Naka Drotske would have been pleased with last year's finish, with many expecting his team to end up lower than 11th.
Defensive issues need to be addressed
Coach Naka Drotske would have been pleased with last year's finish, with many expecting his team to end up lower than 11th.
What was more impressive was the way they played, throwing caution to the wind and attacking at every opportunity. This resulted in the second highest points tally for, a single point behind the Crusaders. This said, their defence swung in the opposite direction conceding the third highest amount of points.
The Cheetahs squad has a similar feel to last season, although they will need to iron out the apparent holes in their defensive system if they are to improve on last year's position.
The loss of their influential half-back Sarel Pretorius to the Waratahs will be a bitter blow, and will shoulder much responsibility on Tewis de Bruyn. However, his half-back partner, Johan Goosen, is another young fly-half who made a considerable impression in last season's Currie Cup and will be a better and more exciting option compared to his predecessor, Naas Olivier. Look out for his incredible boot; this boy has the distance and the accuracy to match.
The fitness of Adriaan Strauss and Heinrich Brussouw in the pack will be vital to their chances to compete up front.
They will also be praying that Springbok flanker Juan Smith recovers fully from the Achilles injury that has sidelined him for almost a year now. With him at full fitness the Cheetahs will gain a world class competitor capable of having a profound influence on their game.
Their backs have a certain stability about them.
Strauss is the glue that brings them together. He has the footballing brain that makes their backs tick and an outstanding defensive game that was evident in the Sharks Currie Cup-winning final in 2010. The Ebersohn brothers will bring an exciting element, both very versatile due to their Sevens backgrounds, and both possess skill and pace in abundance.
The Cheetahs might struggle to gain parity up front but if they see the return of Juan Smith at the right time, it could just help them improve on last year. They have an untested fly half at this level which is always a slight step into the unknown. But given what the public has seen so far, it's a matter of when rather than if.
Prediction: 11th
Player to watch: Johan Goosen - Will be exciting to see his transition from Currie Cup to Super Rugby, hopefully he can get the ball he needs to show off his outstanding skill- set.
