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Bloemfontein – The Cheetahs are using their poor record in Australia and New Zealand as motivation ahead of Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Waratahs in Sydney.
Since participating in the tournament from 2006, the Cheetahs are yet to record a victory overseas.
However, stand-in skipper Adriaan Strauss said this week from his hotel room in Coogee Beach that they had paid attention to the psychological stumbling block.
“The fact that we have not won overseas yet is spurring us on. We want to achieve at least two wins on the tour and we are rather going to try turn our poor record overseas into something positive. We view it as a challenge to turn it around,” he said.
While the Cheetahs are faring marginally better this year than in previous campaigns, they have not produced an exceptional performance other than the one against the Hurricanes.
Strauss lauded the spirit in the side.
“The guys are still positive. We have played well at times in the tournament and still believe that we can do it. We just have to find consistency and we are doing everything we can on and off the field to get it right. We hope to do it against the Waratahs,” he said.
Supporters will hope that Strauss’s leadership can have the same effect as it did in last year’s Currie Cup.
He is humble about the additional responsibility in Juan Smith’s absence.
“It’s a big honour first and foremost to be with the side in Australia and to be the captain. I just want the team to win a game overseas and the players have bought into that,” said Strauss.
Meanwhile, flanker Davon Raubenheimer may make his Super 14 debut off the bench.
Waratahs loose forwards Phil Waugh (upper leg) and Wycliff Palu (hamstring) have not recovered sufficiently from their injuries to be considered for selection.
Chris Alcock is set to make his Super 14 debut in Waugh’s place, While Ben Mowen will replace Palu.
The teams:
Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Danwel Demas, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Naas Olivier, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Barend Pieterse, 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Walti Vermeulen, 4. Nico Breedt, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Wian du Preez
Substitutes: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Davon Raubenheimer, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Sarel Pretorius, 21. Corné Uys, 22. Riaan Viljoen
Waratahs:
15. Kurtley Beale, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Ben Mowen, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Dave Dennis, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Dean Mumm (captain), 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Will Caldwell, 19. Locky McCaffrey, 20. Josh Holmes, 21. Tom Carter, 22. Sosene Anesi
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Bloemfontein – The Cheetahs are using their poor record in Australia and New Zealand as motivation ahead of Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Waratahs in Sydney.
Since participating in the tournament from 2006, the Cheetahs are yet to record a victory overseas.
However, stand-in skipper Adriaan Strauss said this week from his hotel room in Coogee Beach that they had paid attention to the psychological stumbling block.
“The fact that we have not won overseas yet is spurring us on. We want to achieve at least two wins on the tour and we are rather going to try turn our poor record overseas into something positive. We view it as a challenge to turn it around,” he said.
While the Cheetahs are faring marginally better this year than in previous campaigns, they have not produced an exceptional performance other than the one against the Hurricanes.
Strauss lauded the spirit in the side.
“The guys are still positive. We have played well at times in the tournament and still believe that we can do it. We just have to find consistency and we are doing everything we can on and off the field to get it right. We hope to do it against the Waratahs,” he said.
Supporters will hope that Strauss’s leadership can have the same effect as it did in last year’s Currie Cup.
He is humble about the additional responsibility in Juan Smith’s absence.
“It’s a big honour first and foremost to be with the side in Australia and to be the captain. I just want the team to win a game overseas and the players have bought into that,” said Strauss.
Meanwhile, flanker Davon Raubenheimer may make his Super 14 debut off the bench.
Waratahs loose forwards Phil Waugh (upper leg) and Wycliff Palu (hamstring) have not recovered sufficiently from their injuries to be considered for selection.
Chris Alcock is set to make his Super 14 debut in Waugh’s place, While Ben Mowen will replace Palu.
The teams:
Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Danwel Demas, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Naas Olivier, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Barend Pieterse, 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Walti Vermeulen, 4. Nico Breedt, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Wian du Preez
Substitutes: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Davon Raubenheimer, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Sarel Pretorius, 21. Corné Uys, 22. Riaan Viljoen
Waratahs:
15. Kurtley Beale, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Ben Mowen, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Dave Dennis, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Dean Mumm (captain), 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Substitutes: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Will Caldwell, 19. Locky McCaffrey, 20. Josh Holmes, 21. Tom Carter, 22. Sosene Anesi
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
