Heinrich Brussouw: Amongst a long list of injured players
Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster believes the lengthy 2012 season is the reason for his team's poor showing in this year's Currie Cup.
The Free State Cheetahs lost 36-15 loss to WP at Newlands last weekend, a result which saw them finishing at the bottom of the table. This means that they will now face the Eastern Province Kings in promotion/relegation play-offs over the next fortnight.
Verster feels his team's woeful Currie Cup campaign was because the tournament followed the Vodacom Cup and Super Rugby, and took place during the Rugby Championship.
The Bloemfontein-based outfit lost 13 players to injury during their Currie Cup campaign amongst them Springboks Heinrich Brussow, Johan Goosen and Coenie Oosthuizen.
"Any team with that kind of injury crisis would struggle in the Currie Cup," Verster told keo.co.za.
"The year has too many fixtures, and it's the cause for all these injuries. The season structure needs a relook.
"Even the Wallabies are struggling on the Test scene as many of their top players are injured. It's a general and clear belief that the season is too long.
"But we'll head into the promotion-relegation play-offs with no excuses. The Kings have been very impressive in the First Division and will be a challenge, but we'll need to stand up and show our worth over the next two weeks."
Comments
Willem says...
Wake up, this is the professional era Harold Verster! Players get paid to play and people want to see rugby every weekend.
The Bulls, Lions, Sharks and WP all made the play-offs and Verster's excuse is pathetic to say the least. What makes it even more pathetic is that the Cheetahs lost only two players (Strauss and Goossen) to the Boks whilst the Sharks and WP lost almost halve their teams!
It seems as if the Cheetahs' game plan is not suited to playing SA teams. They won 1 out of 8 against SA teams in the S15 and 3 (of which 2 was against Griekwas, their S15 brothers) out of 10 in the Currie Cup.
It is time for Naka and Harold to hit the road!
Posted 08:30 17th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ melkdave - not sure we'll get much sympathy there...
I'm of the mind that all the other teams play the same tournaments and have the same pressures. If this was a general remark for all teams, OK. But it's not, it's about the Cheetahs only and that's nonsense.
You have internationals in your team, you risk losing them to international duty. But you get the benefit the rest of the time. Swings and roundabouts...
Posted 13:41 16th October 2012
saffastormer says...
Oh PHUULEEEZE !!! The Cheetahs aren't the only team in SA playing a long season. Sharks, Lions, Province/Stormers have an equally taxing season, Sharks and Stormers more so, they had extra games in the S15.
Posted 08:15 16th October 2012
melkdave says...
Now the SH fans are just starting to understand ,just what the NH nations ,have had to deal with for years and years. when touring Of course that just didnt matter when the SH where wining all the time,because of tired players or players just back from injuries ect.Perfect example was Wales this summer in Australia ,Lackluster off the pace ,and little or no intensity.Welcome to the modern world gentleman,the playing field is now more even ,and i wonder if SH teams getting whitewashes ,will continue in the future??
Posted 18:31 15th October 2012
Carpelone says...
In addition, the more you play, the lower is the quality of the games.
Posted 15:11 15th October 2012
Herbman says...
Couldn't agree more
Posted 14:11 15th October 2012