Cheetahs face rough opening run

The Cheetahs will have their work cut out in the opening month of the Currie Cup that kicks of this weekend.

The Cheetahs‚ who last won the competition in 2016‚ will play the four strongest teams in the first four weeks of the much compacted competition.

With only a single round of matches contested this season‚ every result carries increased weight and the Cheetahs will be required to hit the deck running.

In the first four weeks they will clash with the Bulls in Bloemfontein‚ Western Province in Cape Town‚ the Sharks back home and the Lions in Johannesburg.

They have the added complication of having to do battle in the Pro14 in Europe but they have made some additions to their squad‚ including players who featured for them on loan last year.

Rudy Paige (scrumhalf‚ Bulls)‚ Adriaan Carelse (fullback‚ Boland)‚ Tian Schoeman (flyhalf‚ Bordeaux)‚ Louis Fouche (flyhalf‚ Kubota Spears)‚ Ruben de Haas (scrumhalf‚ US)‚ Dries Swanepoel (centre‚ Bulls)‚ Benhard Janse van Rensburg (utility back‚ Sharks)‚ Walt Steenkamp (lock‚ Leopards)‚ JP du Preez (lock‚ Lions)‚ Aidon Davis (loose-forward‚ Toulon)‚ Louis Conradie (lock‚ Boland) have officially joined the Cheetahs.

With only a single round of matches contested this season‚ every result carries increased weight and the Cheetahs will be required to hit the deck running