Cheetahs crowned as 2023 Currie Cup champions
MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs playmaker Ruan Pienaar sent the ball hurling into the stands as his team romped to Currie Cup victory after defeating the Pumas in the final in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The men from Bloemfontein triumphed 25-17 in an entertaining final in front of a crowd of 33804.
The Cheetahs dominated possession for most of the match while the Pumas were made to defend for long periods, and this time round, unlike their semifinal against the Sharks last week, defence did not bring them victory.
With two minutes to go in the match, celebrations started in the stands as the Bloemfontein faithful watched their team secure another turn-over and the last scrum of the match was set on the middle line.
The Cheetahs scored three tries to the one of the Pumas, the first only in the 28th minute when Reinhardt Fortuin dived over in the corner.
The first 25 minutes were dictated by the boot of the two flyhalves, Pienaar and the Pumas’ Tinus de Beer, and kept the score at 6-6.
The Pumas fought back valiantly and managed to send over Aliqhayiya Mgijima five minutes after Fortuin scored.
After 35 minutes Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie changed both his props but it paid off and from a line-out in the Pumas 22, a powerful maul by the men in orange sucked in the Pumas defence and from the ball the ball was distributed quickly to the outside backs.
Quick hands by Fortuin, Pienaar and Tapiwa Mafura, who sent Jasper Cohen over in the corner, stretched the homesides’ lead to 18-11 at half-time.
The second half was more of the same from Pienaar and his charges and the Pumas could only manage two more penalty kicks by De Beer.
When Cheetah scrumhalf Rewan Kruger dotted down in the 51st minute, it was all but sealed for the homeside.
To their credit, the Pumas never gave up the fight and battled galliantly to the bitter end.
But the Cheetahs were the dominant team on the day, with Pienaar the absolute playmaker, varying his game with high kicks, quick ball through the hands to his attacking backs and often sending the ball coast to coast to try and find cracks in the Pumas defensive lines.
It was the first time these two teams clashed in a Currie Cup final, and the Cheetahs’ 33rd Currie Cup encounter. The first clash was on 11 October 1996 in the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
It was also the third time in a row that the Cheetahs had the privilege of playing in the Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein.
Scorers:
For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Fortuin, Kruger, Cohen
Cons: Pienaar 2
Pens: Pienaar 2
For the Pumas:
Tries: Mgimima
Cons: De Beer
Pens: De Beer 3
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Nqobisizwe Moxoli
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jeandre Rudolph, 20 George Cronje, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Siyabonga Masuku 23 Robert Ebersohn.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Andrew Kota, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Francois Kleinhans, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Pieter Jacobs, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Gene Willemse, 23 Wian van Niekerk.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: AM Jacobs, Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds
Photo: Johan Orton
