Whisper it quietly but Toyota Cheetahs are now in the driving seat for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the South African outfit are riding high in Conference A after their electrifying start to the 2019⁄20 Guinness PRO14 season. Three wins from their opening three games ensured Franco Smith ended his time in charge with a flourish before handing the reins over to Hawies Fourie to take on the Italy job. But three consecutive defeats brought a shuddering halt to their momentum and prompted many to wonder whether talk of a Guinness PRO14 Final Series debut was somewhat premature. Yet any doubts about their credentials have been well and truly put to bed by their double derby success over South Africa rivals Isuzu Southern Kings. The dream is alive, believe the hype. Wobble worries put to rest Scintillating attacking rugby from the Cheetahs in the first three rounds had many rugby fans and commentators purring as they sat top of the pile in Conference A. With 22 tries scored in those opening three matches against high-profile victims such as Glasgow Warriors, Ulster and Munster, they emphatically laid down a marker. It was not just in attack they impressed either, with only seven tries conceded in response to put them in pole position and earn the status of everyone’s favourite second team. A narrow defeat at the Sportsground to Connacht was their first stumble while they also went down to Scarlets and Cardiff Blues – a series of results that started to spark concern.
