It is amazing that the Cheetahs have never beaten the Highlanders in Bloemfontein and they certainly won’t have a better chance of breaking that drought than this weekend.
Rugby365
However, Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie feels his team needs to produce a “complete game” and not a bits-and-pieces effort – which has been the hallmark of their first two matches.
In their encounter with the Bulls in the opening week they were impressive on attack, scoring three tries in a 34-51 defeat. A week later, against the Sharks, they defended well, but failed on the attack as they recorded a 25-20 win.
“The big challenge is to reproduce all the positives of our games in the same match,” Fourie said.
The Cheetahs will again look to their massive pack – with world-class lock David de Villiers, a second row forward that would make many international teams, along with loose forwards Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussow, the key.
The Highlanders also have a strong set piece game – with Tom Donnelly and Adam Thomson the foundation on which this pack is built.
His side may be winless and second last in the competition, but coach Glenn Moore insists the Highlanders just need to win a couple of key moments in a game to claim a victory.
And victory over the Cheetahs is not going to be a walk in the park.
“You just have to look at some of the results, which show you on any day, any side can beat anyone. There are no easybeats in this competition,” Moore told the Otago Daily Times.
“The Cheetahs have big strong forwards and speedy backs. If they get enough ball, they can be really punishing.”
Super 14 results:
2009: Highlanders won 32-8, Dunedin
2008: Highlanders won 31-28, Bloemfontein
2007: Highlanders won 21-17, Invercargill
2006: Highlanders won 17-12, Bloemfontein
rugby365.com Prediction: There is no doubt that the resurgent Cheetahs have it within them to record a crucial win, one that can set them up nicely for the remainder of the season. However, they are going to be pushed all the way by a dangerous Highlanders outfit. Yet, we feel the Cheetahs just have a tough much allround depth and class and should sneak a win. The Cheetahs by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Hennie Daniller.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 John Hardie, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Mat Berquist, 22 James Paterson.
Referee: Pro Legoete (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Andrew Lees (Australia)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
February 27th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
February 27th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Cheetahs making a come back – only 2 points behind with 20min to go
February 27th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Stupid Fu**ing ref
February 27th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
stupid fooking players!!
February 27th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
3 tries for the Highlanders – ref does not miss tackles!!
February 27th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Ja but his kak decisions break teams flow and momentum.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
ref does not drop the balls
February 27th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
ref does not kick out on the full
February 27th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Reply to JT @ 6:43 pm:
February 27th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
only 1 kak decision springs to mind IMO – the “dangerous” tackle by Olivier
February 27th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Jisis the only thing worse than Pro Legote’s refereeing is Andy Capistagno’s commentary…
Wouldn’t it be easier to just feed off of Kiwi commentary if we wanted anti South African biased commentary…
The female genital wart sounded almost disappointed when Brussouw scored his try…
February 27th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Reply to JT @ 6:45 pm: Holding on to the ball when no Highlander is on his feet and they get 3 points.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Cheetahs very much f–king themselves over with poor decisionmaking
But on the other hand JT this is Legote’s first S14 match…
And I agree that he sucks big time
As bad as James Leckie but without the whiny girl voice….
Daniller penalty was a fragging joke!
Players cannot plan to play against a premarin discharge who does not understand that he needs to be perfect for just 80 minutes a week.
February 27th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Reply to JT @ 6:45 pm:
Duh
The Daniller decision pretty much sucked
Then on 20 minutes Viljoen passes to Bosman called a forweards pass wheich it was not
Then on each try occasion he has been out of position and needed to refer to tv ref
He is poor JT
February 27th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
But I want to start a campaign to rid South Africa of people like capastagno in commentating positions..
February 27th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Luckily the tv ref is not asleep
February 27th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Try awarded to Juan Smith
Conversion missed though
:rant:
February 27th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 6:50 pm: You volunteering?
February 27th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
BP try hor Highlanders!? TMO pending
February 27th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
IMO a try!
February 27th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
February 27th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Jeez let’s hope the Bulls are on-song
February 27th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I have a bad feeling
No wins for SA this weekend!?
February 27th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Eish!!!!!
SA teams thus far this weekend are
SUPER
!!!!
Holding thumbs that the Bulls will deliver.
B U L L E !!!!!
February 27th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 6:51 pm:
I’ll be so pro South African even the Aussies will sound balanced!
February 27th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Reply to Minora @ 6:59 pm: I will never shout for the Bulls as much as I am gonna do now
February 27th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Swak, swak, swak!
February 28th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
February 28th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 6:00 pm:
Ja, ek dink hierdie span
kan nie eers Lego spel
of speel nie.
Sjoe, dit was net so swak
soos die Stormers – wat
nog nooit van ‘n binne-aangee
gehoor het nie.
En selfs Habana kon nie daai
patetiese kiekentjaartse
bykom nie.
Lyk my dis maar weer die
Selle Ou Storie.