[ad_1]
- The Cheetahs’ postponed Super Rugby Unlocked meeting with the Lions has been deemed a draw, with both teams sharing two record points.
- Head coach Hawies Fourie admits the decision could come back to haunt them in the final record, which would be “devastating.”
- But there simply wasn’t a suitable date to meet the game and the Cheetahs would rather focus on their remaining games.
The Cheetahs’ controversial Super Rugby Unlocked meeting postponed with the Lions a fortnight ago has been declared a tie.
Hawies Fourie, the head coach of the central franchise, confirmed on Wednesday that he had received correspondence from SA Rugby that both teams will receive two record points.
It is an unsatisfactory but unavoidable result given the tight scheduling of the national program.
It is understood that both teams were willing to play the match before the National Institute of Communicable Diseases decided that a Covid-19 outbreak within the Lions team, which saw six players test positive, posed too much risk.
“I just got an email saying the game has been deemed a draw, we will get two points and sit at 11 points, four behind the Bulls and having played one game less,” Fourie said after the Cheetahs team announcement. Friday meeting with the Sharks at Kings Park.
“We are still in the race to win this competition, but Friday night’s game now becomes paramount.”
Given the Cheetahs’ initial status as one of the contenders to win Unlocked, the decision could come back to haunt them, especially since they were expected to be favorites to win the match at Doornfontein.
The franchise was given three alternate dates to meet the match, but that would have put undue pressure on the teams in terms of workload.
“Yeah, I guess if the final record locations are narrowed down to those two record points then it will probably be a bit of a controversial decision,” Fourie said.
“But the decision is already made and we have to live with it. There were three other dates to play the game, but that would have made it difficult for us because it would mean that we played three games in eight days.
“It’s not ideal anyway, it could have jeopardized our chances in one of the other games if we had to play on a Wednesday. There really wasn’t a suitable date.
As a result, the Cheetahs would prefer to control as many aspects of their campaign as they can.
“In the end, it can happen that we are one or two logarithmic points from first place and it will actually be a bit devastating if it happens,” Fourie said.
“But for the moment, we still have our destiny in our own hands and that’s what’s important.”
The start at King’s Park is at 7:00 p.m.
Equipment:
Sharks
15 Manie Libbok, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Henco Venter (captain), 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JJ van more, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Werner Kok
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Junior Pokomela (captain), 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais
Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Chris Smit
