Frans Steyn says the Cheetahs won’t be looking to play expansive rugby when they meet Ulster in icy conditions in Amsterdam on Sunday.
The men from Bloemfontein are heavy underdogs going into this EPCR Challenge Cup clash against the high-flying Ulstermen, who have surged up the Vodacom URC table.
“Ulster are currently third and are playing incredible rugby. I think we must just make sure we don’t land in a situation where we try to play too much rugby, like we would in South Africa,” Steyn said.
MORE: Cheetahs brace for icy conditions
The former Springbok pointed to Ulster’s ability to squeeze opponents and punish poor decision-making as a major threat.
“Ulster’s pressure game is fantastic. They put you under pressure and if you start playing rugby in the wrong areas, they feed off those mistakes.”
Match sharpness is another factor Steyn is acutely aware of. Ulster arrive battle-hardened from the URC grind, while the Cheetahs have not played since early December.
“It would have been nice to be playing week in and week out in a competition and to be involved in tough matches. But I’m not going to use that as an excuse,” he said.
“We have an opportunity – a massive opportunity – to show what we can do. We have to be better than we were on the first tour [in December].”
ALSO: Ulster await ‘more positive’ Trokkie news
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: Nick Elliott/INPHO
The post Cheetahs to keep it tight in Amsterdam appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.