Proud Cheetahs need exposure

Loyal: From Harley's to Free-Flowing Rugby, Bloemfontein Has Been a Vibe for 130-Years

- Jaco van der Merwe

Welcome to the Republic of the Free State, officially the 11th best rugby nation in the world," Cheetahs backline coach Ruan Pienaar proudly declared in welcoming guests from title sponsor Toyota into the Vodacom Stadium dressing room last Friday night.

The jubilant group of players and team management roared with delight in response to this tongue-in-cheek yet food-for-thought statement. They had just held on bravely to beat Georgia, number 11 in the rugby world rankings, 24-20 in Bloemfontein.

It was a warm-up match for the full-strength Georgia national team before playing the Springboks in a one-off Test in Mbombela. A remarkable achievement for a side perennially overlooked for URC participation.

On a chilly Free State winter's evening, the young Cheetahs team produced the kind of rugby the union is renowned for. The kind of free-flowing running rugby that earned them loyal support and usually results leading to many more fans crawling from the closet before big finals.