Frans Steyn, the new coach of the Cheetahs, has enlisted the help of Springbok assistant coaches in his quest to revitalize the Bloemfontein-based franchise. Taking over from Izak van der Westhuizen after a disappointing Challenge Cup campaign, Steyn is determined to bring the Cheetahs back to their former glory.
Van der Westhuizen will be the forwards coach for the Cheetahs during the upcoming SA Cup, while Steyn’s former teammate, Ruan Pienaar, will be in charge of the backs. Additionally, Steyn has reached out to Springbok coaches such as scrum coach Daan Human and former Bok No 8 Duane Vermeulen for assistance with coaching.
Vermeulen, who retired as a player after the 2023 World Cup, has been involved with the Springboks in a coaching capacity, focusing on defense and providing support to various national teams under SA Rugby.
One of the main challenges facing the Cheetahs is their struggle to attract players from other unions, largely due to their exclusion from the Vodacom URC. As a result, the franchise will need to focus on developing their own talent once again. Former head coach Rory Duncan emphasized the importance of re-establishing their academy structures and retaining players from local institutions such as Grey College, Shimlas, and Ixias.
The Cheetahs are gearing up for their SA Cup campaign, with their first match against Boland scheduled for Saturday, 8 March. By leveraging the expertise of Springbok coaches and focusing on developing local talent, Steyn and his team are aiming to bring success back to the Cheetahs franchise.
This article was originally published on sarugbymag.co.za and is republished here with permission.
