Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn says he’s eager to identify the “perfect position” for new signing Zander du Plessis.
The former Griquas and Lions playmaker linked up with the team on Monday and is set to make his debut off the bench against Georgia’s Black Lion in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.
Du Plessis, who can slot in at flyhalf, inside centre or fullback, has already made a strong impression in training.
“We had this discussion on Monday – we’ve got a lot of players who can cover multiple positions, which isn’t always easy for them,” Steyn told the media on Tuesday. “It’s something we need to figure out, and hopefully, we can find the perfect position for him.
“He came in on Monday, straight into training, and he’s looking good – he just needed to get back into playing rugby. He’s a big guy, and I think we’ll enjoy having a stronger presence in the midfield, someone who can crash the ball when we need it, especially on overseas trips.
“But there’s still a long way to go. He needs to slot into the team with his personality and style, so hopefully everything goes well.”
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The Cheetahs face Black Lion as part of their build-up to the EPCR Challenge Cup, where they’ll open their campaign against the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on 7 December.
Reflecting on their Currie Cup run – which ended in a semi-final defeat to Griquas – Steyn said the team has worked hard on the finer details during their mini-pre-season.
“Yes, look, I think we also learned some lessons – as coaches, we’re really trying to emphasise the smaller things much more,” he explained. “The guys realised that last week. It was a tough week, but they worked hard, and the vibe within the squad is very good.
“We’ve got a few key areas we want to focus on this weekend, and hopefully, we can execute them well.”
Black Lion boast several Georgia internationals, but Steyn stressed that the Cheetahs are prioritising their own game.
“I think, for me, we’re really focusing on ourselves,” he said. “When I say that, I mean we’re looking at what we’re doing and how we can do it better – our rucks, mauls, strike plays, handling, everything.
“It’s about improving in the areas that matter to us and where we want to go in the long run. Hopefully, that will come together over the weekend.”
Kick-off on Friday is at 6pm.
The Toyota Challenge kicks off Friday, 17 Oct 2025!
Cheetahsvs Black Lion
@ Toyota Stadium
Let’s paint it ORANGE!#ToyotaChallenge #ToyotaCheetahs #PassionHasAPrice #Orangefamily #Legndarytoughness@ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/WCrY2qjJ7Q
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) October 13, 2025
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
The post Frans: Zander brings strong presence to Cheetahs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn says he’s eager to identify the “perfect position” for new signing Zander du Plessis.
The post Frans: Zander brings strong presence to Cheetahs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
