Despite suffering a narrow 24-21 defeat to the defending champions, the Suzuki Griquas, the Cheetahs travel to the Mother City with confidence. The team formerly known as Western Province, meanwhile, will have momentum after beating the Sharks 36-28 to claim their second victory of the campaign.

The Stormers remain the only side to have beaten the defending champions this season, defeating Griquas 25-19 in the opening round.

Although the Cheetahs came up just short in Kimberley, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. They played with 14 men for almost 20 minutes and still remained in contention until the final whistle, underlining the resilience and character that has become a hallmark of Frans Steyn’s side.

Neels Volschenk. Photo: Morgan Piek

There are, however, areas that still require improvement. Discipline continues to be a concern, while the scrum came under pressure against a seasoned Griquas front row. The Cheetahs’ young props are gaining valuable experience, but they are learning the hard way against some of the country’s most accomplished forwards.

With the Currie Cup moving beyond the halfway mark this weekend, every result becomes increasingly significant as the race for the semi-finals begins to intensify.

Cheetahs captain Neels Volschenk told OFM Sport that the standard of this year’s competition has risen considerably, largely because the United Rugby Championship unions have prepared better than in previous seasons.

“Every game is important for us. Frans (Steyn) has mentioned it over the past few weeks, and I think the URC teams planned better for this Currie Cup campaign.

“It’s a very competitive Currie Cup, and that’s probably why there are no unbeaten teams after three rounds.

“For us, it’s about being better than we were the previous week in every facet of the game.

“The Stormers game is massive because we’re halfway through the season, but, like I’ve mentioned, it’s just about being better than we were the previous week.”

Cheetah Jooste Nel was a real standout performer against the Griquas. Photo: Morgan Piek

The match will be played at Athlone Stadium, around 15 kilometres from Cape Town Stadium. Better known as a football venue, Athlone has previously hosted matches during the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

Very few players on either side have extensive experience at the ground, while wet and windy weather is forecast, which could make conditions tricky for both teams.

Volschenk, however, believes the venue will make little difference.

“It doesn’t matter where we play – at the end of the day it’s a rugby field, and it’s the same for both sides.

21-year-old Ben Pitout could be sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I doubt that a lot of guys have played there, but I think for them as well, if I was a Stormer, I would have wanted to play at Green Point.

“It’s the same for them. It might be wet and windy, it’s the Cape, but at the end of the day it’s a rugby field, and it’s the same for both sides.”

Volschenk added that while the defeat in Kimberley was disappointing, the Cheetahs should draw confidence from a performance in which only a handful of moments separated the two teams.

“I feel we had the ascendancy over them in the first few minutes of the game.

Prince Nkabinde already scored four tries for the Cheetahs this season. Photo: Morgan Piek

“They scored a brilliant 80- or 90-metre try from a mistake we made about 10 or 20 metres from the tryline.

“We were in the game all the way. Like you mentioned, it could have gone bad for us when they led 17-7, but that shows the character and how this team has evolved over the past year or so.

“We didn’t go down there just to compete, we wanted to win, and that was the message throughout.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way, but we showed a lot of character, and I think there are plenty of positives and confidence we can take from the game.”

Sunday’s Currie Cup clash between the Stormers XXIII and the Cheetahs in Athlone kicks off at 15:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvdw