The Cheetahs will swap Bloemfontein’s summer heat for freezing European conditions when they face Ulster in Sunday’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash in Amsterdam.
The Free Staters are using the Netherlands capital as their base for the competition and looking to preserve their unbeaten record in home fixtures against the Irish province.
The sides drew 39-39 in Bloemfontein during the 2018-19 Pro14 season, before the Cheetahs registered a memorable 63-26 victory at Free State Stadium the following season.
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Pienaar, who played in that latter match for the Cheetahs and also made 141 appearances for Ulster during his distinguished playing career, knows exactly what awaits his side in the north.
“We’re training in 30 to 32 degrees now and then you have to prepare for minus three,” Pienaar told Netwerk24. “I don’t think everyone understands how difficult it is to go from that kind of heat to snow and rain. We’re trying our best to prepare the guys for it.”
The Cheetahs will train in sweltering conditions in Bloemfontein on Tuesday before departing for the Netherlands late on Tuesday night, and Pienaar said the coaching staff have focused on the small details.
“We have a young group and not everyone is used to those kinds of conditions,” he added.
The Cheetahs prop up Pool 3 with zero points after opening defeats against Exeter and Stade Français. Their final pool game is away to Racing 92.
Ulster arrive in Amsterdam having beaten Racing 92 61-7 before a 29-26 loss to Cardiff.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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