Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie faces a tough Challenge Cup tie with Oyonnax in France on Sunday, after revealing challenges in preparation and the loss of two key players.
The Free Staters aim to secure round of 16 placement for a second successive season, and will be desperate to bounce back from their first defeat in the tournament last week.
They will take some comfort from the fact that two of their pool contenders, Pau and Zebre Parma, who are both on eight log points, will face one another this weekend, which should strengthen the Bloemfontein outfit’s chances of advancing to the playoffs.
Speaking in a Cheetahs conference on Thursday, Fourie lamented a 20-33 defeat to Pau last Sunday, admitting, “We made it a bit more difficult for ourselves.”
Frozen fields prevented training until Thursday, he told reporters, with a rain-soaked midday session offering limited preparation.
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“It is difficult conditions but at least we could get a decent hour’s preparation in,” Fourie said. Adding to the setback, injured players, outside back Cohen Jasper and centre Ali Mgijima, returned home.
“Ali didn’t make the protocols regarding head injuries,” Fourie explained, noting the impact of losing the powerful midfielder. “He played well in all the games… especially last weekend against Pau.
“He brought a lot of energy. He made linebreaks and good tackles, so he was close to being selected in the starting lineup.”
With Abner van Reenen and Andell Loubser en route, Fourie faced tough decisions, stating, “If he [Mgijima] was ready, it would have been a tough selection for us.”
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