Windhoek Draught Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said competing in the European Challenge Cup has added a different component to the Toyota Cheetahs’ game plan after his team's 19-42 defeat to the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday in Kimberley.
“When you look at how the Cheetahs learned in Europe, especially when it comes to defence at the breakdown and physicality, it has really helped them.”
“I have to give credit to Cheetahs, they really beat us with physicality at the breakdown and we could not get quick ball on attack. Their defence breakdown with guys like Gideon van der Merwe was great and then in the second half with Daniel Maartens, they slowed down our game well."
“And then you have Frans Steyn against the wind. I thought he had a brilliant game coming back from injury.
“We knew he hadn’t played for a while and we thought we could pin them in their half with the wind but the way he and Ruan Pienaar kicked against the wind was exceptional.”
“Im hopeful that it is rustiness and next week we will be better,” Pieter Bergh said.
“In the first half, we struggled to get hold of the ball."
“Everyone was talking about Rosko Specman joining the Griquas and the impact he can make but he only touched the ball for the first time in the 65th minute."
“So we really struggled in the first half and the first 20 minutes in the second half.”
“Last year we were a different team, we are a much more settled combination and settled coaching staff."
“It is a marathon, not a sprint, but we need to be better, this game does not define our season, but we need to improve and need to improve quickly."
