Cheetahs need to stress on defence
19 Jul 2012
GARETH DUNCAN says the Cheetahs’ poor defensive structures cost them during their Super Rugby campaign.
It was another uninspiring Super Rugby campaign for the Cheetahs. After recording their most successful overseas tour to Australasia (which saw them return with 11 log points and wins over the Rebels and Hurricanes) they became rooted to the bottom-half of the table as they suffered regular losses. They finished in 10th place as they only managed five wins from their 16 league fixtures.
Looking at their season records, it’s clear that defence was the main issue. The Bloemfontein franchise scored 391 points and scored 35 tries, but conceded 458 points and 47 tries. The Cheetahs also imploded on several occasions. The most disappointing defeat came against the Highlanders at home, where they led 30-9 early in the second half before the visitors scored 27 points in the final quarter to edge a 36-33 win.
At Super Rugby level, the team with the better defensive structures will enjoy more success. The fact that the Stormers topped the overall log without a single four-try bonus point proves that.
Head coach Naka Drotske admitted that defence was one of his team’s main shortcomings.
‘Defence has been an issue for us since 2006,’ Drotske told keo.co.za. ‘It’s not acceptable that we concede so many points, because we do so well to score tries and to put ourselves in a winning position. But we are working on this and hopefully we will have the necessary solutions in place over the next couple of weeks.
‘We’ve also failed to close out those 50-50 games this season. We’ve lost many games at the death. Our losses to the Brumbies and Highlanders were very disappointing. Injuries also hurt us as we lost guys like flyhalf Johan Goosen and prop Coenie Oosthuizen.’
However, Drotske added that there were positives to point out.
‘We blooded many new youngsters. Our problems on defence and the ability to finish off matches when we are ahead will improve with experience. We fielded 11 players who are still U23 in our final game against the Sharks. They would’ve learnt a lot from that match and will continue to grow during the Currie Cup.’
This development process will be vital ahead of the 2013 Super Rugby season as the Cheetahs will lose several senior players. The likes of lock Izak van der Westhuizen (Edinburgh), tighthead prop WP Nel (Edinburgh), No 8 Ashely Johnson (London Wasps), lock George Earle (Scarlets) and flyhalf Sias Ebersohn (Western Force) have all confirmed their departures.
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22 Comments
19 Jul 2012, 10:51 am
1. Oosthuizen 2. Strauss 3. Cilliers 4. Willemse 5. Van Der Merwe 6. Brussow 7. Smith 8. Strauss 9. Van Zyl 10. Goosen 11. Le Roux 12. James 13. Ebershon 14. Mapoe 15. Daniller
16. Maku 17. Van Der Linde 18. Botha 19. Minnie 20. Bondesio 21. Murray 22. Taute
Could do some damage.
19 Jul 2012, 10:58 am
@puff(puff)-1: Is that a Cats team or do you reckon those names will bail to the Cheetahs?
19 Jul 2012, 11:02 am
Nope.
The injury to Goosen cost them their campaign.
They were well poised until that try and the tackle.
19 Jul 2012, 11:13 am
Gareth – after this article you can officially rename yourself to “Captain Obvious”
19 Jul 2012, 11:13 am
@willievz(willievz)-3:
And they were causing trouble last weekend until Brussow got injured and had to go off.
19 Jul 2012, 11:15 am
Coenie Oosthuyzen
Strauss
Brussow
Smith (when/if fit)
Goosen
Are key for the Cheetahs.
They should do everything in their power to hold onto these guys.
And Daniller’s bulk and boot are also influential, not to mention Ebershon’s energy in the midfield.
These are the key Cheetahs players.
And they sorely need some depth at lock.
19 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
It’s the same with all the smaller or less significant unions… The problem isn’t defence or psyche or anything like that… It’s depth of talent. The lions and the cheetahs simply have no depth, in almost any position. After a handful of injuries their season inevitably falls apart. It’s a real shame, especially when you see unions like Blue Bulls snapping up every youngster they can get their hands on. I wonder if a Draft system might not work to ensure that all unions get fresh personnel? It’s a bit hard with so few S15 teams I suppose…
19 Jul 2012, 11:37 am
Get rid of “Drol”ske!! That would help a significant amount…
19 Jul 2012, 13:05 pm
This does not make any sense! The only SA team without a dedicated defense coach is the Lions. Cheetahs have no excuse for poor defense.
