Cheetahs Want to Repay the Hospitality
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
14 September 2017 • [email protected] • www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za PROMOTION • PROMOSIE 1 Cheetahs want to Bloemfontein slaggereed repay the hospitality vir Pro 14 JERETHA OOSTHUIZEN [email protected] Harold Verster, uitvoerende hoof van die Vrystaat Cheetahs, sê die stad, die toeskouers, die borge en die spelers is slaggereed vir die eerste tuiswedstryd van die Pro 14-reeks wat Saterdag 16 September om 19:30 in Bloemfontein afskop. “Die Guinness Pro 14-toernooi wek vir seker ’n positiewe gevoel by die mense. Selfs toe ek ’n vergardering oor die Pro 14 in Londen bygewoon het, was die mense opgewonde. Ons het goeie nuwe vriende gemaak en het selfs mense wat wil kom kuier, ontmoet,” sê Verster. Verster maak dit duidelik dat die Pro 14 op’n baie hoër vlak as die Super Rugby-toernooi gespeel word en dat die manne vinnig sal moet aanpas. “Ek dink ons het die Pro 14-toernooi onderskat. Dit sou ideaal wees as die Cheetahs ’n jaar se voorbereiding gehad het, maar ek verstaan ons sou dan heelwat spelers verloor het. Hulle moes aanpas teen die spoed van wit lig, maar hul sal vir seker hul voete die naweek op hul tuisveld vind. “Ons het nou klaar die twee monsterspanne, Munster en Ulster, in die Pro 14 gespeel en ek A few of the players that we will be seeing in action during the Guinness Pro14: (L-R) Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht), dink van hier kan ons moontlik die lig begin CJ Stander (Munster), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Tommaso Castello (Zebre) and Niell Jordaan (Toyota Cheetahs) PHOTO: BILLY STICKLAND sien. Die Cheetahs behoort die naweek vir Zebre te wen,” sê Verster. Hy noem ook dat daar baie beserings was, 11 MORGAN PIEK horribly, but this wasn’t due to nerves, of an issue. It’s been a good time. As far om presies te wees, en dan nog drie spelers [email protected] but more so by being caught off guard as as the game is concerned, we’re in the wat deel vorm van die Springbokgroep en the vocal Northern Irish crowd suddenly middle of a drought so we are expecting dat daar na twee spanne, die Pro 14 en die The Toyota Cheetahs arrived back in went silent out of respect for the kicker, dry conditions and that generally means a Curriebeker-span, omgesien moet word. “Ons Bloemfontein on Monday evening following something the team is not used to back home. faster moving game. is onder groot druk met die twee toernooie wat their somewhat brutal tour of Ireland for the This kind of crowd behaviour left an “Our traditional style of rugby is to move the oorkruis, maar alles sal uitwerk.” fi rst two rounds of the Guinness Pro14. impression on the Cheetahs and the team ball around. We’re obviously going to do that Verster meen dat ons skare al hoe minder The Cheetahs suffered heavy back-to-back wants the travelling teams to be met with at home. I’m hoping that the South Africans word soos wat die Curriebeker aangaan, defeats in the competition with a 42-19 loss to the same hospitality in South Africa. can give them the same hospitality that we maar hy glo met die Toyota-dag wat Saterdag Ulster and Saturday’s 51-18 loss to Munster. The coach, Rory Duncan, conceded that have received in Ireland.” plaasvind, toeskouers in groot getalle sal This week the team will be playing in its despite the results not going their way, the On Saturday the team is to face Zebre and opdaag. “Die feit dat die kaartjies verniet is, fi rst of four home games on the trot when experience was great none the less. will then tackle Leinster (22 September), maak dit geriefl ik. Ek glo daar sal tussen hosting Zebre. “It’s been brilliant. The Irish hospitality Ospreys (29 September) and the Glasgow 20 000 en 25 000 mense die Cheetahs kom The Cheetahs will back themselves to beat has been absolutely fantastic. The players Warriors (6 October) before heading to ondersteun.” the Italian outfi t but conceded that even at have settled in nicely. It’s been a great Parma for the return leg against the Italian Kom geniet die eerste tuiswedstryd van die home it’s not going to get any easier. experience for them. Quite a few of the guys team on 28 October. Guinness Pro 14, waar die Cheetahs komende The side’s tour got off to a shaky start when are on their fi rst tour but there are also Saturday evening’s clash at the Toyota Saterdag teen Zebre te staan gaan kom. the centre, William Small-Smith, lined up his some seasoned campaigners – guys that Stadium kicks off at 19:30 and entry is Kaartjies is gratis, maar moet vooraf afgehaal fi rst shot on goal at the Kingspan Stadium have travelled and toured in Super Rugby. free of charge though tickets have to be word by die kaartjieskantoor. Die wedstryd in Belfast. Small-Smith shanked the ball “Being away from home hasn’t been much