Cheetahs make big Currie Cup statement
MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs put down a massive marker, beating last year’s losing finalists Griquas 42-19 in the Currie Cup season-opener in Kimberley on Friday.
The game produced five yellow cards – four to the visiting Cheetahs and one to the hosts – and a red card.
Cheetahs flyer Daniel Kasende was issued two of those yellow cards – one for a high tackle and one for cynically going off his feet, the latter earning him the dubious distinction of a red card.
Despite the disciplinary issues, the visitors were simply too powerful, too energetic and also too clinical for a willing Griquas team that scrambled desperately in the second half, but just fell short of earning a four-try bonus point.
The Cheetahs won the try count five-three, but the final margin is a true reflection of their superiority.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
The game was over as a contest by half-time, with the Cheetahs scoring three tries to race into a 22-0 lead before the break.
Griquas managed to score two early tries in an improved second-half performance, but the Cheetahs added three more five-pointers, while Ruan Pienaar’s boot kept the visitors well clear of their hosts on the scoreboard.
Hooker Marnus van der Merwe, flank Gideon van der Merwe, No 8 Jeandre Rudolph, and flank Friedle Olivier all crossed the whitewash – with Kasende also dotted down.
Griquas will take heart from an improved second half – with replacement hooker Gustav du Rand (two) and wing Luther Obi getting tries.
However, the Kimberley outfit could not match the physicality of a Cheetahs team that is using the opening rounds of the Currie Cup to prepare for their trip to France on April 1 and a European Challenge Cup Round of 16 encounter with Toulon.
The scorers
For Griquas
Tries: Du Rand 2, Obi
Cons: Dobela 2
For the Cheetahs
Tries: Uys, Van der Merwe, Rudolph, Olivier, Kasende
Cons: Pienaar 4
Pens: Pienaar 3
Red card: Daniel Kasende (Cheetahs, 80 – two yellow cards)
Yellow cards: Rynier Bernardo (Cheetahs, 17 – cynical foul, killing the ball in the tackle), Rosko Specman (Griquas, 36 – foul play, knees into the back of an opponent), Friedle Olivier (Cheetahs, 50 – foul play, taking a player through the horizontal), Daniel Kasende (Cheetahs, 68 – foul play, high tackle; 80 – cynical foul, off his feet at the tackle)
Teams
Griquas: 15 Jay-Cee Nel, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Janco Venter, 7 Stephan Smit, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Albert Liebenberg, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Carl Els, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Malcolm Jaer.
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandrè Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (Captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Cohen Jasper.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Jason Morrow and Dewald Smit
TMO: Quinton Immelman
* Picture credit: @CheetahsRugby
