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Cheetahs
S14 Preview: Cheetahs
Sunday, February 07
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SARugby.com brings you our eagerly anticipated Super 14 team previews. As the build-up to the 2010 season reaches a climax, we'll be bringing you all you need to know about the 14 teams including squad news, players to watch and fixture lists.
Team name: Cheetahs
Things can only get better for last year’s wooden spooners from Bloemfontein despite losing first choice flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Naas Olivier has proven himself as a reliable pivot and his partnership with Griquas teammate Sarel Pretorius was one of the best halfback pairings in last season’s Currie Cup.
The Cheetahs’ biggest strength is their pack with the brilliant front row of Boks Wian du Preez and Tiaan Liebenberg and promising tighthead WP Nel leading the way. They also possess a deadly loose trio in fetcher extraordinaire Heinrich Brussow, talismanic captain Juan Smith and exciting No 8 Ashley Johnson.
They have two Springboks in their backline in Meyer Bosman and Jongi Nokwe and Griquas fullback Riaan Viljoen, who was included in the Bok squad for the end-of-year tour last season, is one of the rising stars of South African rugby.
Team manager Eugene van Wyk says last year’s Currie Cup finalists should focus on winning the Super 14 but that’s an unrealistic goal to be frank. They should aim for a top half finish.
Adding to the pressure of a possible relegation should the Southern Kings replace the lowest finishing South African side is a dreadful draw.
They only head abroad in round seven but those four weeks will feel like years as they’ll come up against the Waratahs, Brumbies, Crusaders and Chiefs.
Their final match against the Lions in Kimberley will likely be a mini final with the winners keeping their spot in Super Rugby and the losers missing the inaugural Super 15 next year.
City: Bloemfontein
Country: South Africa
Home ground: Vodacom Park
Coach: Naka Drotske. Drotske has done well with the limited funding at his disposal and coached the Cheetahs all the way to the Currie Cup final last year. Hawies Fourie is a capable assistant and Springbok legend Os du Randt is a brilliant scrum doctor.
Captain: Juan Smith. As a 62-Test cap Springbok, Juan Smith is one of the most sough-after players in the country. Yet the loyal 28-year-old decline wealthy offer after wealthy offer to lead his beloved Cheetahs. The Bloemfontein-based franchise is not the same without their inspirational skipper.
Players in: Skipper Badenhorst, Davon Raubenheimer, Louis Strydom.
Players out: Bees Roux, Richardt Strauss, Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Key Player: Heinrich Brussow
One to watch: Sarel Pretorius
Best signing: Davon Raubenheimer
Biggest loss: Jacques-Louis Potgieter
2009 Finish: 14th
2010 Prediction: 11th
Provisional Squad: Hennie Daniller, Riaan Viljoen, Danwel Demas, Bjorn Basson, JW Jonker, Robert Ebersohn, Philip Snyman, Wilmaure Louw, Meyer Bosman, Corné Uys, Barry Geel, Naas Olivier, Louis Strydom, Sias Ebersohn, Jongi Nokwe, Lionel Mapoe, Rocco Jansen, Tewis de Bruyn, Sarel Pretorius, Kabamba Floors, Frans Viljoen, Ashley Johnson, Francois Uys, Davon Raubenheimer, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brüssow, Hendro Scholtz, Frans Viljoen, Wesley Wilkens, David de Villiers, Jacques Lombard, Izak van der Westhuizen, Nico Breedt, Rudi Mathee, Waltie Vermeulen, Kobus Calldo, Ruaan du Preez, WP Nel, Hans Grobler, Ryno Barnes, Adriaan Strauss, Albertus Buckle, Coenie Oosthuizen, Wian du Preez.
Fixtures:
Friday 12 February: v Bulls, home
Friday 19 February: v Sharks, away
Saturday 27 February: v Highlanders, home
Saturday 6 March: v Hurricanes, home
Saturday 20 March: v Stormers, away
Friday 26 March: v Reds, home
Saturday 3 April: v Waratahs, away
Saturday 10 April: v Brumbies, away
Saturday 17 April: v Crusaders, away
Friday 23 April: v Chiefs, away
Saturday 1 May: v Blues, home
Saturday 8 May: v Western Force, home
Saturday 15 May: v Lions, home
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related links
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Cheetahs | More by Quintin van Jaarsveld
- > Brussow out for the year
- > Changes for Cheetahs
- > Ebersohn ready for comeback
- > Cheetahs unchanged for Highlanders
- > Cheetahs drop Johnson
Next 5 Fixtures
| 20 Mar 10 | Stormers |
| 26 Mar 10 | Reds |
| 3 Apr 10 | Waratahs |
| 10 Apr 10 | Brumbies |
| 17 Apr 10 | Crusaders |
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Cheetahs Ladies Jersey 2008
The official ladies jersey of the 2008 Vodacom Cheetahs.
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we need to stay in the Super 14/15!!! if not, I fear we might very well lose both brussow and juan smith
They will battle it out for last place.