On Saturday, the Cheetahs edged the defending champions 7-5 in Clermont in a match that left much to be desired. Despite being the dominant side for most of the game, the Free Staters were guilty of numerous unforced errors, particularly in the opposition’s 22.

It was a missed opportunity for the Cheetahs to move to the top of the log, and with Boland securing a win over the Lions, the pressure is mounting from lower down the table.

Neels Volschenk. Photo: Morgan Piek

The four log points earned did see the Cheetahs climb the standings to second, but with the weekend’s surprise results, the log has been blown wide open. Both the Sharks and Western Province are still in with a shout for a semi-final spot, even though neither side has managed a win so far.

Cheetahs eighth-man Neels Volschenk, who scored the team’s only try, told OFM Sport that the squad needs to regroup, move forward, and fix what went wrong at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

“As a team, we definitely feel that the match against the Sharks was a missed opportunity to go top of the log,” said Volschenk.

“But, at the end of the day, it’s four points secured away from home. We felt we had dominance, especially at set-piece time – with scrums, line-outs, and mauls.

“But once we got into the 22, we just couldn’t finish. We made too many unnecessary and unforced errors. That’s something we’ll need to address this week – staying patient and executing our plans when we get into the red zone.”

Volschenk added that, while it wasn’t a pretty win against the defending champions, they now have back-to-back victories and must build on that momentum, especially in a Currie Cup season that has already delivered a few surprises.

Vernon Paulo during the Cheetahs' 37-17 win against Western Province in Bloemfontein in 2024. Photo: Morgan Piek

“We’ve got two wins on the trot now and want to keep the momentum going. Luckily, we’ve got a few home games coming up, so we’re looking to make the most of that,” he said.

“If there’s anything this past weekend taught us, it’s that in the Currie Cup, any team can beat any other team on the day. So we’ll need to be switched on, focused, and improve on what let us down against the Sharks.

“It’s not going to be an easy game, but that’s the beauty of rugby – you get another chance every weekend. We’re looking forward to facing Western Province and fixing the mistakes we made last time out.”

Saturday’s clash between the Cheetahs and Western Province at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein kicks off at 14:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs