Cheetahs want to cut loose

The Cheetahs are intent on taking the game to the Stormers on Saturday in an attempt to unlock their stingy defensive system.

The free-running Free State side played a relatively conservative game dominated by contestable kicks when they faced the Stormers at Newlands earlier in the season, but with a play-off spot now out of their reach they are determined on running the ball in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské told this website that his team have little to lose and will try and express themselves with ball in hand in front of their home crowd, but added that the Stormers are sure to present a fierce test of their attacking ability.

"We can't make the play-offs any more so we will play some running rugby and try to penetrate their defensive system.

"Obviously we will give it a full shot, but in saying that they have got the best defensive system in the competition so that is a big challenge for us," he said.

Drotské said that his team will back themselves to breach the Stormers in Bloemfontein, as they have a proven attacking pedigree at home.

"Last year in Bloemfontein we were the only team that scored four tries against them [Stormers] in the whole competition, so we back ourselves in Bloem," he said.

The Cheetahs boss is aware of the dangers of trying to play too much rugby in their own half against the Stormers, and said that although his team will run out with an attacking mindset, they will still need to take the right options under pressure.

"We will play our brand and our way of playing. We can adapt, we have shown that in the past, we can kick if we need to kick and we can run if we need to run.

"We have got a policy of having a go if it is on, but if it is not on then we will kick it," he said.

Drotské explained that there is plenty for his team to play for on Saturday as they attempt to make this their most successful season yet, whilst on an individual level the players will be fighting for spots in the Currie Cup side.

"We need one more win to have our greatest season ever, but there is still a lot to play for - the Currie Cup is coming up and the guys are playing for positions so we can do a few experiments now so there is a lot still to play for," he said.

By Michael de Vries