The Cheetahs' coaching maestro, Frans Steyn, is all charged up about their new recruit, Zander du Plessis. Having recently made the switch from Griquas and Lions, du Plessis is the new buzz in town and is gearing up for his debut game against the formidable Georgian side, Black Lion, this Friday night in Bloemfontein. But the burning question remains: where will Zander fit in best on the field?
“We had this discussion on Monday – we’ve got a lot of players who can cover multiple positions, which isn’t always easy for them,” Steyn shared with the press. Finding Zander’s sweet spot on the field is high on Steyn's to-do list. Du Plessis, a versatile player who can operate as flyhalf, inside centre, or fullback, has already turned heads at training. “
“He came in on Monday, straight into training, and he’s looking good – he just needed to get back into playing rugby. He’s a big guy, and I think we’ll enjoy having a stronger presence in the midfield, someone who can crash the ball when we need it, especially on overseas trips.”
But there’s still a long way to go. He needs to slot into the team with his personality and style, so hopefully everything goes well,” Steyn remarked optimistically.
Reflecting on their journey to the Currie Cup semi-finals, Steyn acknowledged the lessons learned and the importance of sweating the small stuff during their mini pre-season. “The guys realized that last week. It was a tough week, but they worked hard, and the vibe within the squad is very good. We’ve got a few key areas we want to focus on this weekend, and hopefully, we can execute them well,” he explained.
The upcoming match against Black Lion is seen as crucial preparation ahead of their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign, which kicks off against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on December 7. Despite the challenge posed by the Georgian team, which boasts several internationals, Steyn is keen on keeping the focus inward. “
“I think, for me, we’re really focusing on ourselves,”
he said. “When I say that, I mean we’re looking at what we’re doing and how we can do it better – our rucks, mauls, strike plays, handling, everything. It’s about improving in the areas that matter to us and where we want to go in the long run. Hopefully, that will come together over the weekend.”
With the kick-off scheduled for 6pm this Friday, the stage is set for what promises to be a thrilling encounter at the Toyota Stadium. Let the games begin!
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The Cheetahs' coaching maestro, Frans Steyn, is all charged up about their new recruit, Zander du Plessis. Having recently made the switch from Griquas and Lions, du Plessis is the new buzz in town and is gearing up for his debut game against the formidable Georgian side, Black Lion, this Friday night in Bloemfontein. But the burning question remains: where will Zander fit in best on the field?
“We had this discussion on Monday – we’ve got a lot of players who can cover multiple positions, which isn’t always easy for them,” Steyn shared with the press. Finding Zander’s sweet spot on the field is high on Steyn's to-do list. Du Plessis, a versatile player who can operate as flyhalf, inside centre, or fullback, has already turned heads at training. “
“He came in on Monday, straight into training, and he’s looking good – he just needed to get back into playing rugby. He’s a big guy, and I think we’ll enjoy having a stronger presence in the midfield, someone who can crash the ball when we need it, especially on overseas trips.”
But there’s still a long way to go. He needs to slot into the team with his personality and style, so hopefully everything goes well,” Steyn remarked optimistically.Reflecting on their journey to the Currie Cup semi-finals, Steyn acknowledged the lessons learned and the importance of sweating the small stuff during their mini pre-season. “The guys realized that last week. It was a tough week, but they worked hard, and the vibe within the squad is very good. We’ve got a few key areas we want to focus on this weekend, and hopefully, we can execute them well,” he explained.
The upcoming match against Black Lion is seen as crucial preparation ahead of their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign, which kicks off against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on December 7. Despite the challenge posed by the Georgian team, which boasts several internationals, Steyn is keen on keeping the focus inward. “
“I think, for me, we’re really focusing on ourselves,”
he said. “When I say that, I mean we’re looking at what we’re doing and how we can do it better – our rucks, mauls, strike plays, handling, everything. It’s about improving in the areas that matter to us and where we want to go in the long run. Hopefully, that will come together over the weekend.”With the kick-off scheduled for 6pm this Friday, the stage is set for what promises to be a thrilling encounter at the Toyota Stadium. Let the games begin!