Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie is prepared for the largest recreation of his teaching profession as his crew tackle the Pumas for the Currie Cup title on Saturday afternoon.
Fourie has been a rugby coach for over twenty years now, however this shall be his first look within the Currie Cup remaining as a head coach and he’s relishing the chance.
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Previously Fourie has been in two Currie Cup finals with the Cheetahs, in 2007 and 2009, however on each of these events he was backline coach.
The final time the Bloemfontein-based facet gained the match, in 2019, present Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith was in cost, with Fourie taking up the reins after Smith’s departure.
“I think this is the biggest game that I have been a part of (as head coach). The previous Currie Cup finals that I was involved in were in 2007 and 2009, and we won the 2007 Currie Cup when Naka Drotske was head coach,” mentioned Fourie.
“Since then I have always aspired to be a head coach in a Currie Cup final and I finally have my chance. So this is the biggest game that I‘ve been involved in as a head coach. I am looking forward to it and making the most of the opportunity.”
Against the grain
The Cheetahs have been preventing in opposition to the grain over a quantity of years now, since dropping their place in worldwide franchise rugby, however have been steadily constructing their crew again up and making statements on the native entrance over the previous few years.
Their performances in opposition to the Bulls over the previous two weekends, with them beating them in Pretoria after which thumping them within the semi-final in Bloemfontein, had been huge statements as in each video games they got here up in opposition to a facet full of United Rugby Championship stars.
“The Bulls team that we played last week was a full URC team. They selected the best 23 guys they had available. The previous week Morne Steyn, who is a legend, was given a big send off and we still managed to beat them in Pretoria as well,” defined Fourie.
“That reveals that we’re adequate to problem them up there as effectively. We should think about that the Bulls have had an extended season, taking part in in three totally different competitions. So I can perceive that they had been mentally fragile.
“But it was still a very good team full of quality players and we came out on top. It was a big statement from us.”
Fourie continued: “We have been preventing in opposition to the percentages for a few years within the Free State. Since 2016 after we had been kicked out of Super Rugby and in 2019 after we had been kicked out of Pro (URC) rugby. It is hard to swallow that and nonetheless compete at a excessive stage.
“So it says a lot about the leadership at the union and everyone involved that we are against the tide but we still fight and punch above our weight.”
Challenge Cup
The Cheetahs did get their first style of worldwide franchise rugby once more this season after they took half within the Challenge Cup competitors as an invitational crew and with two slots obtainable for the approaching season they’re hoping to be concerned as soon as once more.
“We really hope that we will be one of those two (invitational) teams in the Challenge Cup. I feel we performed well enough against top teams like Scarlets, Pau and Toulon,” mentioned Fourie.
“We proved that we’re aggressive sufficient and have sufficient high quality and depth in our system to compete at that stage. So we’re holding thumbs that we’ll be one of these two groups.
“Playing within the (Challenge Cup) competitors helped us immensely (this season). Playing two video games in December and one other two in January actually helped our preparation for the Currie Cup. The guys had been sharp after we began the Currie Cup.
“We knew if we qualified for the (Challenge Cup) round of 16 we would have to play two games on the same day, one in Bloem and one in France. So it was important for us to start the Currie Cup well and get 15 points on the log from the first three games, which we managed to do.”
Pienaar increase
The crew has been boosted lately by former Springbok Ruan Pienaar extending his contract with the union for one other yr, with him set to finish his profession subsequent season on the age of 40.
“Ruan is extremely valuable to us. Not just as a player but as a person off the field as well. He is an example to all the players. His work ethic is amazing and he is a big family man which is our moto. So everything we do and how we do things is the way he is living his life,” mentioned Fourie.
“When I provided him the contract he requested me if I believed he was nonetheless adequate to play, and mentioned if we had been 100% assured that he’s adequate then he could be prepared to increase.
“He is a quality person and a good leader and an example to everyone that is in the union. So we are all glad that he decided to extend and has another year in him.”
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