Rugby
80 Minute rugby for the Cheetahs─── 07:21 Thu, 26 Feb 2015
The Toyota Cheetahs are targeting 80 minutes of rugby tomorrow when they tackle the Blues in Bloemfontein in their first Super Rugby home game of the season.
Yesterday coach Naka Drotské made two changes to the team which beat the Sharks 35-29 two weeks ago, with Carl Wegner replacing the injured Lood de Jager while Cornal Hendricks returns to replace Clayton Blommetjies.
Captain Francois Uys said they side has taken a lot of confidence out their win in Durban, but they will still show the Blues the required respect.
Uys said playing for every minute of the game is a high priority for the side and he feels a lot the times it’s more of a mental thing.
“We really need to lift our work rate every minute of the game.
“It’s something Charl ( Strydom, defence coach) speaks to us about. A lot of times you can see when a guy is switched on, you can see it mostly in defence,” the lock said.
“I just believe that if you want to make the play-offs, you need to be an 80 minute team. You need to be a team that plays well and if you find dip, you need find a way to get out of it and maybe lit you game in other places,” Uys added.
Tomorrow evening’s match at the Free State Stadium kicks off at 19:10.
Toyota Cheetahs – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendrick, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Joe Pietersen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Francous Uys (Captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Danie Mienie.
Replacements – 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 BG Uys, 18 Maks van Dyk, 19 Tienie Burger, 20 Boom Prinsloo, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Willie du Plessis, 23 Johann Sadie.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
Uys says the side are targeting 80 minute rugby.: