Cheetahs could use Currie Cup as Super Rugby launch pad

The Free State Cheetahs' dominant Currie Cup campaign could be the springboard they need to launch a successful 2017 Super Rugby season.

Just like the Golden Lions used their magnificent unbeaten 2015 Currie Cup run to build momentum and confidence for this year’s Super Rugby‚ which ended in a runners-up finish‚ the Cheetahs could do the same.

They are on track to become only the third team to win the Currie Cup without defeat after last year’s Golden Lions and the 1996 Sharks.

And they have unearthed new talents and polished old ones along the way.

All that stands in Free State’s way are the Blue Bulls‚ who showed great tenacity to overcome Western Province 36-30 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

A late try from scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl saw the Blue Bulls go into their first final since 2009.

This year’s final is a repeat of the 2009 final‚ which the Bulls won‚ and also the first time since then that either of the teams made it to the showpiece match.

In last weekend’s semi-final the Cheetahs took the Lions apart 55-17 in their most impressive showing of the season for their ninth straight win‚ which included eight pool match victories.

Coach Franco Smith has not only built a team of attacking flair – something which has never been a problem in Bloemfontein – but he has married it to better decision-making and a more solid defensive unit.

For large portions of the first half in Saturday’s semi-final‚ the Cheetahs had to defend their line‚ which they did brilliantly before launching scorching counter-attacks.

They look a complete package with players understanding their roles clearly.

Players such as scrumhalf Shaun Venter‚ flank Paul Schoeman‚ No 8 Niell Jordaan‚ wing Raymond Rhule and centre Francois Venter look much better players than a year ago.

Others such as centre Nico Lee and prop Ox Nche have emerged as future stars.

Wing Sergeal Petersen‚ who scored a hattrick on Saturday‚ is another benefitting from Smith’s coaching.

Petersen has always had potential‚ and now appears to be a future Test player – and that future might be closer than he thinks.

Petersen has express pace but he also has a huge appetite for work off the ball as well as the x-factor.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the Boks’ end-of-year touring squad to the UK and Italy.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann‚ as good a judge of talent as there is in South Africa‚ believes Petersen should be given a chance at Test level.

"He has that x-factor; he is fast...he is ready for Test rugby in my opinion‚” Ackermann said after the semi-final defeat.

"People can look for faults‚ but I would definitely give him the chance."

The Cheetahs could also make some Currie Cup history if they beat the Blue Bulls because it would be the first time in the tournament’s 125-year history that it would be consecutively won by teams with unbeaten campaigns.

Free State could also move to 10 straight Currie Cup wins with victory in the final‚ which would take them just one match short of their best run of wins‚ which stands at 11 which they achieved in 2007. - TMG Digital