Cheetahs shore up defence

Cheetahs shore up defence

11 Apr 2008

JW Jonker’s inconsistent defensive showings make him the primary target for the Stormers strike runners this Saturday.

The Cheetahs No 13 has produced some fine touches on attack, but on defence Jonker has struggled to make those crucial one-on-one tackles for much of the season. Stormers captain Jean de Villiers said at a media conference on Thursday the Cheetahs are lacking experience in the outside channels. Anybody who’s watched the Cheetahs in 2008 season will know De Villiers is talking about Jonker.

“If I were them, I’d target him too,” Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie told keo.co.za. “He did make a few mistakes in the big games against the Crusaders and the Blues, but a young guy like JW is always going to make a few errors. I have full confidence that he will be alright this weekend. It is something we have been working on.”

The Cheetahs have conceded 30 tries to date, but will take heart from their first win last week against the Reds. That said, there is still much to improve on from a defensive view point.

“There was an improvement against the Reds but we need to cut out those little lapses,” said Fourie. “We really let them back into the game and they may very well have scored another try in that period.

“We can’t afford to give the Stormers any chances on Saturday. They have some very dangerous players out wide.
Tonderai Chavhanga’s been in great form and everybody knows what Sireli Naqelevuki is capable of. Conrad Jantjes is also a threat on the counter and his kicking game is very strong.”

The tactical kicking game is crucial for the Cheetahs. Although Chavhanga and Naqelevuki are not renowned kickers, Jantjes is one of the better tactical kickers in the country. Jantjes may be a threat with ball in hand, but he is just as effective when he puts ball to boot.

“We’re fortunate to have some variation in this department,” said Fourie. Hennie [Daniller] has a big left boot while Jacques-Louis [Potgieter] has an equally educated right foot. Tewis de Bruyn is also a very good kicker as is Meyer Bosman. We have plenty of options.”

The forwards will look to set the platform, but the Cheetahs backline is largely underestimated on attack. Potgieter has been the spark that’s ignited the central franchise in 2008, and the visitors will be looking for some of that magic this weekend.

“Jacques-Louis is a very confident player and his real strength is his pace,” said Fourie. “He is not much slower than Jongi Nokwe or Dusty Noble and we are trying to get him to use that speed when he runs at the opposition. He doesn’t get it right every time, but when he does he can be very dangerous.

“When he can do this consistently, he is going to be a very special player.”

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus expects the Cheetahs to keep it tight but Fourie said they will look to mix it up according to the situation.

“We’ll stick to what works but we’re not going to be very predictable. There will be a few changes to keep the opposition guessing.

“It’s vital we get quick ball this Saturday. Luke Watson and Schalk Burger will be a threat at the breakdown, and without quick, clean ball, we can’t play our natural game.”

By Jon Cardinelli


177 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All

  • 151.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:32 am

    More more.
    Ek praat maar hier, want die laat groep hier op keo het hulle lang messe uit vir my, hehehehehe!

    Princess
    Howzit?
    Bright and sunny over here, I have just started the fire, today is BBQ spare rib and chardonnay day, lekkkkaaa!!!!!!

  • 152.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:34 am

    Koos
    Hoe laat is die Sharks game, SA tyd?

  • 153.whatever: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:35 am

    Howzit Pietman……….lekker day in Auckland again today. The loooonngg summer continues. Not complaining. Whose after you?

  • 154.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:36 am

    What you telling fibs about now?!

    More Pete, hoe voel die lyf na gister? See Dawn had a few choice words for me as well…

    Spare ribs! My boy calls it handling food because you can use your hands, he loves it. I may do that this weekend…

  • 155.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:37 am

    5.30 my tyd, 3 ure van nou

    whatever, Pete het moeilikheid gesoek met die diere gister…

  • 156.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:39 am

    Koos
    Ja, ons het bietjie geboks daar innie Kaap, maar ek sien die lot is nou meer bedeesd na alles.
    Hierdie ribs lyk goed man, ons het n nuwe supplier hier by die restaurant. Toe vat ek gou daar n vacuumpak, met sy sous en alles in. Hy ruik reg, sien die etiket is Davenport, Iowa.
    So, laat ons sien hoe proe hy.
    Heng, ek het drie dae aan die moerse kerriepot van laasweek geeet!
    Moet bietjie die menu verander vandag…

  • 157.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:40 am

    whatever
    Hoessit?
    No nothing serious, nothing I can’t handle.
    Sommer ek en Lugar en peanut wat so bietjie vloek op mekaar, pre-match nerves!!

  • 158.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:42 am

    Skaap of vark Pete? Willow Slaghuis in Bloem het moerse lekker gerookte varkribbitjies gehad…water my mond sommer net as ek daaraan dink!

  • 159.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:44 am

    Koos
    Vark, maar groot ou maat, lyk soos daai in SA, met n dik rooi sous en kruie lyk my. Hierdie een is nie gerook nie, lyk my,
    Ek sit hom op n stadige vuurtjie, braai hom feitlik op die as…..solank kan ek my wyn drink.
    Jy moet hom nie rooi kole gee nie, dan brand daai sous gou-gou swart en bitter.

  • 160.whatever: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:45 am

    Cheers ou’s enjoy the braais and the week-end, go the Sharks tonight and go The STORMERS tomorrow………. :) en ook die Bulls………

  • 161.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:46 am

    Cheers whatever.
    Koos, hoe laat is die game?

  • 162.whatever: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:46 am

    me thinks it will be braaied Lion tomorrow though…. :lol:

  • 163.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:48 am

    Lekker, en as jy nog dors is lig jy hom so effe…

    Cricket is 30 love after 8 overs!

  • 164.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:49 am

    Verbrande lion I think, enjoy whatever.

  • 165.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:50 am

    Mense hou eintlik vir mes stekery, lyk my dit laat hulle om beter vir hulle self te voel, snaaks hoe die mens is, dink as hulle iemand anders in die rug steek skielik voel hulle heel wat beter oor hulle self.

    Ons is ander soort diere die mensdom, maar ons gaan net nou uitgesort word dit bly waar, ons gaan nie heelwat langer bly hou messe vir mekaar uithaal nie.

  • 166.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 06:58 am

    whats this comment awaiting moderation business, new censorship programming installed, getting quite sophisticated now.

  • 167.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:05 am

    Gtta go on cheering
    o long may you run
    So long

  • 168.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:06 am

    what did you say skop?

  • 169.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:07 am

    ****

  • 170.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:08 am

    Just checking the auto moditorization ….

    Adoft Hitler
    Sadam Hussian
    George Bush

  • 171.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:08 am

    rugby league is far superior

  • 172.Disa: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:09 am

    Good morning/afternoon again

    Koos het jy nie vir my ook n job nie, wens ek het so baie tyd gehad om op Keo te gesels

  • 173.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:16 am

    Multitasking Disa, kan meer as een ding gelyk doen!

    chch, its only gibberish that gets moderated!

  • 174.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:26 am

    Koos,

    Are you referring to Afrikaans?

    just kidding :-)

    what constituts gibberish

    ano sa gibberish

  • 175.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:28 am

    Most of skoppies posts…

  • 176.Koos: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 07:28 am

    Nobody understands it!

  • 177.CSI Minki: Reply to this comment
    11 Apr 2008, 08:18 am

    “and everybody knows what Sireli Naqelevuki is capable of”

    Hawies, jou snaakse wetter :)

Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All

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.

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