The team wasn’t able to secure a win in any of their three matches, albeit they came close and Connacht in Galway and against the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Even the 30-17 defeat against Cardiff Blues is somewhat flattering to the home team, and it would have been a much closer affair had the Cheetahs discipline not let them down. In this match, the Cheetahs had to battle from the 15th minute with a player less on the park after Jasper Wiese was red-carded for a dangerous cleanout at the ruck.

For the first 10 minutes into the second half, the Cheetahs contested the game with 13 men after the flank Gerhard Olivier was sent to the naughty chair for kicking the ball away.

Even in the game against Connacht, a red card spoilt what should have been the Cheetahs first victory on Irish soil.

The Cheetahs did not play bad rugby at all during their tour, although in their last two games they are starved of possession and kudos to the Scarlets and Cardiff for achieving that.

While the tour was a disappointing outcome for the Cheetahs they still occupy the third spot in Conference A, and it now a case of victories against the Ospreys in Swansea and Zebre in Parma are non-negotiable.

It will be interesting to see what the coach Hawies Fourie will do when it comes to selecting his loose forwards for the next while as it is a certainty that Wiese will be sanctioned heavily for his red card on Saturday. Sias Koen is the most likely name to get a starting role, but who will serve on the bench remains the question.

Fourie lamented his teams' discipline however as a good coach should, he praised his charges for the areas where they did well.

The tactician added that they will have to go back to the drawing board ahead of their next mini-tour.

“We were looking for a win, so to not even get a point out of the game was very disappointing.

“It makes it very difficult when you are playing much of the game with 14 men and at one stage even 13 players. The Blues began very well, they held onto the ball, and their multi-phase attacks put our defence under massive pressure.

“When the red card came I was already concerned as we were 8-0 behind and another score for them would have meant we were in for a long night.

“I am proud of the guys for showing character after the red card and coming back by scoring two tries.

“Unfortunately then we gave away two soft penalties just before half time and they scored soon after the break when we were down to 13 men and that surrendered the initiative back to them.”

“It is a bitter pill to swallow because we really wanted to win overseas, but it didn’t happen.

“We must go back and have a look at how we must play in the Northern Hemisphere and in this weather and improve on that. That way we will give ourselves the best possible opportunity to beat the Ospreys.”

The Cheetahs next game in the PRO14 will be on 30 November when they tackle the Ospreys in Swansea.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport