Australia – A struggling Cheetahs team will be looking to avoid their sixth defeat in a row in their Super Rugby clash against the Western Force, at the nib Stadium, in Perth on Saturday.
The Cheetahs last tasted victory on February 27 when they edged the Blues 25-24 at the Free State Stadium and it may seem like a distant memory for the team.
After a lacklustre performance against the Brumbies where they went down 20-3 last week, another loss could come as a crushing blow. The last time the Cheetahs lost six Super Rugby matches was in 2009.
The Force, meanwhile, have already lost their sixth straight Super Rugby match and have just one victory to their credit this season.
Force coach Michael Foley said his side would be just as eager to notch up a win.
“Getting the result and turning that corner (is what we want),” said Foley.
“That’s the thing for us at the moment – to get that little bit more urgent around the breakdown, more physical around defence and to finish those opportunities that we are creating.”
The Force were not far away from achieving that lucrative win according to the coach.
“There’s plenty of line breaks and chances there for us. If we finish those off, we’ll get the result and push on.”
The match will mark the ninth Super Rugby encounter between the two teams since May 2006. The Force lead with five wins to the three wins of the Cheetahs.
The last time the Force hosted the Cheetahs in March 2013, the Bloemfontein based side won 19-10. The Force, however, won the previous match last year at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, 23-16.
There was little to separate the sides on the log after seven matches this season, the Cheetahs lie in 12th spot on nine points and the Force were a point behind in 13th place.– ANA