Durban – The Free State Cheetahs recorded their first Currie Cup Premier Division win in Durban since 2009 and afterwards their coach Franco Smith hailed their 38-30 win over the Sharks as “special”.
In the process, the undefeated Cheetahs replaced the Sharks as the Currie Cup Premier Division pace-setters.
Smith praised his players for mastering the trying conditions after rain in Durban earlier in the day, and then again just around kick-off time.
“I must say the slippery ball made it difficult for us. I think, in the first half especially, we should have hung on to the ball a bit better,” said Smith. “Winning outside of Bloemfontein is good, excellent.
“Winning away from home is always special. To win against a quality side that was leading the log was important for us (in the build-up to the match)
“One of the reasons it is difficult to play here is the really high humidity.
“But it’s all a part of the growing progress for the young guys, I think said to them today in the changing room, they are better than they think they are. I think, once that belief sets in, maybe the errors will disappear.”
Smith knows his side will have to cope with the pressure of being the competition’s log-leaders.
“We set our standards high and our goal is not only about winning. We need to keep on building and keep on getting better.
“Winning is the best ingredient. It helps a lot. When you get to training on Monday with a win behind your back it is much easier than having a loss.”
The Cheetahs showed a great big improvement at scrum time against the Sharks.
“I think, our set-piece performance, defence was exceptional. We (the coaching staff) asked for an exceptional performance and we got that.
“The scrums seemed to have been an area, where the Cheetahs always lacked composure and dominance. We worked really hard on it as it was one of the things I identified when I got the job.
“We are seeing some reward for all that hard work, I think Daan Human (scrum coach) must be complimented as well as all the other assistant coaches.
Sharks coach Robert du Preez felt the set-pieces and ball retention was at the heart of his team’s disappointing performance.
“The set pieces was a huge problem area, particularly the scrum. We could never get going and line-outs weren’t great either.
“And then we just battled to exit too.
“Looking after the ball, seemed to be a problem as well. All of this could be put down to disruptions with the withdrawal of key players.”
Du Preez felt his players would learn from the defeat.
“The players will learn a lot from tonight’s game even though is was very disappointing,” said Du Preez.
“It is about rebuilding again. After to two disappointing losses, you try to put it behind you or remember the hurt?
“Players need to remember the hurts and make sure they don’t go through it again. We take each game as it comes, so the next game is really important to us. We are home up against the kings.”
The Cheetahs don’t have much turn-around time and will host the in-form Golden Lions in Bloemfontein on Thursday (19:00).
The Sharks are up against the Eastern Province Kings, in Durban on Saturday (3pm).
– ANA