Cheetahs aim for 80-minute game

THE loser of today’s clash between Cheetahs and the Stormers will make its strongest case yet for Super Rugby’s wooden spoon.

The Cheetahs and the Stormers, who have both been to the playoffs in recent seasons, have been way off the pace and another defeat today will just compound their misery.

While the Stormers’ attack has been as blunt as ever, the Cheetahs have given their opponents red-carpet treatment to their tryline.

The Cheetahs have been particularly prone to dropping off the pace in the latter stages of their matches and their fitness has been brought into question.

They have conceded 14 tries in the last 20 minutes of their games this season. For a side that prided itself on their defence last season, this is an alarming statistic.

“We know that if we play well in Bloemfontein, we can beat any team,” coach Naka Drotske says.

“We need to get rid of those soft moments where we do funny things and let teams back into the game to beat us. We need to play for 80 minutes.”

The Bulls, meanwhile, will run out in Perth hoping to become the first South African side to win abroad this season. But the portents look grim against a Force side who, despite tasting defeat last weekend, are in the throes of their best season.

The Force have yet to lose to foreign opposition this season but the Bulls, if they are more ruthless with the tryline at their mercy than they were against the Waratahs, have a chance of breaking the mould. Matches: Hurricanes v Reds – Wellington, 9.35am; Force v Bulls – Perth, 11.40am; Cheetahs v Stormers – Bloemfontein, 5.05pm