The defending champion Pumas journey to Bloemfontein this weekend trying to repeat their heroics of 2022 in opposition to the Cheetahs within the Currie Cup closing.
Cheetahs vs Pumas Currie Cup Live scores
Match report
For the sixth time previously 18 years (and seventh total) the Currie Cup was orange-flavoured because the Cheetahs set off ecstatic celebrations in Bloemfontein with a measured 25-17 (halftime 18-11) closing victory over the Pumas.
The Cheetahs deserved their title – their first since 2019 – and though the magnificent Pumas as soon as once more demonstrated their depth and resilience, Hawies Fourie’s group at all times had the solutions and by no means appeared to be taken completely out of their consolation zone.
It was shut all through nevertheless and had the entranced Toyota Stadium crowd of 33 804 usually on the sting of its proverbial seat, however there was to be no repeat of the defending champions’ eyebrow-raising 61-21 victory at this identical floor in March.
Instead, the ability of the Cheetahs pack on the set part, the regular boot and course of veteran flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, and hungry defence in entrance of their very own followers noticed them ship a champion’s efficiency.
The second the brand new champions put one hand on the 132-year-old trophy most likely got here two minutes earlier than the break with the Cheetahs’ second attempt. They have been by no means headed within the match however at that time they opened a seven-point lead for the primary time and though the guests have been to shut to only one in the course of the second half, the Cheetahs at all times had management.
Up till that time Pienaar and Pumas flyhalf Tinus de Beer had exchanged two penalty targets apiece and every group had scored a solitary attempt to go away the scores degree at 11-11. Reinhardt Fortuin (centre) acquired the hosts’ first from not more than a metre when he stretched out to floor after a succession of pick-and-go’s after half-hour.
The never-say-die Airlink Pumas hit again 4 minutes later with a skillful rating from centre Ali Mgijima who took a scoring go at shut vary from proper wing Andrew Qamani Kota, gathering a De Beer kick-pass and instantly offloading to his overlapping colleague.
But the breakthrough second got here simply earlier than half time. That Cheetahs pack energy allowed them to rumble a pushed lineout maul for 20 metres to simply wanting the goal-line. The pick-and-go possibility was ignored nevertheless, and the ball was swung rapidly to the left the place wing Cohen Jasper dived in joyously for a vital rating large out. Pienaar, who had missed an early conversion from the identical place, was on track the second time.
De Beer hit again together with his third and fourth penalty targets at the beginning of the brand new half, however the hosts edged themselves two scores forward with a 3rd attempt – sweetly transformed from the touchline by Pienaar – after 52 minutes. Scrumhalf Rewan Kruger darted in from 5 metres within the left-hand nook after the ball popped unexpectedly unfastened from a driving maul.
There have been thrills and spills from there to the ultimate whistle with the clearest winner being the Cheetahs’ defence which repeatedly confounded attacking positions of the guests, both by wining the turnover or forcing the error.
De Beer missed the prospect to add a fifth penalty with 4 minutes to go to shut the hole to a single rating because the occasion started to ratchet up as the ultimate whistle despatched the group into raptures.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs 25 (18) – Tries: Reinhardt Fortuin, Cohen Jasper, Rewan Kruger. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2). Penalty targets: Pienaar (2).
Airlink Pumas 17 (11) – Try: Ali Mgijima. Penalty targets: De Beer (4).
Currie Cup closing: Teams
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.
Match Information, Kick-off time
Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Expected climate: High of twenty-two°C, low of -1°C
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: AM Jacobs, Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds
LIVE stream: DStv Now
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