Cape Town - Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has slammed the poor commitment his players is showing on defence.

The Cheetahs threw away a 30-9 second half lead to eventually lose 33-36 against the Highlanders at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.

With two minutes remaining replacement flyhalf Sias Ebersohn missed a penalty from right out in front which would have given the men from Bloemfontein the victory. Instead, the Highlanders kicked up-field and won a penalty themselves, which replacement flyhalf Chris Noakes converted to snatch an unlikely victory.

But, despite Ebersohn's blunder, Drotské feels they should never have been in that position in the first instance.

"Our plan was to be in their faces throughout but we couldn't execute. Eight or nine guys maintained decent speed off the line while defending, but the others waited and gave them space. It is suicide against a team with such dangerous backline players," Drotské told Volksblad.

The Cheetahs will now regroup before taking on the Force at home on Saturday night.