. Hopefully, by the time we hit the Currie Cup, it will be smooth sailing and the combinations will be settled.”
The Cheetahs have travelled without two key players, Victor Sekekete and Pierre Uys, both of whom are sidelined with facial injuries.
Cheetahs Touring Squad
Forwards: Aranos Coetzee, Cameron Dawson, Frankie Dos Reis, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Daniel Maartens, Dux Manyama, Ben Pitout, Juan Smal, Curtley Thomas, Arno van der Merwe, Gideon van der Merwe, Chucky van der Westhuizen, Neels Volschenk, Sisonke Vumazonke, Carl Wegner.
Backs: De-an Ackerman, Michael Annies, Zander du Plessis, Munier Hartzenberg, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Rewan Kruger, Jandre Nel, Prince Nkabinde, Franco Smith, James Verity-Amm, Jaco van der Walt.