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Bloemfontein - Wing Raymond Rhule is looking forward to his first trip to Asia, where the Cheetahs will face the Sunwolves in Kallang, Singapore on Saturday.
This season, Super Rugby offers new experiences to many players. With the introduction of Japan’s Sunwolves and Argentina’s Jaguares, South African teams will get the chance to travel to cities like Tokyo, Buenos Aires and Kallang (Singapore) during the league phase.
The Lions have already made tournament history when they played the first Super Rugby match in Japan against the Sunwolves during the opening round. New Zealand’s Chiefs will play against the Jaguares in the first Super Rugby match in Argentina on March 19.
And this Saturday, the Cheetahs face off against the Sunwolves for the first Super Rugby match in Singapore.
Rhule said the players from Bloemfontein are excited about the new challenge.
“We’re definitely looking forward to playing against the Sunwolves in a new country. I’ve never been to Singapore, so it’s great having the opportunity to experience a new culture and to see new places,” Rhule told MyPlayers.
“I watched the Sunwolves in action against the Lions two weeks ago and they did very well in their first Super Rugby match. They managed to get the better of the Lions at certain periods, so they’re no pushovers. We will have to be well-prepared for our game this weekend.”
The Cheetahs have lost both of their opening Super Rugby games against the Jaguares and Stormers in Bloemfontein. However, one positive has been the hunger for running rugby, especially among the backs.
Rhule has had some individual highlight moments over the past fortnight and is hoping to build on to this early form.
“During this early stage of the season, I am feeling confident. I’m enjoying my rugby again, which is very important. There are times when players lose that enjoyment, but it’s important to back yourself and play for the right reasons,” said Rhule.
“The backs are all very close, especially the outside backs. Sergeal Petersen, Clayton Blommetjies and I spend a lot of time together on and off the field,” the 23-year-old added. “We have worked hard as a team to build a solid all-round game, which includes an effective and expansive attacking game.
“We’re obviously disappointed with what’s happened over the past few weeks, but we’re determined to learn from our mistakes and to get the desired results on the field.”
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