Cheetahs ready to tackle the Jaguares
by Liam Del Carme,
2016-02-25 08:23:25.0
HE HARBOURS admiration for the way in which Argentina’s top players have reinvented themselves, but Cheetahs coach Franco Smith can’t wait to see how his players turn over a new leaf in Bloemfontein tomorrow.
Smith’s Cheetahs team is remodelled from the one that began the past season’s Super Rugby competition, and naturally, the man who will help shape their fortunes is keen to see them hit the deck running against the Jaguares, one of the competition’s newbies.
"What they bring to the game isn’t a priority for us," Smith said.
"We are playing against ourselves, then the competition, and only then the opponents on the day. We want to be better every week," said Smith, all too aware that Super Rugby is no sprint.
He is also aware that the players in the opposing line-up have had to come to grips with fundamental change in the way they approach the game. This interests Smith greatly for he, too, is preaching a new gospel in Bloemfontein.
"We watched the Pumas’ games during last year’s (Rugby) World Cup and it isn’t difficult to see a trend. We know what to expect. There are lots of similarities.
"They try and subdue you upfront and then they have the ability to take the ball wide.
"They’ve had the new mind-set for the last two years, since their coach took over," he said of Argentina’s top players.
"In the Rugby Championship, we saw they were intent on keeping possession. They want to be respected as a rugby power, and to achieve that they had to play more attractive rugby and move away from a game that is aimed at slowing things down. Now they try and play more."
Smith’s team will have to draw the sting from the tourists if they hope to meet success.
"Everything starts up front. We have to match their aggression. We have to match whatever they have in terms of experience by making smart decisions. We have to scrum and maul well. Our first phases have to be solid," Smith said.
He has attacking ambition of his own, and for that purpose, Smith had opted for the dexterous skills of Fred Zeilinga at flyhalf, while Niel Marais starts off the bench.
Franco Smith. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/JOHAN PRETORIUS
HE HARBOURS admiration for the way in which Argentina’s top players have reinvented themselves, but Cheetahs coach Franco Smith can’t wait to see how his players turn over a new leaf in Bloemfontein tomorrow.
Smith’s Cheetahs team is remodelled from the one that began the past season’s Super Rugby competition, and naturally, the man who will help shape their fortunes is keen to see them hit the deck running against the Jaguares, one of the competition’s newbies.
"What they bring to the game isn’t a priority for us," Smith said.
"We are playing against ourselves, then the competition, and only then the opponents on the day. We want to be better every week," said Smith, all too aware that Super Rugby is no sprint.
He is also aware that the players in the opposing line-up have had to come to grips with fundamental change in the way they approach the game. This interests Smith greatly for he, too, is preaching a new gospel in Bloemfontein.
"We watched the Pumas’ games during last year’s (Rugby) World Cup and it isn’t difficult to see a trend. We know what to expect. There are lots of similarities.
"They try and subdue you upfront and then they have the ability to take the ball wide.
"They’ve had the new mind-set for the last two years, since their coach took over," he said of Argentina’s top players.
"In the Rugby Championship, we saw they were intent on keeping possession. They want to be respected as a rugby power, and to achieve that they had to play more attractive rugby and move away from a game that is aimed at slowing things down. Now they try and play more."
Smith’s team will have to draw the sting from the tourists if they hope to meet success.
"Everything starts up front. We have to match their aggression. We have to match whatever they have in terms of experience by making smart decisions. We have to scrum and maul well. Our first phases have to be solid," Smith said.
He has attacking ambition of his own, and for that purpose, Smith had opted for the dexterous skills of Fred Zeilinga at flyhalf, while Niel Marais starts off the bench.
Change: -0.47%
Change: -0.57%
Change: -1.76%
Change: -0.34%
Change: 0.02%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: -1.49%
Change: 0.08%
Change: -0.47%
Change: 0.00%
Change: -0.04%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Data supplied by Profile Data
Data supplied by Profile Data