Share

Drotske ups war talk

Bloemfontein - Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske says his side will not hand their place in the Currie Cup competition on a silver platter to the Eastern Province Kings in their promotion/relegation game in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.

The teams meet for the first of two promotion/relegation games on Friday evening at the Free State stadium before heading to Port Elizabeth a week later.

The Kings will be looking to gain momentum in the City of Roses and deal the final blow at home, but it will not be easy against a highly motivated Cheetahs outfit.

"The players know that it is of the utmost importance that we pull off the win," Drotske said.

"The Kings are eager to play in the Currie Cup so we are well aware of the threat they pose, but we're not going to hand our place in the competition to them on a silver platter.

"The players are switched on and there is a new intensity within the camp, so we're ready for the challenge."

The Kings have shown throughout their campaign in the First Division of the Currie Cup they are the side to beat, finishing their season unbeaten and claiming the title by beating the Pumas in the final.

"We play at a different level than the Kings, but we know they will be motivated," he said.

"We must ensure that they don't get their game plan going.

"They are a well balanced side with a good forward pack and their back three is also very dangerous.

"We wouldn't want to give them any space on the attack and will be looking to slow down their possession as well."

Kings captain and centre Wayne Stevens believed his side's unbeaten record will come in handy against a Cheetahs side that has only won three of their 10 Currie Cup group games this season.

"We are unbeaten thus far and when you get used to that, it's something you want to keep on doing," Stevens said.

"We've gained a lot of momentum by claiming the First Division title and the team is motivated to play Currie Cup. It is definitely something that counts in our favour."

Even though the hosts have the odds stacked against them, Stevens believed the Kings will have to throw everything at the hosts if they want to be in the better position come the second encounter.

"We know what position the Free State Cheetahs are in and that makes them a dangerous side," he said.

"We have to make the step-up, because they've played in a much stronger competition.

"It will be a tougher challenge than we've been involved in before.

"You're only as good as the last game you played and therefor we need to be up there."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1272 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE