A lot has been written, and debated about the Cheetahs progress, or perceived lack thereof. I took a cue from Naka Drotske, who professed his frustration, at losing players to richer overseas clubs. Many people have no idea of the unique challenges that face the Cheetahs. In this article I hope to give an insight and give our detractors a better understanding of the challenges faced by the Cheetahs Super Rugby Franchise.

The Cheetahs – Only True Regional Team in SA:

In order to succeed at Super Rugby level it is an absolute requirement to have a strong sponsorship, player depth and continuity. The Toyota Cheetahs are arguably the only real “regional team” in South Africa.

Yes, the Lions used a few Puma players, but haven’t done so consistently or to the extent that the Cheetahs draw on thier partners, GWK Griquas. As a result and despite some agreements in place, the Cheetahs are not always able to control the destiny of players in the squad.

I went and did some digging and it was quite an eye opener to see that in the last 5 years the Cheetahs have never had the opportunity to build any continuity in key positional areas. Also consider that prior to the Toyota sponsorship, at the start of 2011, the Cheetahs have never had a solid sponsor partner. Vodacom had interests in Bulls as well as the Cheetahs. The Toyota deal was only concluded two weeks prior to the start of the 2011 Super Rugby Competition.

Please bear with me, and take the time to read the in’s and out’s of players since 2008, and then consider the difficulty as a Super rugby coach, to build a team that can consistently win!

Since 2008, the Cheetahs have used approximately 85 different players. Some only played a few matches but if you look at the composition of these numbers, you begin to see a startling picture:

• 3  x Fullbacks
• 15 x Wings
• 10 x Centers
• 7 x Flyhalves
• 7 x Scrumhalves
• 14 x Loose Forwards
• 14 x Locks
• 5 x Hookers
• 10 x Props

Now that statistic in itself, is further compounded when you see how often the combinations have changed. Only about 15 players have played 3 or more consecutive seasons for the Cheetahs and only 4  current players were in the Cheetahs team in 2008, namely Hennie Daniller, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, and Adriaan Strauss!

Cheetahs Squad 2008:

FB: Hennie Daniller, Bevin Fortuin
Wings: Eddie Fredericks, Jongi Nokwe, Gavin Passens
Centers: JW Jonker, Meyer Bosman, Hendrik Meyer
FH: Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Herkie Kruger, Conrad Barnard
SH: Falie Oelschig, Tobie Botes, Tewis de Bruyn
LFWD’s: Duanne Vermeulen, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Hendro Scholtz, Kababmba Floors, Darron Nell
Locks: Rory Duncan, Barend Pieterse, Flip van der Merwe, David de Villiers
Hooker: Adriaan Strauss, Richardt Strauss
Props: Kobus Calldo, Wian du Preez, Bees Roux, Ronnie Uys, CJ van der Linde

Cheetahs Squad 2009:

FB: Hennie Daniller, Fabian Juries
Wings: Jongi Nokwe, Danwel Demas, Bjorn Basson
Centers: JW Jonker, Meyer Bosman, Corné Uys, Piet van Zyl, Hanno Coetzee
FH: Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Naas Olivier
SH: Tewis de Bruyn, Sarel Pretorius, Gerrie Odendaal
LFWD’s: Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Hendro Scholtz, Kababmba Floors, Darron Nell
Locks: David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, Wayne van Heerden, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Uys
Hooker: Adriaan Strauss, Richardt Strauss
Props: Kobus Calldo, Wian du Preez, Bees Roux, Jean Botha, WP Nel

Player movement between 2008 and 2009:

Out: 
Bevin Fortuin, Eddie Fredericks, Gavin Passens, Hendrik Meyer, Herkie Kruger, Conrad Barnard, Falie Oelschig, Tobie Botes, Duanne Vermeulen, Darron Nel, Rory Duncan, Barend Pieterse, Ronnie Uys, CJ van der Linde

In:
Fabian Juries, Danwel Demas, Corné Uys, Hanno Coetzee, Bjorn Basson, Piet van Zyl, Hanno Coetzee, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Gerrie Odendaal, Frans Viljoen, Nico Breedt, Wayne van Heerden, Francois Uys, Jean Botha, WP Nel

Cheetahs Squad 2010:

FB: Hennie Daniller, Riaan Viljoen
Wings: Jongi Nokwe, Danwel Demas, Bjorn Basson, Lionel Mapoe
Centers: Meyer Bosman, Corné Uys, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Robert Ebersohn
FH:  Naas Olivier, Sias Ebersohn, Louis Strydom
SH: Tewis de Bruyn, Sarel Pretorius, Marnus Hugo
LFWD’s: Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Hendro Scholtz, Kababmba Floors, Ashley Johnson, Davon Raubenheimer, Frans Viljoen, Philip van der Walt
Locks: David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, Walti Vermeulen, Barend Pieterse, Izak van der Westhuizen
Hooker: Adriaan Strauss, Ryno Barnes, Skipper Badenhorst
Props: Wian du Preez, WP Nel, Coenie Oosthuizen

Player movement between 2009 and 2010:

