Cheetahs win Bloem thriller

 

The Cheetahs fought their way back twice having fallen well behind on the scoreboard, and their never say dies attitude got them across the line.

 

 

The match was full of open running as it rained tries in Bloemfontein with the lead changing hands several times.

 

This made for a very different outing for the Waratahs, who endured a tough arm-wretle against the Stormers last weeknd.

 

Both teams were eager to run with the ball in search of tries, but there were big questions asked of the defensive efforts of the teams in the first half.

 

There were two tries from the Waraths within the first ten minutes, before the Cheetahs took advantage of the open space and did what they do best. The free open rugby is the style the Cheetahs thrive on and they unleashed their creative backs to ull effect.

 

The match was a combination of leaky defence and great attack, which made for a great spectacle and the close finish made it a thrilling encounter.

 

The Waratahs were the first team on the scoreboard, capitalising on some poor defence from the Cheetahs and the ball went out wide to wing Tom Kingston on the overlap. Kingston was able to attempt an off-load that Piet van Zyl juggled behind the Cheetahs tryline and Dave Dennis swooped on the loose ball to score an opportunistic try.

 

Moments later the 'Tahs tested the Cheetahs defence once more and found some holes in open play. Lock forward Sitaleki Timani ran through a giant hole and came up against the challenge of Willie le Roux. Timani bounced off Le ROux's tackle in a mismatch of size and crashed over the line for the second try just seven minutes into the game.

 

The Cheetahs were able to re-group and organised their own attack from a line-out just outside the Waratahs' 22m. Heinrich Brüssow came off the back off a rolling maul and popped a pass to Ashley Johnson, who came in at pace and then gave an inside pass to Van Zyl. The scrumhalf showed great determination to slide over the tryline against the tackle of Benn Robinson.

 

From broken play the Cheetahs reminded the 'Tahs of just how dangerous they can be on attack, as Le Roux danced between Brendan McKibbin and Sekope Kepu to score a great try. Riaan Smit banged the conversion through the uprights and suddenly after 20 minutes it was 14-all and game on.

 

Cheetahs skipper Adriaan Strauss then stepped up and intercepted a Mckibbin pass and raced 50m to beat 'Tahs flank Chris Alcock to the line and score a great try. 

 

The 'Tahs struck back with a try of their own, once again from broken play, after a fantastic chip and chase from Adam Ashley-Cooper. The big centre collected the ball after a favourable bounce and then passed out his midfield partner Rob Horne. The outside centre had the speed to beat the cover-defence to the tryline.

 

The Waratahs made the Cheetahs pay for an aimless kick from Van Zyl, as fullback Bernard Foley was given time and space to break down the touchline. An inside pass to Sitaleki Timani gave the big lock a second try of the match and a bonus point for the 'Tahs, who went into half-time with a 31-21 lead.

 

The Cheetahs were the first team to cross the whitewash in the second half after some great build up play from the forwards. From close range tighthead prop forced his way over the line with some help from Brussow.

 

Sias Ebersohn put in a deft chip from his own 22m that Le Roux magically gathered and out stripped his marker Tom Kingston. He then put in a beautiful chip over Foley, which he gathered and went in under the poles for a superb try. The Conversion from Sias Ebersohn gave the Cheetahs a 35-34 lead after 60 minutes.

 

The Cheetahs held onto their narrow lead for the remainder of the match with a much stronger defensive effort. Waratahs Berrick Barnes had an opportunity to put his side ahead, but from 50m his shot at goal fell just short.

 

In the final moments of the match Barnes dropped back into the pocket for a drop-goal, but the pass never came to his horror and the forwards coughed the ball up.

 

Man of the match: There were several top performers, with Berrick Barnes controlling things well for the 'Tahs, while Adam Ashley-Cooper was very dangerous on attack. For the Cheetahs their inspirational lead Adriaan Strauss was fantastic, while Willie le Roux scored a pair of incredible tries. However, the man who did a ton of work was Heinrich Brüssow and his input could easily have been the difference.

 

 

Tries: Van Zyl, Le Roux 2, Adriaan Strauss, Nel

Cons: Smit 4, S.Ebersohn

 

Tries: Dennis, S.Timani 2, Horne

Cons: McKibbin 4

Pens: McKibbin 2

 

 

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Andries Ferreira, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.

 

Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson (captain)

Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Tom Carter.

 

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)

TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)