collected beforehand at the ticket offi ce. skop om 19:30 af. 2 PROMOTION • PROMOSIE www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za • [email protected] • 14 September 2017 2UDQMH7R\RWD %ORHPIRQWHLQ 7HO SEASON 2017/18 FIXTURES Date Match Stadium Time 1 Sep 2017 Ulster vs. Toyota Cheetahs Kingspan 20:35 9 Sep 2017 Munster vs. Toyota Cheetahs Thomond Park 18:15 16 Sep 2017 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Zebre Toyota Stadium 19:30 22 Sep 2017 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Leinster Toyota Stadium 20:00 29 Sep 2017 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Ospreys Toyota Stadium 17:00 6 Oct 2017 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Glasgow Warriors Toyota Stadium 20:35 28 Oct 2017 Zebre vs. Toyota Cheetahs Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 20:00 4 Nov 2017 Connacht vs. Toyota Cheetahs Sportsground 21:35 24 Nov 2017 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Edinburgh Toyota Stadium 19:30 2 Dec 2017 Toyota Cheeteahs vs. Scarlets Toyota Stadium 19:30 6 Jan 2018 Benneton Treviso vs. Toyota Cheetahs Stadio Monigo 19:30 13 Jan 2018 Southern Kings vs. Toyota Cheetahs Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 17:00 20 Jan 2018 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Southern Kings Toyota Stadium 17:00 9-11 Feb 2018 Cardiff Blues vs. Toyota Cheetahs Cardiff Arms Park TBC 16-18 Feb 2018 Glasgow Warriors vs. Toyota Cheetahs Scotstoun Stadium TBC 23-25 Feb 2018 Ospreys vs. Toyota Cheetahs Liberty Stadium TBC 2-4 Mar 2018 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Connacht Toyota Stadium TBC 23-25 Mar 2018 Dragons vs. Toyota Cheetahs Rodney Parade TBC 6-8 Apr 2018 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Cardiff Blues Toyota Stadium TBC 13-15 Apr 2018 Toyota Cheetahs vs. Munster Toyota Stadium TBC 27-29 Apr 2018 Southern Kings vs. Toyota Cheetahs Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium TBC Play-offs 4 May 2018 Undecided vs. Undecided TBC TBC 4 May 2018 Undecided vs. Undecided TBC TBC Semi Finals 18 May 2018 Undecided vs. Undecided TBC TBC 18 May 2018 Undecided vs. Undecided TBC TBC Finals 26 May 2018 Undecided vs. Undecided Aviva Stadium TBC NOTE: FIXTURES AND VENUES SUBJECT TO CHANGE 2XL 2XL www.canterbury.com www.canterbury.com 7HO HOME 2XL 2XL www.canterbury.com www.canterbury.com AWAY CheetahsRugby @CheetahsRugby CheetahsRugby 14 September 2017 • [email protected] • www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za 3 2UDQMH7R\RWD %ORHPIRQWHLQ 7HO PLAYER MOVEMENTS PLAYERS IN Cecil Africa (SA Sevens) Chris Dry (SA Sevens) Rosko Specman (SA Sevens) Malcolm Jaer (Kings) Makazole Mapimpi (Kings) Rynier Barnardo (Scarlets) PLAYERS OUT Danie Mienie (Toulouse) Francois Uys (Grenoble) Boom Prinsloo (Blue Bulls) Tienie Burger (Southern Kings) 2XL 2XL www.canterbury.com www.canterbury.com HOME +,1225$1-( 2XL 2XL www.canterbury.com www.canterbury.com AWAY CheetahsRugby @CheetahsRugby CheetahsRugby 4 PROMOTION • PROMOSIE www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za • [email protected] • 14 September 2017 Jordaan faces lengthy stint on the sidelines MORGAN PIEK more turnovers. This [email protected] time it was more about handling errors and The Toyota Cheetahs loose forward, Niell knock-ons than the Jordaan, could face up to a month on the breakdown, but last week sidelines after sustaining a leg injury during that was one of the areas the team’s 51-18 loss to Munster in Limerick. we had to pick up. Our Jordaan left the pack in the 28th minute exit game is one of the of the clash and was replaced by Armandt areas we need to look at. Koster. He will undergo a scan later this week “Both Ulster and to determine the extent of the injury. Munster – you realise The good news for the Cheetahs is, however, playing in these that the Springbok, Oupa Mohoje, could conditions you have to return to action this weekend when they host be educated in that Zebre on Saturday in their fi rst home game. department. We’ve Meanwhile, coach Rory Duncan believes that got the capabilities, although they are playing at home for the next we just need to put few weeks, it’s not going to get any easier. a plan together as a “Obviously, when we go back home there will coaching crew.” be different conditions, but we’re still facing Saturday evening’s the same 15 men on the fi eld, so I anticipate game at the it will still be tough back home. We’ve got to Toyota Stadium learn from these last two games. We were kicks off at having a chat as a coaching team about how 19:30 and we’d analyse these games and put in place entry is free of some measures to help us going forward.” charge, though Duncan added that ball protection, handling tickets have to and their exit game will need some attention be collected heading into the clash against the Italian beforehand.