Cheetahs look to build momentum after ugly win

REACTION: The Cheetahs will be hoping their narrow 17-16 Currie Cup win over the Pumas on Friday will be the start of something big.

With a number of injuries and players in isolation due to Covid-19, the Bloemfontein side had to scramble to put a team together for the match.

It was a much-needed win for Cheetahs after they went down 10-31 to Griquas in Kimberley in their first game. They were then dealt a blow in Round Three when their match against the Bulls was cancelled in line with COVID-19 protocols. Due to positive tests in the Cheetahs team, the Bulls were awarded the four match points.

"We knew it was going to be a bit of an arm-wrestle [against the Pumas]," said Cheetahs defence guru Charl Strydom, who was filling in as head coach for the isolating Hawies Fourie.

"The guys stuck to the game plan that we had. It wasn’t pretty, but in saying that the confidence will come.

"As soon as a side stays together for a couple of years you will see guys expressing themselves more. Tonight [Friday] was definitely about the win for us.

"We spoke about needing to put pressure on ourselves to get the result and I am just proud with the way the guys stuck to what we wanted to do."

The Cheetahs are currently sitting at the bottom of the standings ahead of their fifth-round clash against the Lions in Johannesburg.

"I think it going to be a close Currie Cup," Strydom added.

"Luckily, it is a double round, so if the results didn’t go your way in the first round, there is still time in the second round to catch up.

"Hopefully, we are over those Covid situations now so that we can field a [strong] team and build some continuity in the team."

Photo: SA Rugby