Cheetahs steal sensational late win
18 Mar 2012
RYAN VREDE watched Piet van Zyl score a try after the siren had sounded to help the Cheetahs beat the Rebels 33-26 in a highly entertaining clash in Melbourne.
The Cheetahs were denied with a last-minute penalty against the Brumbies last week but wouldn’t be again, scoring a try that was birthed well in their territory and featured some sublime handling and angled running. It will feature prominently when television networks compile their Try of the Season packages.
And they deserved this win. They started superbly, scoring in the second minute through Willie le Roux after a move that punched up left through numerous phases then swung right to the winger.
The Rebels responded five minutes later through Gareth Delve, but the first half belonged entirely to the Cheetahs, whose gainline defence was excellent and didn’t allow the Rebels to build any momentum, while their impact in this facet of play on attack enabled them to control the flow and tempo of the match and force the Rebels into infringements under pressure.
Le Roux grabbed his brace when he intercepted a hopeful James O’Connor pass and ran in untouched. Johan Goosen kicked his second conversion and later built the Cheetahs’ lead further with two penalties.
Leading 20-10 at the break the Cheetahs needed just to continue to work from the script that had brought them success. But the Rebels exited the tunnel a reborn side, retaining the ball through phases, exhibiting invention in the backline play and in doing so making the Cheetahs scramble desperately to repel them.
O’Connor single-handedly levelled the scores within 10 minutes of the restart through a penalty and converted try but the Cheetahs did well not to get blown away by their resurgent hosts, O’Connor and Goosen trading penalties to leave the scores deadlocked at 26-all with 10 minutes to play.
It was a breathless period with both sides having opportunities to snatch the win but ultimately the Cheetahs would construct an incredible 16-phase move that culminated in Van Zyl’s decisive score.
120 Comments
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18 Mar 2012, 15:53 pm
Willie le Roux must be a Bok = next Carel Dup!…. so somewhere you have to hide away another quota … pick chilli @ 2 then …. Bissie is a legend, but we we need the try scoring machine = Willie
18 Mar 2012, 16:25 pm
Did every SA team win this weekend? If so, isn’t that some sort of record?
18 Mar 2012, 16:34 pm
no cannon …. a year or so ago, the NZ refs took time off, and 5 SA teams won in 1 week
18 Mar 2012, 17:13 pm
Well Done Cheaters…. about time you got the rub of the rubber…
A great SA weekend…
18 Mar 2012, 18:19 pm
Well done Cheetahs Great win Well done all SA teams
For my superbru pick, I had the Cheetahs by 5, but I will take it either way
I just wished they had missed the conversion
Bismark is again showing why he should have started in the world cup, and yes he does give away some penalties but he plays with such aggression and intensity. I take that for 80 min with some penalties anyday
18 Mar 2012, 22:44 pm
Ha Ha! Prikbok’s suddenly gone quiet, hasn’t she?
19 Mar 2012, 01:27 am
@grant10(grant100)-103:
Well like the springboks of old, looks like you still rely on your own refs
to win it for you.
19 Mar 2012, 02:23 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-107: Ignore him Hurricane. This mutt is just on a mission to wind everyone up.
19 Mar 2012, 02:27 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-107:
Hahaha Grant100…10 times the man Grant10 is…wonder if he can outrun the big dogs?
19 Mar 2012, 02:33 am
@niknaks(niknaks)-106: His head hurts.
19 Mar 2012, 02:46 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-110:
I’m sure it does. The chip on his shoulder keeps getting in the way…
19 Mar 2012, 03:06 am
Speaking of Priks and a hate of everything SA, check the predictions below. Maybe he hould go back to building snowmen or something instead…if I miss him today can someone please remind him!
• 41.Nils:
15 Mar 2012, 13:05 pm
Chiefs by 7+
Blues by 2+
Hurricanes by 5+
Waratahs by 10+
Reds by 5+
Rebels by 5+
19 Mar 2012, 03:44 am
Slarti. Nils does not hate SA. He just supports the ABs. It’s the insanity defence.
19 Mar 2012, 03:57 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-113:
19 Mar 2012, 08:13 am
Yeah… Nils is NOT your hate-spewing, generalising, saffa-hating bigoted rugby supporter…
He’s just an AB supporter…!!
Is fair and gives as good as he gets… and takes off the gloves for games…
A worthy opponent…!
19 Mar 2012, 08:29 am
@ Grant10
Why just counting the Cheetah and Sharks players ?. Please do the same with the Lions and you will find only 1
19 Mar 2012, 08:38 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-112: Hi, Slartibartfast!
Nevermind, I also had Scotland, France and Ireland so it was a total screw-up for me.
Nothing to do with “hates everything SA” paranoia.
19 Mar 2012, 08:40 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-113: @ufo(ufo)-115: Thank you guys.
Fact that I do support the opposition from the Kiwiland does not mean SA hating.
19 Mar 2012, 09:41 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-114: Could you please elaborate?
19 Mar 2012, 11:16 am
@grant10(grant100)-101: I agree Willie Le Roux to make the Bok squad this year. I will join you on being the hype machine for Willie Le Roux. He looks absolute class. Even when he is standing around doing nothing he looks class. Seriously this guy needs to be in the Bok squad. Seriously talented backline player. He will be able to slot in at 15, 11, 14 and 13.
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