Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské says they are relishing being the underdogs ahead of their Currie Cup semi-final against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
The bookies have the Sharks as 7-point favourites for the clash at Kings Park, but that doesn’t bother the Free State mentor.
"Of course we are the underdogs. There are 10 Springboks in the Sharks team and they are playing at home but we know that if we play to our Super Rugby form, we can beat them," Drotské was quoted as saying in Friday’s Cape Times.
The coach was referring to their Super Rugby clash in Durban a few months ago when the Cheetahs upset the apple cart by beating the Sharks 12-6. They also went on to reach the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time in their history.
However, the Sharks have been in good form in the Currie Cup and won both their league phase games against the Cheetahs (50-26 in Durban and 18-15 in Bloemfontein).
However, Drotské said his players are rejuvenated after reaching the knockout stages and are aiming to achieve "something special" on Saturday.
The last time the Cheetahs won a Currie Cup semi-final was when they stunned the Sharks 23-21 in Durban in 2009.
So can they pull off another upset?
Tune in at 17:00 on Saturday to find out...
Teams:
Sharks:
15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Louis Ludik, 12. Francois Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Danie Mienie, 18. Stephan Lewies, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Fred Zeilinga, 22. Heimar Williams
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Johan Goosen, 22 Rayno Benjamin
The bookies have the Sharks as 7-point favourites for the clash at Kings Park, but that doesn’t bother the Free State mentor.
"Of course we are the underdogs. There are 10 Springboks in the Sharks team and they are playing at home but we know that if we play to our Super Rugby form, we can beat them," Drotské was quoted as saying in Friday’s Cape Times.
The coach was referring to their Super Rugby clash in Durban a few months ago when the Cheetahs upset the apple cart by beating the Sharks 12-6. They also went on to reach the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time in their history.
However, the Sharks have been in good form in the Currie Cup and won both their league phase games against the Cheetahs (50-26 in Durban and 18-15 in Bloemfontein).
However, Drotské said his players are rejuvenated after reaching the knockout stages and are aiming to achieve "something special" on Saturday.
The last time the Cheetahs won a Currie Cup semi-final was when they stunned the Sharks 23-21 in Durban in 2009.
So can they pull off another upset?
Tune in at 17:00 on Saturday to find out...
Teams:
Sharks:
15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Louis Ludik, 12. Francois Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Danie Mienie, 18. Stephan Lewies, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Fred Zeilinga, 22. Heimar Williams
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Johan Goosen, 22 Rayno Benjamin
