Coach Frans Steyn says even Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk can get better as the Cheetahs look to up their game in the Currie Cup.
De Klerk dotted down at the death to snatch a 31-26 victory against the Stormers XXIII at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, capping a Man of the Match display.
On Tuesday, Steyn was again full of praise for his former Bok teammate’s influence since arriving in Bloemfontein.
“The feelings he has for the Cheetahs, there’s nothing he won’t do for this place,” he said. “He’s all in and wants to see this place get better every day.
“He didn’t do everything right on the weekend and he’ll hear that in the team meeting. But he’s a good team man. He listens to everybody and has stuff to say when he thinks we can do something better. We have missed somebody like that.”
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Sunday’s win moved the Cheetahs up to second on the Currie Cup log, behind Griquas on points difference.
“If you told me before the season started that after four rounds, we’d be tied at the top, we would have taken it,” he said. “We’re happy. But I don’t think we are at the level we want to be.
“We need to play much better if we want to win this competition. We want to play old winning Free State rugby and we’re not there yet.
“Our kicking game wasn’t good on the weekend. Our lineout struggled. Defensively, we soaked tackles in the first half. There’s still a lot of work for us to do.”
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Captain Neels Volschenk said getting a win rather than a draw was important in the context of the competition but echoed his coach’s honest assessment of the performance.
“Those three extra points we have now on the log are going to be crucial as we progress to the end of this competition,” said Volschenk. “If you want a home semi or home final, that matters.
“But no one – not me, not the coaches, not any player – is naive about how much work still needs to be put in. Against the Stormers we were not better than we were against Griquas.”
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The Cheetahs’ next assignment is against the winless Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, and Volschenk warned against complacency.
“They have talented rugby players and like we’ve seen against the Lions and the Sharks, if you think you’re just going to pitch up and win, it’s not going to be easy,” he said. “You have to work hard, be on it and be clinical.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
The post Frans: Faf didn’t do everything right appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Coach Frans Steyn says even Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk can get better as the Cheetahs look to up their game in the Currie Cup.
The post Frans: Faf didn’t do everything right appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
