New Zealand and Australia have made no secret about wanting two South African franchises to be cut from the competition and this stage the Port Elizabeth based Southern Kings and the Bloemfontein-based Toyota Cheetahs are in the crosshairs.

Furthermore an Australian team, believed to be the Western Force, is also facing the chop.

Recent report suggested that the Force are out, however the Perth-based franchise and the Australian Rugby Union rubbished the reports.

For the Cheetahs it’s a fight for survival and Central South Africa we have a duty to keep the team in the competition, especially, seeing that the region is breeding ground of Springbok rugby.

The pressure is on the team to perform on the field and spate of injuries to key players has made the task that much harder, with just two wins in their five games to date.

Following the teams disappointing 38-30 defeat to the Sharks over the weekend the coach, Franco Smith conceded that the uncertainty of that will be happing has put pressure on the team.

“Obviously I’m disappointed. I felt we made too many mistakes.

“It is an old story, we looked nervous. I know there is a lot of pressure, some of it is a little bit forced with the whole question about the franchise and playing for this and that,” Smith said.

“Some of this is obviously from outside and this we cannot control, and the guys obviously don’t want to disappoint. I can see it in the way they played – there are errors we made which we never do.

“We lost it a little bit, because when we were up 20-15, I felt we played not to lose, rather than to win. That is a big thing.

“I believe there is a lot of pressure on us, there is a lot of talk about the franchise thing and we don’t want to disappoint.

“Especially playing at home, it does make a difference.

“You want to have the crowd at home, you want to play for them and even at halftime they were reactive, instead of proactive because they didn’t want to disappoint”.

It is also up to the supporters to start backing their team they claimed unwavering loyal to and start turning up in droves to the home match, seeing that the lack of support could be a determining factor.

OFM Sport spoke to a former player who now plies his trade abroad.

The lock, Ligtoring Landman, who now plays for the Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales, along with the legendary scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, says when one looks at players such as the Springbok lock, Lood de Jager, its no-brainer that the Cheetahs have to stay in the competition.

“If you look at Grey, they are one of the top schools in the country.

“If the youngsters can play Super Rugby and top-flight rugby it will mean the world to them.

“The sky is the limit and possibilities will open.

“Lood de Jager is a good example.

“He came to the Cheetahs from the Pukke’s junior teams, found himself there, played awesome rugby and was the South African Rugby Player of the Year in a World Cup Year”.

The former Pukke and Griquas second-rower added that getting rid of the team affectionately known as everybody’s second team will on harm South African rugby.

“The loss of the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby would definitely harm South African rugby in the long run.

“The Cheetahs is everybody’s second team because of the brand of run they play and the brand and quality of players they produce.

“If you cut that out a lot of talented players that can go a long way will lose out on professional rugby in South Africa.

The list of players that have come through the system in Central South Africa, played for the Cheetahs, gone on to pay for other South African franchises, overseas clubs and even the Springboks is seemingly endless and is proof on their importance in not only in competition but to South African rugby.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport