Steyn urges Cheetahs to raise standards for Currie Cup showdown with Sharks

Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn has warned his players they will need a markedly sharper performance when they host the Sharks in Bloemfontein on Friday, despite opening their Currie Cup campaign with a win over the Lions.

The Free State side began with a confidence-boosting victory in round one, but Steyn believes that will not be enough against a Sharks outfit buoyed by a narrow but impressive 26-24 away success over the Pumas, traditionally one of the toughest teams to beat on their own patch.

Friday’s fixture in Bloemfontein, which kicks off at 17:00, is being billed as one of the standout ties of the weekend’s Currie Cup action, with both sides aiming to make it two wins from two at the start of the competition.

Respect for resurgent Sharks

Speaking to reporters in the build-up, Steyn underlined the quality he sees in the Durban side, especially in their emerging players.

“We need to back our systems and processes, but the Sharks’ youngsters are peaking,” Steyn said.

“They’re a quality bunch of players. The talent they have is amazing.”

The former Springbok stressed that the Sharks’ ability to edge a tight contest away to the Pumas served as a clear warning of the level of intensity and accuracy the Cheetahs will face this week.

Cheetahs told opening win ‘not enough’

Although satisfied with banking an opening-round victory over the Lions, Steyn made it clear he expects a significant step up from his team if they are to match a Sharks side that caught the eye early in the tournament.

“We need to be on top of our game. This past weekend showed that it was the first round of the tournament, but we need to be better this week,” he said.

Steyn indicated that while the result against the Lions was welcome, the performance left enough areas for improvement to keep his squad grounded ahead of a more demanding assignment.

Drive to fill the stands

Beyond the immediate challenge of the Sharks, Steyn also set out a broader ambition for the Cheetahs’ season, linking consistent high-level performances to growing support at their home ground.

“We want to put in a proper, quality performance, and we want the stadium to be full by the end of the season.

“The only way to do that is to play good, winning rugby.”

With that in mind, Steyn views Friday’s encounter as an early litmus test of the Cheetahs’ ability to marry results with the kind of rugby that will draw supporters back in greater numbers as the Currie Cup campaign progresses.

KickOff Rugby will provide live updates and a full match report from Bloemfontein when the Cheetahs and Sharks meet in Friday’s curtain-raiser to the weekend’s Currie Cup schedule.