Cheetahs bracing for snow and icy conditions in Amsterdam against Ulster

Based in the Dutch capital for their away games in the tournament, the Free Staters are determined to maintain their unbeaten record against the Irish province on foreign soil, but with temperatures in Amsterdam set to hit just 1°C on Sunday, and with potential snow forecast, the game will be a challenge in more ways than one.

The Cheetahs' history with Ulster has been dramatic: a 39-39 draw in Bloemfontein during the 2018-19 Pro14 season was followed by a crushing 63-26 victory at Free State Stadium the next year.

Pienaar, who played in that emphatic Cheetahs win and also made 141 appearances for Ulster during his distinguished career, knows exactly what a challenge it will be to adjust to Amsterdam's icy conditions.

The Cheetahs will sweat it out in Bloemfontein on Tuesday before flying to the Netherlands later that night.

"We're training in 30 to 32 degrees now and then you have to prepare for minus three," Pienaar told Netwerk24. "I don't think everyone understands how difficult it is to go from that kind of heat to snow and rain. We're trying our best to prepare the guys for it.

"We have a young group and not everyone is used to those kinds of conditions," he added.

The Cheetahs sit bottom of Pool 3 with zero points after opening defeats to Exeter and Stade Francais, with their final pool game set away to Racing 92.

Ulster arrive in Amsterdam off the back of a 61-7 thrashing of Racing 92, followed by a narrow 29-26 loss to Cardiff.