The Cheetahs are as primed and prepared as they may ever be for their massive Challenge Cup clash in opposition to French giants Toulon on the Stade Felix Mayol in France on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 1:30pm).
The Cheetahs edged their method into the Challenge Cup knockouts with a 9-6 win over Pau in January, and have been rewarded with a final 16 assembly with three time Champions Cup winners Toulon.
ALSO READ: Is Cheetahs participation within the Challenge Cup sustainable?
It is a monumental problem, however one which they’ve been making ready exhausting for and coach Hawies Fourie believes they’re prepared for it.
“I have watched their last three games and one they played against Pau earlier in the season. Just to get a feeling of how strong they are,” defined Fourie.
“They have a quality team and it is going to be a big ask. They are a much tougher opposition than Pau and the Scarlets (pool stage ooponents). So we have braced ourselves for that. We are well prepared and we are going to give everything we have got.”
The deal that noticed the Cheetahs invited to the Challenge Cup as an invitational facet meant that they needed to play all of their pool stage video games in Italy the place they have been primarily based, with Fourie admitting that has prepared them for what to anticipate in Europe.
The Cheetahs have additionally importantly been taking part in within the Currie Cup over the previous few weeks, which means that their gamers have been getting in precious sport time, though the step up between the competitions is large.
“We are used to playing away now and are able to adapt to the conditions quickly. It’s still cold here but the forecast on Saturday is no rain and about 17 to 18 degrees but with a very strong wind. So we will have to adapt quickly to that,” stated Fourie.
“These last three weeks have been important for us. We have been able to get some good game time into the players. “We have had better preparation than we did for the Challenge Cup games in December and January, so hopefully we will reap the rewards on Saturday.”
Big blow
The Cheetahs suffered an enormous blow to their hopes of progressing with the damage to Springbok star Frans Steyn, that dominated him out of this weekend’s clash, however Fourie believes his workforce can overcome that hurdle.
“Obviously if you lose a guy of Frans’ calibre it will have an effect. Especially with his kicking game, which along with Ruan (Pienaar’s), is one of our big strengths. We also have a good kick chase which is part of our game and how we wanted to play,” stated Fourie.
“But we’ve got needed to plan accordingly and make another plans with Rynhardt Fortuin and Tapiwa Mafura, and they’re going to have the duty of the kicking sport alongside with Ruan. So hopefully it is going to nonetheless go nicely.
“But we have already played this season without Frans and Ruan in our games against Pau and Scarlets in January and managed to get through them. So the guys have got the confidence to do it without them, even though we will definitely miss him.”
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