I commented after their game against the bulle that the cheetahs looked weary. It appears this was a correct observation:
Ex Superpsort
If the Toyota Cheetahs have one fear at the moment, it is that fatigue could kill off their chances for a decent crack at the South African conference in Vodacom Super Rugby this year.
The Cheetahs prepare for their derby game against the Sharks on Saturday knowing they still have another round to go before they get their first bye of the competition, and for a team that doesn’t possess the same depth and squad system as the rest of South Africa’s franchises, it is truly a concern.
Coach Naka Drotske is truly caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment, with the threat of the promotion-relegation game lingering and a chance to have a run at the South African conference title on the other side.
With the SA conference unbelievably close at the moment – the Cheetahs are on 23 points with the Kings on 15 with nine rounds of competition left - Drotske is worried that the fatigue factor might play a role in his side’s fortunes in crucial games.
He lamented after Saturday’s loss that there simply was “a lack of spark” in his side as they went down to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, and simply didn’t have enough “in the tank” in the end. (Agreed)
Drotske’s side has – along with the Kings – been the story of this year’s Super Rugby tournament as they won five games in a row – a franchise record – and had their best overseas tour in their history.
But with eight games already on the trot while others have had a break, the toll could begin to tell. Still, they’ve done exceptionally well thus far.
“If you give us four points for the bye then we would be leading the conference. But things are close, and all four or five teams in our conference can win. The race is on,” Drotske said.
“We would have loved to have a bye already. The Waratahs have had two byes and we haven’t had one yet. We’re the only team that has been playing every week and we don’t have the luxury of other squads to rotate players as the weeks go by.
“You saw this against the Bulls, the intensity wasn’t the same as in previous weeks and we will have to sit down as management and talk about how we can get that intensity back.”
The Cheetahs face the Sharks this weekend and then the Kings in Bloemfontein. They at least have the luxury of a long home run after the bye and can build momentum towards that.
But it is clear the stunting of the momentum they already have, and the impact on their chances as they lead up to the bye will have a great significance in a conference where there is so much to play for.
And so much to lose.
If I were Drotsky I would rest players against the sharks and be fresh to beat the Kings. The rested players may surprise him.
Seems odd the way things are being arranged warts have had two byes and cheethas none.
