Cheetahs won’t go down without a fight

FREE State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske says his side will not hand their place in the Currie Cup Premier Division on a silver platter to the Eastern Province Kings in their promotion-relegation first leg match in Bloemfontein tonight.

The Kings will be looking to gain momentum in the City of Roses and deal the final blow in Port Elizabeth next weekend, but it will not be easy against a highly motivated Cheetahs outfit.

“The players know that it is of the utmost importance that we pull off the win,” Drotske said. “The Kings are eager to play in the Currie Cup so we are well aware of the threat they pose, but we’re not going to hand our place in the competition to them on a silver platter.

“The players are switched on and there is a new intensity within the camp, so we’re ready for the challenge.”

The Kings have shown throughout their campaign in the First Division they are the side to beat, finishing their season unbeaten and claiming the title by downing the Pumas in the final.

“We play at a different level than the Kings, but we know they will be motivated,” Drotske said. “We must ensure that they don’t get their game plan going.

“They are a well-balanced side with a good forward pack and their back three is also very dangerous. We wouldn’t want to give them any space on the attack and will be looking to slow down their possession as well.”

Kings captain and centre Wayne Stevens believed his side’s unbeaten record will come in handy against a Cheetahs side that has only won three of their 10 Currie Cup matches this season.

“We are unbeaten thus far and when you get used to that, it’s something you want to keep on doing,” Stevens said. “We’ve gained a lot of momentum by claiming the First Di- vision title and the team is motivated to play Currie Cup. It is definitely something that counts in our favour.”

Stevens believes the Kings will have to throw everything at the hosts if they want to be in the better position come the second encounter. “We know what position the Free State Cheetahs are in and that makes them a dangerous side,” he said. “We have to make the step-up, because they’ve played in a much stronger competition.

“It will be a tougher challenge than we’ve been involved in before. You’re only as good as the last game you played and therefor we need to be up there.”

CHEETAHS TEAM 15-1: Hennie Daniller, Nico Scheepers, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Raymond Rhule, Sias Ebersohn, Sarel Pretorius, Phillip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Hendro Scholtz, Izak van der Merwe, Francois Uys, Ross Geldenhuys, Adriaan Strauss (c), Marcel van der Merwe. Bench: Hercu Liebenberg, Schalk van der Merwe, Carl Wegner, Davon Raubenheimer, Tewis du Bruyn, Phillip Snyman, Rayno Benjamin