Drotske slams his players after loss

JOHANNESBURG — Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has slammed his players for an apparent lack of motivation during their 40-17 Super Rugby loss to the Lions on Saturday.

Drotske said any suggestion that there is little to achieve in the last few games of the Super Rugby competition and the Cheetahs players are therefore less motivated is nonsense, and his players need to realise what they are playing for.

“We discussed that earlier this week — it’s their job. They’re playing for a new coach, they’re playing for a new contract next year,” Drotske said.

“To me it’s unacceptable for a player to say they’re not motivated anymore. They are here and they need to play for their future.”

The Cheetahs coach will have his last game in charge after nine years against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday, before incoming coach Franco Smith takes over for the last two games of the season, but he knows it would be great to leave on a high note. However, with the injuries the team have, as well as their opposition’s need to win to continue their quest to win the South African conference, it will be an uphill battle for the Cheetahs.

Drotske said that the fact he will leave before the end of the season may not be ideal, but it isn’t the reason the Cheetahs have slumped to 12th spot on the overall table.

Drotske also said “bad discipline” from his side was a reason for their scoreline at the end of the first half in which they trailed 23-3, and said they were forced to play catch-up from then onwards, leaving the team with a mountain to climb that they were unable to summit.

Still, the Cheetahs at least know they had the Stormers’ number in their last outing in Bloemfontein, and that should give them enough hope that they could cause an upset at Newlands. — SuperSport