Cheetahs

Cheetahs captain

versus

Bulls
Pierre Spies
Bulls captain Home ground: Loftus Versfeld Coach: Frans Ludeke Captain: Pierre Spies 2012 log position: 2 (SA), 5 (overall)

CHEETAHS
Home ground: Free State Stadium Coach: Naka Drotsk 2012 log position: 4 (SA), 11 (overall) Captain: Adriaan Strauss

Adriaan Strauss

2012 synopsis
When they thrilled, the Cheetahs were SAs best attacking side and when they found the character to match their ebb and ow, they were irresistible. Their 47-38 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington was one of the games of the season, especially after they trailed 32-11. When it did not come together, they went to pieces, with the prime example being their 36-33 meltdown against the Highlanders after a substantial rst-half lead. The attering to deceive will have to end in 2013 with the prospect of the promotion/relegation scrap looming. Sourcing from two of the most nancially bereft provinces in the Griquas and the Cheetahs, depth will again be a problem should the injury curse strike

2012 synopsis
At their worst, they were boring and utterly unwatchable with their predictable kick and chase, and constant battering rams. In this guise, the enterprising Australasian sides who matched their grunt often got the better of them or ran them close. When that was missing, they were hot and hard to tackle, and suddenly their backs found space in which they prospered, and when they won, they often won big. They scored 50 tries, so they knew how to nd the try line. The key for them is to nd different ways in which to get there

Strengths Weaknesses
On the ip side, they conceded 47 tries, which was the second worst in the SA conference. Most of those tries were preventable, but at times the lack of defensive application within the Cheetahs bordered on frustrating. It often undid their attacking magic and it is a facet that is ruthlessly exposed. Then there is the small matter of a lack of depth. When they lose a key player, the replacement is often not up to standard One thing the Bulls did very well was to stick to their strengths, which was dominating sides physically. They werent the strongest of scrumming units, but they often outmuscled teams and protected possession well before they kicked it. They are still a good attacking side, irrespective of who plays y half for them and they will continue to haunt teams with undersized forwards

Weaknesses
What you saw with the Bulls was what you got. That made them really easy to plan for. One-dimensional rugby will get teams somewhere, but with the premium on ball retention, skill SA teams are not versed in, more often than not beatings will come from multiskilled teams. An example of a bad Bulls performance was their 19-14 loss to the Stormers, where the Cape side played the game for large tracts without the ball, yet still won. No matter how much Frans Ludeke defended his teams success, they need variation

Strengths
They scored 35 tries, the third most in the South African conference, but the manner in which the majority of those tries were scored were not of a South African manner. The Cheetahs attacked and counterattacked to a point where teams thought twice about hoong the ball downeld aimlessly. Teams will have wised up to their smart running, but something that is working should not be xed, but rather improved upon

Bubbling under

Bubbling under

Key player: Johan Goosen

His absence due to a shoulder injury severely impacted on the Cheetahs performance and on the day he was injured, he had to watch painfully as the Cheetahs blew a healthy lead and witnessed a shocking miss from Sias Ebersohn. He will have to take charge of an exciting but erratic back line that on attack is a marvel to watch, but which is rather porous when it comes to the defensive stakes. There also lies the possibility of maintaining the inside lane for the Bok number 10 jersey. After all, he is the favoured candidate Lappies Labuschagne Raymond Rhule Boom Prinsloo Arno Botha Handre Pollard Jan Serfontein

Key player: Chiliboy Ralepelle

Due to injury and other factors, Ralepelle has fallen behind in the Springbok hooker pecking order. A good season will restore Heyneke Meyers lack of faith in him. After all, he did not play much under him while he was head coach at the Bulls. He has improved in all facets of the game and will have to stand up as a leader in a Bulls pack that is still green but gaining in experience

2013 prediction
The Cheetahs will ambush unsuspecting sides, but they wont have enough in the tank to push the top teams

2013 prediction
Possible playoff candidates provided they can travel well, especially in New Zealand. They have trips to Eden Park and AMI Stadium in Auckland and Christchurch, respectively, and a win there will put them in good stead

Photos: Backpagepix

KHANYISO TSHWAKU, RUDI LOUW, Graphics24