Cheetahs back on track

Cheetahs back on track

20 Feb 2006

Bok prop Os du Randt believes the Cheetahs victory against the Sharks could be the turning point of their Vodacom Super 14 season.

The Cheetahs lost their opening match of the tournament to the Bulls in Bloemfontein, but pipped the Sharks by a point in Durban on Saturday to lift themselves into the top half of the table.

“Free State are the Currie Cup champions and everyone had high expectations of us going into the Super 14,” Du Randt told Die Volksblad. “The victory definitely helped relieve the pressure.

“I told the guys how important it was to get a win in the second round of the tournament – in the past I’d become used to only winning matches near the end [with the Cats]. This early win is huge for us and shows that we’re on the right track.”

Du Randt also had a go at his direct opponent on Saturday, Sharks tighthead prop BJ Botha.

“BJ is a great scrummager and one of our best tightheads,” he said. “However, he gets away with murder, with the way he sometimes scrums in.”

Coach Rassie Erasmus was relieved to come away with his first win of the season.

“It is a relief to bounce back after the loss last week,” he said. “It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for us: the high of the Currie Cup final, then the low of losing to the Bulls, and then being expected to be the South African team to come last.

“You also have to accept that you will lose games in this competition, but it was nice to win. You also have to look at the stats. We gave away seven points with a runaway try and we missed four kicks, so it was satisfying that the guys didn’t drop their heads.”

The Cheetahs now play two home matches in a row – against the Highlanders and Hurricanes – before taking on the Stormers in Cape Town.


42 Comments

  • 1.pierre: Reply to this comment
    20 Feb 2006, 18:32 pm

    The turning point. Ja, until they play another non-SA side (excluding the Farce and the Chiefs, who are going to be the bottom 2 this year).

  • 2.Bokpiel: Reply to this comment
    20 Feb 2006, 18:34 pm

    Go Rassie and the boys…….

  • 3.BlueBlood: Reply to this comment
    20 Feb 2006, 18:58 pm

    Os,plz don’t try mind games. You’ll end up limping off the field again. What a twat.

  • 4.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 00:16 am

    blueblood, how ironic that you should call somebody else a twat.

  • 5.kiwi: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 02:34 am

    I saw Rassie Erasmus interviewed on Boots And All after Round 1. Gee, what a nice guy.

    Polite, respectful of the other teams (and countries), thoughtful and considered in his answers. And very positive.

    He alone would be enough to make any non-saffa a Cheetahs supporter.

  • 6.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 02:39 am

    Go for it kiwi, you will not be disappointed!

  • 7.kiwi: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 02:45 am

    Koos,

    I meant (of course) assuming the Cheetahs are playing any non-N.Z. side.

  • 8.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 04:43 am

    Thats alright kiwi, they will grow on you and over time you will be fully converted ;-) No rush!

  • 9.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 06:07 am

    kiwi

    how did you manage to see boots & all?

  • 10.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 06:37 am

    GCC Kiwis got a rugby channel, included in that is Boots&All not long after screening in SA.

  • 11.kiwi: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 06:45 am

    GCC

    They show it on The Rugby Channel (I think a subsidiary of Sky) about a million times over the space of a week here. I watch it when I can.

    I like Joel – he speaks well and seems a real gentleman.

    The Irish fellow (can’t remember his name right now) also speaks well, is very positive, and offers good insights.

    Naas is hard (methinks a saffa trait!), but fair. At least he seems to be hard on everyone. He’s earned the right. My, but he’s passionate about that flyhalf spot (surprise, surprise) and seems a little disheartened with what’s on offer at the moment – especially compared with where the likes of Carter, Larkham, Michalak etc.. are at the moment.

  • 12.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 06:48 am

    John Robbie kiwi.

  • 13.Delek: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 07:44 am

    My predicitions for the two new S14 teams in 2006:

    Force – will lose 90% (maybe even 100%) of their games and finish last.

    Cheetahs – will be very hard to beat in Bloem and will win a few away games. Their big advantage is that they are something of an unknown factor and will be underrated by many teams.

