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There are still three months of action to be completed, but preliminary evidence suggests that Cheetahs they will do everything possible to lay eggs in the faces of SA Rugby and the Super Rugby franchises.
How it happened | Cheetahs v bulls
Shunned from the future of local play in PRO Rugby, Hawies Fourie’s troops sit pretty at the top of the unlocked Super Rugby record after securing a brave and probably deserved 19-17 win the Bulls in Bloemfontein on Friday night.
The hosts had to survive a concerted forward attack from their opponents in the final 15 minutes, who exploited their tired attackers and scored a try from a maul, rounded off by replacement hooker Joe van Zyl.
However, reserve midfielder Chris Smith swerved with the conversion, a frustrating mistake as he landed an excellent penalty a few minutes earlier.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the core franchise demo was that they displayed rare versatility in their approach.
Known as a team that enjoys playing with the front foot and exhibiting initiative, the Cheetahs focused on absorbing the pressure of a failed visiting team that had its fair share of possession and chances, only to invariably shoot themselves in the foot for poor execution and discipline. . .
The host played the percentages well and, with furious eighth-placeman Jasper Wiese, boisterous hooker Reinach Venter and astute inside center Frans Steyn leading the way, he defended superbly.
As the pressure mounted on the frustrated Bulls, elevated middle Tian Schoeman had fun converting winger Rosko Specman’s fine try and kicking four penalties.
In the end, Blitzbok legend Specman’s score was the only visit by either team about the cover-up, a fact almost fitting for a match where scoring opportunities were relatively rare.
It came in the 25th minute when, after an efficient lineout, Steyn moved hard in midfield, allowing right wing Malcolm Jaer to deftly come off his wing, spinning around and creating extra space for his positional partner to shoot out. .
That ruthlessness stood in stark contrast to the Bulls ‘rebelliousness, as they missed at least three chances in the Cheetahs’ 22-meter area.
In the third quarter, Loftus’ men seemed to be imploding under the weight of the penalties they conceded, culminating in Ruan Nortje’s yellow for entering from the side.
Ironically, that kick to the rear seemed to inspire the Bulls, who used their youth bench to pressure a firm, if somewhat crumbling defense.
Smith, known as a solid kicker, should have at least secured the tie, but he didn’t.
Both teams had to deal with serious injuries to key veterans, with Bulls fullback Gio Aplon coming out with suspected knee ligament damage, while Cheetahs captain and running back Ruan Pienaar was also injured. knee.
Scorers:
Cheetahs 19 (13)
Test: Rosko Specman
Conversion: Tian Schoeman
Penalties: Schoeman (4)
Bulls 17 (3)
Test: Joe van Zyl
Penalties: Morne Steyn (3), Chris Smith
Teams:
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais
Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Chris Massyn, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 William Small-Smith
Bulls
15 Gio Aplon, 14 David Kriel, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stedman Gans
