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Pumas No 8 Jeandre Rudolph in action against Griquas during their Super Rugby Unlocked match in Kimberley.
Louis Botha / Griquas Rugby Union / Gallo Images
the Cougars upset the apple cart when they defeated Griquas in an entertaining Super Rugby Unlocked meeting in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
Mpumalanga’s men won 27-21, after leading 17-11 at halftime.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Griquas v Pumas
Not many experts gave the Cougars a chance beforehand, especially after losing 53-31 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend and being interrupted by various injuries, including losing captain Ryan Nell during the season, before his trip to Kimberley.
But Jimmy Stonehouse’s men shot out on a hot afternoon and ran in three attempts.
Griquas trailed 17-6 just before halftime, but scored a vital push attempt to stay in touch, and when they set the score back at 20-18 midway through the second half, it looked like the Pumas would run out of gas.
But they found a second wind, with flyhalf and man-of-the-match Eddie Fouche controlling affairs in an impressive way.
The Pumas scored tries via scrum half Ginter Smits, winger Ettiene Taljaard and Devon Williams, while Fouche had 12 points with his boot.
The hosts scored two attempts through blocking by Victor Sekekete and replacement for forward Adre Smith, with elevated middle George Whitehead kicking a conversion and three penalties.
In action next weekend, the Pumas host the Stormers in Nelspruit (Friday, October 23 – 7pm), while Griquas has a goodbye.
Scorers:
Griquas
Attempts: Victor Sekekete, Adre Smith
Conversion: George Whitehead
Penalties: Whitehead (3)
Cougars
Attempts: Ginter Smits, Ettiene Taljaard, Devon Williams
Conversions: Eddie Fouche (3)
Penalties: Fouche (2)
Teams:
Griquas
15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 James Verity-Amm, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Carl Els, 5 Victor Sekekete , 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli
Substitutes: 16 Alandre van Rooyen, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Madot Mabokela, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Zandre Jordaan, 21 Gideon van der Merwe, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Berton Klaasen
Cougars
15 Devon Williams, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain) , 4 Darrien Landsberg, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude.
Substitutes: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Heath Backhouse, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Niel Marais, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Dewald Maritz
