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Drotské: `It`s going to be physical`

Tuesday 03rd July 2007

The Free State Cheetahs are under no illusions as to the strength and skill of the Griquas team that they will face in a Central Unions derby in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Fresh from their 26-18 victory over the joint defending champions, the Blue Bulls, in Kimberly last week, Griquas are keen to show they are full value for their Vodacom Cup triumph earlier this year.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské is aware of the dangers posed by the men from Kimberley, Griquas, when they go head-to-head.

"Griquas are very physical and it is going to be a tough clash," Drotské told this website.

"We knew before the Bulls game that Griquas are a really good side and we have never taken them lightly."

The Cheetahs will enter the game without winger Eddie Fredericks, who has injured his shoulder and has been ruled out of this week's fixture.

Fredericks, who is a former South African Sevens player, first made his mark in the South African Under-21 side in 1997 and has been in the Cheetahs setup since 2005 - after stints with the Blue Bulls and Griffons.

Giscard Pieters will most likely come into the starting XV, on the wing, for the Cheetahs.

Despite the injury concern Drotské is happy with his table-topping team's campaign.

After their 91-3, 12-try, rout of the Boland Cavaliers in the opening week, the Cheetahs recorded a 45-11 win over the Falcons last week.

"I'm really pleased with the set phases," the coach said after the game against the Falcons.

"Our scrums and line-outs were looking really good and our defence strategy is working really well.

"We scored five of our six tries off of good contesting in the line-outs and from scrums as well as our defence."

However, Drotské feels that his team still has a lot of work to do ahead of the encounter with Griquas.

"Our restarts need to improve and we just make too many basic errors," Drotské said.

By Gareth Green