Cheetahs’ familiar slide begins
4 Mar 2009
The Cheetahs will battle to avoid the Super 14 wooden spoon in 2009.
In past seasons, the Cheetahs have managed to avoid footing the Super 14 table thanks primarily to their enterprising attack. Their defence has been a constant disappointment in this tournament, and given their good try-scoring record in 2008 it’s not hard to understand why the management pointed to defence as their most costly shortcoming.
2009 has witnessed an equally disappointing display on attack and defence. They’ve conceded eight tries in three matches while they’ve only scored four of their own, an alarming statistic considering their first three outings were against mid-to-bottom-table regulars the Lions, Force and Reds.
News that Juan Smith is out of the tour with concussion has also robbed them of an inspirational captain and talismanic player. It’s hardly surprising to see Naka Drotske flying the white flag earlier than usual. As seen in previous campaigns, when Smith is injured, the Cheetahs are headed only one way. Considering they’re already rooted to the bottom, one wonders how low they could actually sink.
Drotske has made 10 changes for this Saturday’s clash with the Hurricanes. The Cheetahs coach will argue that his frontline players need a break, and he will admit they have not targeted a fixture against last year’s semi-finalists as one they can win. Drotske employed a similar tactic last year when the Cheetahs played the Crusaders. After losing a narrow game against the Chiefs, Drotske played a B side against the Crusaders that was duly smashed 55-7 in Christchurch.
The Cheetahs’ best team can’t beat the Hurricanes. Drotske may feel he is doing his fringe players a favour by giving them a run, but what youngster would fancy a crack at the Hurricanes when their team is already on a hiding to nothing.
Last year the Cheetahs targeted an eighth place finish but in 2009 they’d be extremely lucky to avoid the wooden spoon. Drotske spoke about the first match against the Lions as season-defining. The Cheetahs lost and that’s all but decided their final standing. The big question is whether they’ll win a game, because at the moment they don’t seem to have a clue on how to hold on to the ball, how to mark a man out wide or how to close out a tight match.
Drotske has already lost Smith and wants to avoid injuries to other big names like Heinrich Brussow and Meyer Bosman. But players like Bosman should be playing if Drotske is serious about development. As a revitalised flyhalf, Bosman needs game time, but the development of the 10-12 combination with Jacques-Louis Potgieter is equally crucial if management want them to forge a long-term partnership.
The youngsters will gain some valuable losing experience at the weekend. Drotske is aiming for damage control in terms of the bigger Super 14 picture, and may have already written this tour off with games against the Blues and Highlanders to come. Bonus points will be the aim in the latter two fixtures, while home games will be targeted for wins.
But when you have to play the Brumbies, Sharks, Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs and Stormers with a team devoid of depth and quality, and having lost every match previously, you are always going to struggle. The familiar slide to the Super 14 depths has begun.
By Jon Cardinelli
178 Comments
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4 Mar 2009, 12:05 pm
#146 Dawn:
Let’s just say it was them for a second.
Then I can tell you that Fransie is very interested in hater.
They should know: if you become a regular on keo, you kiss privacy good bye…
4 Mar 2009, 12:05 pm
#150 Pietman: Tarra !
4 Mar 2009, 12:06 pm
#150 Pietman:
jeewiz, piet!
bietjie vroeg, issit nie?
anyway, enjoy!
4 Mar 2009, 12:08 pm
#153 ashley:
7:15 nm hier by my, ek MOES al daar gewees het.
Sien jou, laat ek gly.
4 Mar 2009, 12:08 pm
#152 grootblousmile:
hmmm, en nou begin die uwe seker ook sulke gedagtes kry, nê?
blerrie geldg@tte! en dit terwyl die res van ons moet werk!
4 Mar 2009, 12:09 pm
Carike Keuzenkamp is 62 vanjaar …
40 jaar gelede was sy Tuks se joolkoningin
4 Mar 2009, 12:10 pm
#156 Sheriff:
hmmm, kan ek raai
…
jy was daar toe sy gekroon is?
4 Mar 2009, 12:12 pm
#157 ashley:
Korrek.
4 Mar 2009, 12:14 pm
Sien julle later.
4 Mar 2009, 12:15 pm
#158 Sheriff:
ring ring
nommer asseblief?
4 Mar 2009, 12:18 pm
whatever, you most definitely have a wild imagination dude!…”facial expressions” lol…red car? Hhmm…funny dude you are
4 Mar 2009, 12:23 pm
“Considering they’re already rooted’……
That’s a little harsh JC.
Or does “rooted” mean something else in SA.
4 Mar 2009, 12:25 pm
#162 cane:
4 Mar 2009, 12:32 pm
where are cheeky’s all blacks when you need them, i’m sure they would do better than these cheetahs…
naka drotske is a k@k coach, but wait for it, he will go into the wilderness and then re-surface @ the blue bulls like ludek@k…
how one justifies appointing ludek@k @ the blue bulls with the record he had the lions is beyond me!
4 Mar 2009, 12:36 pm
”with the lions”
4 Mar 2009, 12:37 pm
#161 Transformation:
Fransie
It is possible for me to link facial expressions and word selection.
As you write over time, I can gauge your general levels of emotion expression. Call it an average of an average of an average.
For example: If someone comes on here and says hellooooooooo
it means they probably talk very loud. Someone using a lot of smilies is very emotional, and it is important to the person for you to know how they feel, and so on.
So with facial expressions we express emotion. See the link?
So be careful, I may well be able to predict your behaviour just needs visuals to complete the full picture.
4 Mar 2009, 12:38 pm
#162 cane:
What if the Cheetahs decide to turn things around the Canes this week?
That will be a shocker…
4 Mar 2009, 12:44 pm
#164 Transformation:
I think Naka is most likely a very good Coach.
The “material” Naka has to work with, ain’t exactly the same as Muir, Ludicrous or Rassie have is it.
4 Mar 2009, 12:47 pm
#167 Sheriff:
I would love the see the Cheats turn things around Lawman.
But, if they just hold off the turn around, for a week or so …I would be most gratefull.
After that, I hope they and the Lions kick some serious butt.
4 Mar 2009, 12:48 pm
An Aussie team will win the comp.
4 Mar 2009, 12:49 pm
#161 Transformation:
Yes!
And who the heck is “Fransie”?????
4 Mar 2009, 12:51 pm
#166 Sheriff: Hellooooooooo
I don’t talk loud my friend…. I am rustig…. believe it !
4 Mar 2009, 12:52 pm
#168 cane:
Naka has some good players.
4 Mar 2009, 13:04 pm
#173 Dawn:
I would like to see all the S14 Coaches rotated. With the rotation resticted to the Teams of their own Nation.
That may show who is lucky, and who has talent.
4 Mar 2009, 13:09 pm
#171 Dawn: sheriff prefers to call me ”frans tormation” so i guess i’m fransie…
Sheriff, @ what point do u then figure that i’m interested in hater? Hater has a boyfriend you know, i think she has mentioned that before…
4 Mar 2009, 13:58 pm
#172 grootblousmile:
Hei, ek bedoel jy het ‘n gesaghebbende stem!
4 Mar 2009, 14:00 pm
#175 Transformation:
Even the way you say, “she has a boyfriend”, sounds like that is not your preference?
Back yourself, if you feel it’s worth it. Only you will know.
4 Mar 2009, 14:10 pm
#177 Sheriff: okay…..now you’re killing me….are you logged on to the same keo website i’m on? I’m definitely not on the one that can read people’s emotions & decipher their intentions…lol…
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