    Most NZ’s thought the 5th SA team would be utterly **** because of the generally poor performances of the other SA teams. But they do not appreciate (or even know about) the difficulties Freestate and the Lions had having to merge to form the Cats, and are definitely not aware of the depth of talent in the Freestate region.

    I predict a solid season for the Cheetahs and a finish in the top 8.

  • 14.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 07:59 am

    kiwi

    you lucky bugger. it would be nice if we could get the rugby channel here as well.

    delek

    good observations.

    koos

    gaan jy 3n kyk die 15de julie?

  • 15.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:00 am

    GROM SAAM !!!

    GO VODACOM CHEETAHS !!!!

    GO SUPER 14 !!!!!

  • 16.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:01 am

    Sal hard probeer GCC, Suncorp is ‘n great stadion!

  • 17.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:04 am

    Howzit all the Ozzie Cheetahs

    And howzit to newly cheetah convert Kiwi as well :grin:

    Yes Kiwi, in the end it is about respect for others that matter most in Rugby and in life- out of that the internal respect feeds- which is of course the very basic element of fulfillment.

    Enjoy the Cheetah game

  • 18.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:06 am

    howzit oo? spoel julle nog weg daar in mooie bloemfontein?

    koos

    dit is die mooiste stadion wat ek nog by was.

  • 19.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:07 am

    OO long time no hear, everything OK?

  • 20.Koos: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:07 am

    Behalwe the Vrystaat stadion natuurlik ;-)

  • 21.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:09 am

    ja, maar die vrystaatstadion sonder die cheetahs sal ook nie so mooi wees nie :)

  • 22.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:43 am

    Hi Koos

    Dinge gaan goed hier- werk net my gat af

    en daai blogger engine gee my baie moeilikheid

    sal maar ‘n plan daarmee moet maak

    GCC

    Ons het nou al twee dae van droogte hier :grin:

    Klink asof dit met almal daar goed gaan?

  • 23.vleis: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:47 am

    Os,the pressure will only mount as the S14 gathers some momentum!One win against the Sharks wont make the rest of the comp. easier,it will only get more difficult!

    But,it was shown again,if Kaplan is the Ref,the Cheetahs win……

  • 24.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:49 am

    vleis, ek dink os het al in die super 12 voorheen gespeel, maar ek dink hy sal jou raad baie waardeer. hoeveel games het jy nou weer gespeel in die s12?

  • 25.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:51 am

    o ja, die bulls het weer hulle gatte gesien op loftus en kaplan was nie eers die ref nie? o ja, julle ander verskoning: “dit was ons b-sapn”!

  • 26.vleis: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 08:57 am

    GCC,34,en jy?

  • 27.Smellthis: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:01 am

    Anyone know where you can get the Cheetahs change strip (the orange one) at a reasonable price? Not #$%^ing R 600 like the Stormers Jersey…

  • 28.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:03 am

    vleis, o, en dis hoekom ek nie gesoute spelers probeer raad gee nie.

  • 29.vleis: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:05 am

    GCC,kom nou ou maat,elkeen het sy eie opinie,nie waar nie?En moenie vir my se dat jy nog nooit gevoel het dat jy so nou en dan beter geweet het wat om te doen op die veld,of af van die veld nie?

  • 30.GCC: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:08 am

    nee, verseker. “as hulle my sou coach maak”, sou my span gemiddeld 5 drieë per game druk en nie een afstaan nie. :)

  • 31.vleis: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:11 am

    Ja,en hulle sou elke beker gewen het met ‘n moerse score!!!! :lol:

  • 32.wicked wugby wascal: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:51 am

    Vleis and GCC

    It is extrememly rude to lapse into Afrikaans when there are clearly international visitors to the site – and after then having expressed some sort of support for your team as well!! C’mon what happened to free state hositality?

  • 33.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:54 am

    Okei Vleis en GCC is julle nou weer maaitjies

    Mooi speel ****

    :lol:

    Die Blou bul weet nie van verloor af nie….