19 Jul 2012, 13:15 pm
They have flair in attack but when they were playing the Bulls reminded me of headless chickens. The big blond guy seems intelligent so there must be something missing in their coaching. Also the point about lack of depth is a good one. If a team is unsuccessful often better players look somewhere else. Juan Smith and Brussouw obviously just like it there.
19 Jul 2012, 16:08 pm
It’s coaching too me.
When AS was playing 12 for the Sharks, he was a defensive machine. Then goes back to the Cheetahs, and while he doesn’t miss tackles, his defensive lines go AWOL.
Maybe its time for Naka and co to move on and for the Cheetahs to stop pleading poverty.
They’ve done ZIP to increase their team as a brand, and while Bloem is no Durbs or CT, the Cheetah’s marketing gurus need a fat klap for not taking multiple currie cup win’s and turning them into some revenue which would allow them too keep some of their big names.
19 Jul 2012, 17:41 pm
@centurionshark: agreed
19 Jul 2012, 17:48 pm
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-8:
NOOOO, all the players wives, girlfriends, ex-players wives, gym instructors and associated tannies in Blomfontein would lynch you if you tried to get rid on Naka “The Studmuffin” Droske
They might get someone like Ludeke or Harry Viljoen, the first is still trying to understand rugby and the latter only into hairdryers
Who’s going to pomp them all then?
19 Jul 2012, 20:09 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-13: Is that supposed to be joke? Keep to your day job dude… that’s if you have any.
19 Jul 2012, 20:12 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-11: Yeah! No Durb or CT! Maybe if it was Bloem would have had AS many Super Rugby titles as Durb and CT!!!! Oh wait! Bloem does!
19 Jul 2012, 20:21 pm
@Bouts(Bouts)-15:
Nope the Sharks have won it 6 times, the Cheetahs 4 times and once shared
19 Jul 2012, 22:04 pm
@Bouts(Bouts)-15: Yes, they do all have no titles, but you have to agree that the Sharks and Stormers brands are much more recognisable than that of the Cheetas
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-16: I think you are referring to Currie Cup titles, while Bouts was referring to Super Rugby titles
20 Jul 2012, 00:50 am
‘Defence has been an issue for us since 2006,’ Drotske told keo.co.za.
So in 6 years you could not fix it?! In your own words you just stated your own limitations as a coach, do the honorable thing and step aside Naka, let us get a proper coach for once.
20 Jul 2012, 08:11 am
It is obvious, they should get another defence coach!
But that will not happen in Cheetah rugby! They stick to each other like glue.
20 Jul 2012, 16:28 pm
Yep, the Cheetahs scored 7 more tries than top of the table Stormers. But also leaked 25 more than the Stormers.
Cheetahs – this is actually a positive sign. Defense can be fixed. The Sharks had a similar problem in the years running up to their final in 2007. If you can turn your defense around, you guys will be up there in the playoffs.
20 Jul 2012, 16:36 pm
@Bouts(Bouts)-15: Ag luister man – please dont start howling that sad, sad song again. Jirretog ! Assefokkenbliefie !?
It has nothing to do with Bloem. It has everything to do with exactly what CenturionShark says. Cheetahs were up there, winning Currie Cups etc. but instead of pushing the brand hard at that point – they flunked horribly at it.
Probably, their vetgat, safari pak management team were enjoying the celebration braaivleis and koeksusters too much to see the window of opportunity. ****** doff – that’s what the problem is.
Again, I reiterate – when the Sharks signed no-name brand youngsters Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn (almost at the same time if I recall), the Cheetahs signed who ? Noel Oelschig and Herkie Kruger ? At that time, Noel Oelschig was one of the highest paid players in SA rugby – how I dont know – so the ‘we had to watch our budget’ argument doesn’t wash either.
Let me run the Cheetahs. The first thing I will do is jaag all the ‘Dominee se tjommie’ vetgat oomies away there that are ‘managing’ the franchise and get some people in that have a clue of how to build a sporting franchise. You guys better wake up – or the Limpopo Crocodiles will be taking your place in Super rugby from 2020.
20 Jul 2012, 16:36 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-21: Ek jaag daai oomies in die pad af met ‘n sjambok…..
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