In an extended hit-out of around 100 minutes, the Cheetahs crossed for three tries as they fine-tuned their preparations for next month’s SA Cup opener against the Boland Cavaliers. It was a productive outing overall, but not without its concerns.

Discipline once again proved to be the major blemish. Had this been a fully competitive fixture, referee Tiaan Engelbrecht would likely have reached for his yellow cards far more often, such was the ill-discipline and backchat at times.

Christiaan Nel, Banie Britz, and Ntokozo Makhaza. Photo: Morgan Piek

That said, the positives comfortably outweighed the negatives. Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway was the impact of the squad’s fringe and younger players, many of whom grabbed their opportunity with both hands. 

Ramon Uys, Banie Britz, Jooste Nel, and Christiaan van der Westhuizen all stood out with industrious performances, turning up the heat on the more established names. Suddenly, jerseys are no longer guaranteed.

Flyhalf Ethan Wentzel, who spent much of last year on the sidelines through injury, also looked sharp and assured in the No. 10 jersey – a timely boost for the side’s depth in a key position.

Cheetahs lock, and captain Victor Sekekete told OFM Sport despite a disruptive day off the field, the team showed strong character.

“We had a bit of late news before the game, but the boys took it in their stride and stayed focused on what we wanted to achieve,” said Sekekete, who was making his return after a facial fracture.

“We got good minutes under the belt, managed three chukkas, and from a forwards’ perspective, we created enough opportunities. The backs, especially the flyhalves, settled nicely and combined well, so overall we got solid value out of the session.

“Frans said it well – no one owns a jersey at the moment. There are a lot of guys putting up their hands, and the player who performs best on the day will get the nod. It’s great to see the youngsters stepping up.”

Ramon Uys, younger brother of Cheetahs flanker, Pierre Uys. Photo: Morgan Piek

“We haven’t always had this kind of depth, but now there’s real competition and exciting talent coming through.”

Head coach Frans Steyn echoed the concerns around discipline, but was satisfied with how the group handled a challenging day that included the resignation of CEO Rory Duncan and the absence of forwards coach Tiaan Liebenberg due to family reasons.

“Our discipline is a big concern, especially when talking back to the referee. I told the guys straight – if that’s the route you want to go, then this isn’t the place for you.” 

“We have to sort that out. Considering the news this morning with Rory, other disruptions, and Tiaan not being here, I’m still pleased with the effort.

“We know the Griffons are always competitive, but if we want to go places, we’ll need to raise our standards.

“At the same time, I liked how we reacted to mistakes – we reset quickly and got our line in place again. If this is our starting point and we build from here, then I’m satisfied. There’s a good foundation, but there’s definitely more work to be done.”

Franco Smith Jr. Photo: Morgan Piek

There were a few bumps and bruises against a typically physical Griffons outfit, but the Cheetahs will take confidence from a solid outing as they build towards their season opener.

Their SA Cup campaign gets underway on 6 March, when they host Hawies Fourie’s Boland Cavaliers at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg