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Rugby

Van Jaarsveld to lead the Cheetahs

───   10:31 Wed, 23 Jul 2014

MORGAN PIEK
 
Bloemfontein - With the 2014 Currie Cup season a mere eight days away from kick-off, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs will be looking to make amends for a disastrous Super Rugby campaign. The Central South African franchise claimed the wooden-spoon in the South African conference, while finishing second last on the overall table, with just four wins to their name.
  
Free State coach, Rory Duncan, who takes over the reins from Naka Drotské, was the last Cheetahs captain to win the Currie Cup for the Bloemfontein side back in 2007 when they beat the Golden Lions 20-18 in Bloemfontein. Duncan, who coached the Toyota Free State XV during the Vodacom Cup, revealed his hand for the first time by naming his captain to lead the side during the world's toughest domestic rugby competition.
Hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, who is equally comfortable on the side of the scrum at flank, has been given the responsibility of leading the men who also are referred to as "Die Blikore".
Duncan told OFM Sport that he had been working with Van Jaarsveld during the Vodacom Cup and the team's managment felt he is the right man for the job.
"I worked very closely with Torsten during the Vodacom Cup and I saw his leadership ability come through there. As management we had long discussions over the captaincy, and we came to the conclusion that Torsten would be the best man for the job", said Duncan.
With the Currie Cup being as tough as it is, every little bit of advantage is worth its weight in gold. The Cheetahs may see this when they kick off their campaign against the Pumas in Nelspruit on 9 August.
Van Jaarsveld represented the Mpumalanga side on no fewer than 73 occasions and this will give them a tremendous advantage when they lock horns with Jimmy Stoneshouse's chargers who will be looking to prove a point.
 
"I must be honest, it's not something we took into consideration, but he will," Duncan admitted.
Furthermore, the side is champing at the bit to get their campaign underway and they will be tested for the first time when they face the Kings in Cradock next week Saturday.
 
"We're very keen to get started, we have quite a few new players in the system and with our first game in Cradock, I'm looking forward to see how these guys go, seeing how the combinations work out," Duncan concluded.
The Cheetahs face the Pumas next Saturday at the Mbombela Stadium with kick-off at 19:10, while a week later they have a tough assignment in their first home game when they face bitter rivals and neighbours, the Griquas.

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