Cheetahs push Crusaders close

Cheetahs push Crusaders close

24 Mar 2012

GARETH DUNCAN watched Israel Dagg score a late try to give the Crusaders a 28-21 win over the Cheetahs in Christchurch.

The men from Bloemfontein showed a great fightback to overcome an 18-3 deficit early in the second half to draw level at 21-21 in the final quarter. The Crusaders bossed possession in the dying moments and battled against a resilient Cheetahs defence, which managed to hold up two try attempts.

However, on the third go, Dagg found space out wide and dived over for the match-winning score in the 75th minute. The Cheetahs finally grabbed hold of the ball in their red zone as the hooter blew, but after failing to make ground, Johan Goosen booted play into to touch to settle for the losing bonus point – a disappointing finish to the match for many.

While the Crusaders will be disappointed with their overall performance, they will be happy with the showing from their heavies, which set the platform for their 15-point lead earlier in the match.

The Crusaders forwards were dominant in the first half, as their Highlanders-like counter rucking overturned possession on numerous occasions while they also controlled the scrum contests. This saw the Cheetahs, who started the match with two new props in Trevor Nyakane and Lourens Adriaanse, penalised heavily at the set piece.

This saw Tom Taylor slot two three-pointers before the hosts kicked one penalty into touch, and scored a well-worked try from the resulting lineout – a smart backline move put Sean Maitland through for the first try of the match. The Cheetahs could only score a Goosen penalty as the half-time score read 11-3 in the Crusaders’ favour.

When Robbie Fruean dotted down early in the second stanza, the floodgates were expected to open as the Cheetahs are known for imploding in the final 40. But they didn’t on this occasion, as a brilliant counter attacking motion from their own 22 was finish off by Goosen and sparked a comeback.

The 19-year-old flyhalf kicked his second penalty before Robert Ebersohn burrowed through from close range. Goosen levelled the scores from the kicking tee.

It seemed that the Cheetahs had some ticker in the tank to upset the Crusaders, but Dagg ended their hopes after persistent attacking pressure from the hosts at the death.


102 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All

  • 1.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:32 am

    DRAGONS don’t scare Cheetahs…

  • 2.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:36 am

    LOL at Heaven’s Game.

  • 3.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:37 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-1:
    You backed them in the Bru then ;)
    You’re fair moving up the log!

  • 4.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:44 am

    Go cheetahs…!

    You’ve done it at home… Now do it away too…!!!

  • 5.Ou-Jakkals: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:49 am

    Anybody maybe have a link to a live feed ?

  • 6.JL1: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:50 am

    How utter rubbish are these Kiwi refs, they are incompetent and it seems that to me that they cheat

  • 7.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 08:56 am

    Jakkals…

    Try http://kostatz.webs.com

    Was posted on previous thread by someone

  • 8.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:01 am

    Is it my eyes or does stadium lighting look a bit inadequate?

  • 9.JL1: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:04 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-8: Third world quality nothing but a school stadium

  • 10.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:07 am

    Crusaders looking inadequate too!

  • 11.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:20 am

    these saders are quite ordinary…something missing.

  • 12.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:21 am

    Common Cheetahs!!!

  • 13.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:22 am

    Yep, no McCaw, no DC & no S”M”W ;)

  • 14.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:27 am

    Watsup Guns workout done already????

  • 15.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:27 am

    @Guns(Guns)-13: Morning big fella.

  • 16.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:31 am

    Daneeeeeeel Kaaaaaaarter!!!!

    In the HOUSE!

  • 17.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:34 am

    Fruean strait through for the 5 pointer..

  • 18.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:34 am

    Wow for a big guy Fruean has great balance.

    He’d be my AB 13 with SBW at 12 for sure.

  • 19.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:35 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-14: Morning Dawn, no not yet still getting the breakfast down first! ;)

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-15:
    Morning morning, how goes things in the Cape?

  • 20.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:36 am

    According to this site Cheetahs only have 2 subs..

    Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Cameron Jacobs, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earle, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
    Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Coenie

  • 21.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:37 am

    TRY CHeetAHS!!!! What a try!!!

  • 22.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:37 am

    Fantastic team effort from the Cheetahs!

  • 23.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:38 am

    awesome Goosen in my Fantacy Team!!

  • 24.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:38 am

    @Guns(Guns)-19: Very well thank you, and on your side?

  • 25.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:39 am

    Hoosen!

  • 26.Jokerstotheright: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:39 am

    2 mins.of Dan Carter and that backline machine is functioning well again.

  • 27.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:41 am

    Excellent l try for the Cheetahs, ball moved across changed hands 6 time

  • 28.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:41 am

    That tackle was OK.

    Read is a great player, but he does give away a fair amount of penalties.

  • 29.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:42 am

    This is great so far. Remind me, which of these teams is a “cellar dweller” ;)

  • 30.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:47 am

    Great team try cheetahs..!

    No prob with tackle but ref unsighted did correct thing to put it on review with white card

  • 31.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:47 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-24:

    Been another busy busy week, slept till 7am this morning felt privileged! lol Hopefully will have some nice warm weather in London today..

  • 32.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:49 am

    Min 55
    A dropped ball by the cheetahs wing,, what did you expect?

  • 33.chch: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:51 am

    This referee is an idiot. How many odd decisions has he made. Playing the ball on the ground when the ball was kicked to the guy. Not picking up the tackle without the ball in the first half too.
    The referee can understand set plays by the book but open play is just too fast for his small brain.

  • 34.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:51 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-28:
    @Dawn(Dawn)-25:
    On another note, if any of you see Ron Howards new movie coming out next year “RUSH” – IF they keep the South African filming in the film & you see two South African Polise officers, I am the one with the stern face!! :P

    If ur into F1 it’s a biography of Formula 1 champion driver Niki Lauda and the 1976 crash that almost claimed his life. Mere weeks after the accident, he got behind the wheel to challenge his rival, James Hunt.

    Director:
    Ron Howard
    Writer:
    Peter Morgan (screenplay)
    Stars:
    Chris Hemsworth (Thor) , Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy) and Natalie Dormer (Casanova, Capt America)

  • 35.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:53 am

    Ron Howard did “A beautiful Mind”, “Apolo 13″ and many more.. Such a nice bloke too..

  • 36.chch: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:53 am

    @ufo(ufo)-30:

    Didn’t he also give a penalty?

  • 37.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:56 am

    @chch(chch)-36:

    Penalty for offside in better position. He thought the tackle was a penalty too though, for some reason. Playing different game to the rest of us i think.

  • 38.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:57 am

    Damn that was almost a score if Le Roux got away!

  • 39.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:58 am

    TRY! kITTIES!!!

  • 40.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:58 am

    CHEEEEEETAHS :D

  • 41.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 09:59 am

    Movie star too!

  • 42.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:01 am

    Wearing my Cheetahs armband.

    They can’t lose!

  • 43.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:01 am

    Loving the way the Cheetahs are playing at the moment, great stuff to see. Goosen is going to be a brilliant flyhalf for the Bokke eventually. Go Cheetahs even though I have the Saders in my superBru.

  • 44.chch: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:02 am

    I am amazed at how quiet the crowd is. been a long time away from home.

  • 45.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:03 am

    Ch..

    Yeah.. was answering commentators…

    But without clear sight he obviously felt it deserved it… with no access to instant replays don’t think it’s the worst decision… rather err on side of caution… if it’d been the other way round would’ve accepted the decision too…

    don’t think it will determine outcome of game…

    cheetahs playing really well at the mo… crux not as well as they should…

  • 46.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:03 am

    What’s up peasants? Good game?

  • 47.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:04 am

    21-21
    HAAK VRYSTAAT

  • 48.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:04 am

    @ufo(ufo)-45: What did I miss UFO, was there a white card shown?

  • 49.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:04 am

    Go Cheetahs!!! Will be awesome if they win!!

  • 50.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:05 am

    Thanks tartan…

    I missed that

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