Cheetahs run riot in Bloem feast
MATCH REPORT: The defending- champion Cheetahs got their 2024 Currie Cup season off to the perfect start.
Outscoring a much-changed Griffons team by 12 tries to two, the Cheetahs made a massive statement of intent with their 82-20 victory in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
It was the Cheetahs’ greater accuracy against a Griffons team with 10 players on Currie Cup debut that saw them race clear in a 50-point second-half rout.
The Cheetahs raced into an early lead – tries by new recruit Sbu Nkosi and rookie flyhalf Ethan Wentzel giving them a 14-3 lead after just 12 minutes.
However, a string of penalties – with yellow cards to captain Victor Sekekete and veteran loose forward Jeandre Rudolph – saw the Griffons awarded a penalty try.
While still a man down Gideon van der Merwe burst over and on the stroke of half-time the Cheetahs were awarded a penalty try – with Griffons hooker Chadley Wenn joining the well-trodden path to the sin bin – allowed the Cheetahs to take a 28-13 win into the break.
A Litha Nkula try two minutes into the second half, followed by Jeandre Rudolph bursting over and Daniel Kasende racing down the left wing saw the Cheetahs make their numerical advantage count – 47-13.
The Cheetahs started to clear their bench and it was replacement scrumhalf Jandré Nel scoring the eighth try.
Neels Volschenk joined the Cheetahs’ scoring feast, before flyer Gurshwin Wehr pulled one back for the visitors.
There was enough time for Van der Merwe, Kasende and Nel to get their second tries and make the final score 82-20.
The scorers
For the Cheetahs
Tries: Nkosi, Wentzel, Van der Merwe 2, penalty try, Nkula, Rudolph, Kasende 2, Nel 2, Volschenk
Cons: Wentzel 6, penalty try does not require a conversion, Lourens 3
For the Griffons
Tries: Penalty try, Wehr
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion, Pretorius
Pens: Kota 2
Yellow cards: Victor Sekekete (Cheetahs, 19 – cynical foul, illegally collapsing the maul), Jeandre Rudolph (Cheetahs, 28 – repeated infringements, playing the ball on the ground), Chadley Wenn (Griffons, 40 – cynical foul, playing an opponent with out the ball and preventing a probable try)
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Litha Nkula, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacement: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Pierre Uys, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Jandré Nel, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 George Lourens.
Griffons: 15 Qamani Kota, 14 Gilroy Philander, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Keegan Schaefer, 8 Orateng Koikanyang, 7 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Xolani Jacobs.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Jared Kruger, 21 Siphamandla Mingo Piti, 22 Cheslin Arendse, 23 Robbie Petzer.
Referee: Paul Mente
TMO: Ben Crouse
