Head coach Frans Steyn says the Cheetahs need to be switched on from the start after snatching a last-gasp Currie Cup win at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
Faf de Klerk’s 80th-minute try, the result of a 29-phase attacking play, secured a 31-26 victory over the Stormers XXIII. It boosted the Cheetahs to second on the table and level with defending champions Griquas with three rounds left before the semi-finals.
The Free Staters face the winless Bulls XV in Pretoria next Sunday, and speaking post-match, Steyn admitted his men were slow out the blocks before digging deep for the W.
“We were a bit asleep at the beginning,” Steyn said. “One day, I just want to have fun while I’m in the coaches’ box – I’m getting old and fat!
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“But that last sequence at the end, it shows what this jersey means to us, and hopefully we can keep going.
“Since I’ve been with the Cheetahs, we weren’t able to go week in, week out, and we had a few good shifts now. That’s the biggest thing.”
Steyn credited his troops’ preparation for helping them absorb Stormers pressure, the visitors twice holding up the hosts over the tryline in the opening exchanges.
“Some people might think it’s luck, but if you have 150kg forwards coming at you, we adapt,” he said. “We want to be a team that plays with the ball at a high tempo; today it didn’t work out like that.”
Despite their strong log position, Steyn was quick to temper expectations.
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“If anybody told us after four rounds we’d be tied at the top, we would have taken it. But we haven’t played the best rugby and for us to be able to win this thing, we need to be switched on from the first minute, so there’s a lot of work to do.”
Steyn also provided an update on veteran fullback Clayton Blommetjies, who was carted off the field following a heavy collision late in the match.
“I think it’s just a concussion. I still need to confirm with the doctor… He’s on his feet, so that’s good.”
The former Springbok, too, applauded the Stormers’ junior structures that produced such a competitive clash.
“I don’t know if we thought it was going to be easier because of the weather, but the Stormers put in a massive effort and lots of respect for what they do here,” he added.
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Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Steyn feeling old after Cheetahs fightback appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Head coach Frans Steyn says the Cheetahs need to be switched on from the start after snatching a last-gasp Currie Cup win at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
The post Steyn feeling old after Cheetahs fightback appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
