The point was that the management knowing that the first 15 players were going to really tire in the last 20 mins should have used the substitutes earlier in that last 20 minutes to get the most out of the bench. That said we have always and forever been a completely different team once a few subs come on!

Shelflife wrote: How much of an effect will altitude play in this game ?

The management made the correct decision to base themselves in Bloemfontein for the 5days before the match, it gave the players the best chance possible to achieve a degree of acclimatization. The thinner air would feel like a heaviness/tightness in the lungs, especially on exertion. (It’s not like you could run around as usual for the first 60mins of a match and it would just hit you for the final 20). With the high temperatures on top of that it would make for very challenging conditions to play a match in so the lads did really well, just unfortunate they couldn’t get the win.

I think the performance was good and we should have won it.

Some of the ref decision were harsh but that was the 3rd penalty we have away for sacking.
How did they get the line out? We did not for away, and we gave 4 to 5 those penalties away.
Players must play the ref.
All refs have pet hates and you need to figure them out as a player.

We were in a position to get the winning score and we throw it away.

I'm still happy with the team, they are moving in the right direction and did not give up and played to win. The just need to be more street smart.

Blade was at fault for the first try knocking on from the line out giving then a platform to set up the try. That was unacceptable, he looked surprised the ball was being tipped down to him from the line out.

I would not blame him for not being at the first pillar. Poor communication by 2 to 3 players
He played well beside that blunder.

I was surprised Buckley played so long. Carrying that much weight in that heat. Must have been very difficult for him.Did that contribute to him giving away the penalty for not rollong away?
Surely Coulson was worthy for the last 10 mins
Fresh legs would have done no harm.


Thought SOB, Healy, TOH, had massive games.
Carty did well bar the missed kick.
2 weeks to work on the lineout
What is going wrong?

Good game to watch. The lads gave it a good shot but just came up shy unfortunately. 26 degrees C though!

we prob just deserved to lose, but, what was the call of it's out, then it's playable, then it's a penalty. Craig Berry is inept, we were flying in off the feet and they were breaking all the rules at breakdown too and he seemed oblivious to that; what day of the week it was. not a bad lbp but it seems like we left something behind us, and unfortunately the harder the liquor I try to introduce to mask the fact, the more it seems like we really should be mixing it in the knockouts|, at least we have some positives Matt was class, and now is our greatest ever try scorer at a club high of 44

Not a win, but a hugely impressive and improved game from our men.

Defensively I thought there was a great display, one or two costly errors aside. Set piece functioned very well, and certainly much better than of late.

Questionable management of the bench. Thought niyi didn't really get out of the traps.

Matt and Denis and great games.

Pro14 is done and dusted for me now, it's all about Europe.

Yea, hope it doesn’t come off like sour grapes but that ref was a killer in the last two minutes, even the South African commentators on Sky Sports were sick for us.
Team did is very proud.

But Jaysus wept !!

Last two penalties were harsh- he called the ball out then did us for standing up in the scrum after that :blink:

Thought on reply we clearly got the jumper as soon as he hit the ground for the sacking, but someone could have taken the lifter and I missed it.


Pity as the 4 points would have been big

Not so much up until the blast 20 minutes left mark. But if we play a fast paced helter-skelter game it'll be sooner. We should try and play as much for territory and control the game in the cheetahs half as much as possible to negate it.

How much of an effect will altitude play in this game ?

We need a big performance today.
Strong team out. Not much sport on today so there might be a big viewing audience.

Bit worried about our midfield. Both players are not known for their defence.
Is Farrell injured?

If our back 3 get quality ball they could have a big say in the result of the match.

How bad am I !!!
All this snow has me confused

creaven wrote: By any remote chance is this on TV

If only some helpful person had put that elusive information in the thread title

Kings are about to end their losing streak in some style against Dragons. Hopefully Cheetahs are not as rampant ...

By any remote chance is this on TV

I know it's a long trip but could they not have made at least some effort to get one non South African official??

15 Clayton Blommetjies
14 Craig Barry
13 Francois Venter ( C)
12 Nico Lee
11 Luther Obi
10 Niel Marais
9 Zee Mkhabela

1 Ox Nche
2 Torsten van Jaarsveld
3 Johan Coetzee
4 Justin Basson
5 Reniel Hugo
6 Paul Schoeman
7 Henco Venter
8 Uzair Cassiem

16 Jacques du Toit
17 Charles Marais
18 Tom Botha
19 Renier Bernardo
20 Oupa Mohoje
21 Tian Meyer
22 Fred Zeilinga
23 Sibhale Maxano

The referee for the match is Stuart Berry. He will be assisted by Ben Crouse and Jaco Kotze. The TMO is Johan Greeff.