    Howzit Vleis- gaan dit goed?

  • 34.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:58 am

    WWW

    Sorry Mr Anglo Inspecter

    Its just much more fun to do the domestic tiff in afrikaans- but we must try- to make them feel comfortable- we afrikaners do not adapt easily- or is that an understatement

    Now how must I write GROM SAAM then

    GROWL TOGETHER ?

  • 35.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 09:59 am

    BTW WWW

    GCC- is in Ozzie- his nick is for Gold Coast Cheetah…

    That makes him an international visitor as well.

  • 36.Murph: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 10:08 am

    Ek is die zBrannas Inspekteer !

    ( Iam the Brandy Inspector )

  • 37.CC-Sors: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 10:23 am

    Delek

    I tend to agree with your predictions.

    Kiwi

    Nice words about Rassie. In years to come he will most likely be known worldwide as a very astute coach. In South Africa, bar a handful of average coaches, the rest is far below par. In the South African setup all the major unions are rather reverting to a buying program in stead of developing new talent.

    It is easy to coach the best players. But a R6M team, the Cheetahs has managed to dethrone a R24-36M team- The Bulls in the CC-final. I will be very glad if this young no name team could finish at the top half of the log.

    OO

    Liebenberg is a gem. Strangely enough there was almost no reports on a very fine performance by the Cheetah forwards. BUT, I am sure that it was noted by the opposition. We have made a big mistake by omitting Ackers from our original sqaud. It seems to me that Gaffie will enjoy his stay in Bloem. Hopefully Hollenbach will return soon. If the backline could improve a further 20%, we will be competitive.

  • 38.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 10:47 am

    CC- Sors

    I think he (Ackerman) was omitted because he was trying to get a Stormers Contract at the time.

    I agree on Liebenberg as he is a dedicated grafter. I would have preferred to have Bismarck and Danie Coetzee- note all ex- Grey boys- in the Cheetah mix but that is water under the bridge.

    I agree with your comments on Ruan & Andries Strauss on the “other” site.

    Again water under the bridge- but a backline consisting of

    Pienaar
    Bosman
    Pieters- who is a lot like Buks Schutte
    Goodes- Cooke
    Hollenbach
    Gaffie
    Fortuin

    would have been the business.

    Hey Murph

    Nobody doubted your important responsibility

    And ypu are an excellent BRANNASINSPEKTEUR as well
    :lol:

  • 39.snoop: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 12:19 pm

    Kiwi

    Also saw it and agree fully.

    Rassies responses were very well thought out.

    He knows whats going on and a champ.

  • 40.CC-Sors: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 13:01 pm

    OO

    Danie Coetzee ex Grey? I doubt it. Only Andries Strauss (BB), Biscmark du Plessis and Liebenberg from the current players are old Grey’s. Regardt Strauss- SA under 19 flanker, brother of Andries (Natal centre) and nephew of Andries(hooker) is currently been groomed as a hooker. He has played a game or two for the Vodacom Cheetahs.

    At least 9 Oud Greys played in the Cheetah-Sharks match. Big problem is that the young players like Pienaar and Strauss could act as talent scouts. Binnekennis.

    By the way Ingo Magts took over as Grey’s forward coach. Expect excellent rugby. Unfortunately still the same Pennels connection at the back.

  • 41.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 13:53 pm

    I am talking about Danie (tokkelos) Coetzee who is currently in the grey – excuse the pun Shytehole called England- the place S Mike calls home.

    As it was a Hooker discussion- I am a fan of Tokkelos Coetzee and it would have been interested to see him retreaded in the States, ala Gaffie

    I was under the impression that he is also an old boy- but if you are sure about your facts i will concede- point is he is a good hooker.

    I am glad about Ingo Machts getting the recognition he deserves.

    Maybe you Reunion Guys should investigate the chance of getting Pieter Mulder to coach the backs.

  • 42.Oranje Orakel: Reply to this comment
    21 Feb 2006, 13:54 pm

    BTW shoundt your friend Harold and the young Pine also have – binnekennis ?

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.