Win over Waratahs opened door to Cheetahs' Super Rugby rise
THE Waratahs unwittingly provided the spark that has led to the Cheetahs' first finals campaign in Super Rugby history.
THE Waratahs unwittingly provided the spark that has led to the Cheetahs' first finals campaign in Super Rugby history.
Days out from their playoff debut against the Brumbies, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has revealed that his side's turnaround after years of propping up the rest of the ladder came on March 19, 2011 - one of the most infamous nights in Waratahs' history.
"We formed in 2006, and have never finished better than 10th, but in 2011 we beat the Waratahs 23-6 in Sydney and we had never won away from home before that," Drotske told the Daily Telegraph.
"That result gave our team the belief that finally we could achieve, and it became easier after that because we knew we had done it in the past.
"For five years we hadn't managed to win a game overseas."
That was the night Waratahs fans loudly jeered their own team, leading to the infamous "fan forum" in which supporters expressed displeasure at NSW's style of play.
Coach Chris Hickey departed at the end of the season, and replacement Michael Foley the following year as the Waratahs sought to overhaul their style, which they largely managed to do this year under coach Michael Cheika.
While that game will live long in the memory of Waratahs fans, it will also be looked upon as a monumental step in the rise of the Cheetahs.
"In the last two years we've won five from eight on the road," Drotske said.
"Since we formed, we have been in survival mode not to get into the relegation zone.
"After last year's overseas tour there was a change in mindset that we have the attitude and the players to make the finals.
"But nobody really gave us a chance. When I said the goal is to make the top six, I could sense it in reporters and supporters that they didn't really believe we could do it."
The Cheetahs moved into the top six after four rounds of the competition and never relinquished their spot, despite the late revival of more fancied South African sides the Stormers and Sharks.
From the brink of a relegation battle, the Cheetahs are now primed to upset the Australian conference winners in Canberra on Sunday.
The Brumbies will be heavy favourites but Drotske warned: "It's a home game for them, the pressure must be on them.
"We have travelled all the way here and we will be big underdogs. We play well when we are the underdogs.
"I have no doubt we can beat the Brumbies.
"If you look at the Brumbies' current squad, only George Smith has played Super Rugby finals, so they are in the same boat as us."
Drotske was playing for the Springboks when Brumbies coach Jake White was technical consultant for the national team from 1997-99.