Out:
Fabian Juries, JW Jonker, Piet van Zyl, Hanno Coetzee, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Gerrie Odendaal, Darron Nell, Wayne van Heerden, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Uys, Richardt Strauss, Kobus Calldo, Bees Roux, Jean Botha

In:
Riaan Viljoen, Lionel Mapoe, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Robert Ebersohn, Sias Ebersohn, Louis Strydom, Marnus Hugo, Ashley Johnson, Davon Raubenheimer, Frans Viljoen, Philip van der Walt, Walti Vermeulen, Barend Pieterse, Izak van der Westhuizen, Ryno Barnes, Skipper Badenhorst, Coenie Oosthuizen

Toyota Cheetahs Squad 2011:

FB: Hennie Daniller, Riaan Viljoen
Wings: Riaan Smit, F Juries, Philip Burger, Philip Snyman, Ryno Benjamin
Centers: Corné Uys, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss
FH: Naas Olivier, Sias Ebersohn
SH: Tewis de Bruyn, Sarel Pretorius
LFWD’s: Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Kabamba Floors, Ashley Johnson, Davon Raubenheimer, Frans Viljoen, Philip van der Walt, Johan Wessels, Pieter Myburgh, Leon Karemaker
Locks: Walti Vermeulen, Izak van der Westhuizen, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Francois Uys, Martin Muller, Hendrik Roodt
Hooker: Adriaan Strauss, Ryno Barnes, Skipper Badenhorst
Props: WP Nel, Coenie Oosthuizen, Kobus Calldo, Lourens Adriaanse

Player movement between 2010 and 2011:

Out:
Jongi Nokwe, Danwel Demas, Bjorn Basson, Lionel Mapoe, Meyer Bosman, Louis Strydom, Marnus Hugo, Hendro Scholtz, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt, Barend Pieterse, Wian du Preez

In:
Riaan Smit, F Juries, Philip Burger, Philip Snyman, Ryno Benjamin, Andries Strauss, Johan Wessels, Pieter Myburgh, Leon Karemaker, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Francois Uys, Martin Muller, Hendrik Roodt, Kobus Calldo, Lourens Adriaanse

Toyota Cheetahs Squad 2012:

FB: Hennie Daniller,
Wings: Ryno Benjamin, Willie le Roux, Dusty Noble, Rocco Jansen, Cameron Jacobs
Centers: Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Philip Snyman
FH: Johan Goosen, Sias Ebersohn, Riaan Smit
SH: Tewis de Bruyn, Piet van Zyl
LFWD’s: Heinrich Brussow, Ashley Johnson, Davon Raubenheimer, Philip van der Walt, Justin Downey
Locks: Walti Vermeulen, Izak van der Westhuizen, Francois Uys, Andries Ferreira, George Earle
Hooker: Adriaan Strauss, Hercu Liebenberg
Props: WP Nel, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lourens Adriaanse, Trevor Nyakane

Player movement between 2011 and 2012:

Out: 
Riaan Viljoen, F Juries, Philip Burger, Corné Uys, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius, Kabamba Floors, Frans Viljoen, Johan Wessels, Pieter Myburgh, Leon Karemaker, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Hendrik Roodt, Ryno Barnes, Skipper Badenhorst, Kobus Calldo, Juan Smith (injured), Martin Muller (injured)

In:
Willie le Roux, Dusty Noble, Rocco Jansen, Cameron Jacobs, Johan Goosen, Piet van Zyl, Justin Downey, Andries Ferreira, George Earle, Hercu Liebenberg, Trevor Nyakane

Summary:

Looking at the numbers of player movements year on year, it is no surprise that the Cheetahs have battled to build a core squad. The years from 2006 – 2010 was just Cheetahs keeping head above rising waters. The start of 2011, heralded a new era for the Cheetahs in the Toyota sponsorship. We will only start seeing the benefit of this in 2013, as a number of core players have already been contracted. Yes, players like Ashley Johnson, WP Nel, George Earl, and Izak van der Westhuizen are already confirmed departures, but compared to previous years, that is a marked improvement.

In 2008 Cheetahs played 13, won 1 with a points difference of -173
In 2009 Cheetahs played 13, won 2 with a points difference of -128
In 2010 Cheetahs played 13, won 5 with a points difference of  -80
In 2011 Cheetahs played 16, won 5 with a points difference of -2
In 2012 Cheetahs played 12, won 4 with a points difference of -26, so far

So clearly, there is an upwards trend that could well continue this year and definately next year.  I spoke earlier of continuity, well consider that for the first time in many a year we can look forward to a settled front row as only WP Nel is leaving. There is continuity at lock, looseforward, scrumhalf, flyhalf, centre, wing and fullback. Yes there are a few players that may still leave, but not to the extent of previous years.

The loss of Johan Goosen to injury was huge, but nobody could have predicted the subsequent loss of confidence by young Sias Ebersohn.

These are simple facts.

Where could the Cheetahs have ended, had we not effectively lost both our flyhalves?

So all Cheetahs fans, hang in there, the Cheetahs are on the up and with a fit again Johan Goosen and a rejuvenated Sias, we will soon rock the world again.

For our detractors, quiver in fear!