The Toyota Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, was happy with the performance of the flyhalf, George Lourens, during Tuesday’s Currie Cup warm-up game against the Griffons in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs won the match 62-14 at the Toyota Stadium, with Lourens playing the majority of the 80-minutes, despite picking up a niggle during the game.
While the scoreline was irrelevant, Fourie was happy with many aspects of the game, while also conceding that there are work-ons.
Fourie told Bloemfontein Courant that the inexperienced Lourens controlled the game well.
“He controlled the game well in the first half and in the second half he took one or two wrong options, but that will happen because he had a lot of possession, said Fourie.
“He was injured and I asked him to stay on the field for as long as possible and pushed through, so that showed a lot of character on his part.
“He played well, as did Taps (Tapiwa Mafura). Taps started against Pau in Parma. He was our backup at flyhalf in that game, as we didn’t have Reinhardt Fortuin, Ruan Pienaar, or Frans Steyn available.”
Before the warm-up match on Tuesday against the Griffons, Lourens, who was the 2022 Varsity Cup Player of the Year, had only one game to his name for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and that was last year against the Pumas in Bloemfontein. He did start against the USA Falcons in the Toyota Challenge as well.
He stated he just wanted to enjoy every minute that he could on the park and make the most of the opportunity to try and earn a regular jersey.
“Unfortunately, the opportunities have been scarce, so even though it is a warm-up game, I’m very keen to get a hit-out and a start while also getting as many minutes on the field as I can before the Currie Cup starts.
“I think the last time I played 80 minutes was during the Varsity Cup last year, so these games are necessary, especially for us fringe players who do not get as much game time.”
On Monday, the Cheetahs will host the Sharks in Bloemfontein in their second warm-up game before the Currie Cup. It is expected that a more senior and settled Cheetahs team will be used in this match. Monday’s game at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 10:00. – MORGAN PIEK
