Ex Supersport
The Toyota Cheetahs may be suffering as they enter the final week of their tour of Australia and New Zealand, but at least it seems they have received some good news from back home.
Coenie Oosthuizen, the Bok tighthead who had to return home following a neck injury, has received good news with the injury not being as serious as initially thought, and there is hope he could return to the field sooner rather than later.
Oosthuizen saw a specialist in Bloemfontein, and could be back in action in around three weeks if everything goes well, Die Volksblad reported on Monday. Initially it was thought he would be out for up to eight weeks when he returned to South Africa two weeks ago.
Drotske told the newspaper it is “very good news” for the Cheetahs, who have lost all three their tour matches thus far, with the Bloemfontein side needing something positive after being whipped 60-27 by the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday. (Yup its real bad when one loses to the gentle breezers!!)
They will face the Blues this week – dangerous as they proved with five second half tries in their 39-36 loss to the Lions on Saturday – and have the advantage of being in Auckland while the Kiwis have to make the long haul back home.(Come on Cheethas surely you can beat the Blues!! Their coaching staff of sir John and Sir Graham is rather poor asa they were schooled by meneers Ludeke and Ackermann)
But the Cheetahs do already have other injury problems with midfielder Francois Venter (shoulder) and winger Raymond Rhule (ankle) both in doubt for the last game of the trip.
Drotske told Die Volksblad that there were positive signs in Wellington, especially at halftime when they were only 29-20 behind.(Rhule is no loss but Venter is)
“We were poor from turnover ball and tackled badly. Our problem is the ball we give away at the breakdown, we attacked well in the opening 20 minutes but then we did stupid things,” Drotske told the newspaper.
“We allowed them to come back into the game in the first half by defending poorly from turnover ball. We should probably have played less risky rugby but after Willie le Roux’s yellow card, we were forced to play that way.”
The Cheetahs have a bye after their game against the Blues and it is hoped Oosthuizen will return before they face the defending Vodacom Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs, on April 5.
