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

  • 51.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:07 am

    anyone still rating Lambie ahead of Goosen for bok fly half don’t know squat about rugby. Like rating a Vw golf above a Maseratti

    Move over Steyn – Lambie here is Bok fly half already matured and ready at 19 years of age

  • 52.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:07 am

    Yeah bananaboy… for a tip tackle that wasnt

  • 53.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:08 am

    Prepare for a long timeout

  • 54.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:09 am

    oh to be a TMO….

  • 55.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:09 am

    TRY NO TRY, and we cant c the ball being grounded by Saders

  • 56.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:11 am

    @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-51: too young but great potential, Jantjies outplayed him one on one so would give nod to Jantjies as understudy to Steyn

  • 57.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:11 am

    very difficult to defend from uncontested scrums

  • 58.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:12 am

    Vok man cheetahs get off your own tryline

  • 59.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:12 am

    Hey Katman… Good rugby this am… Cheetahs looking good..

  • 60.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:12 am

    great defence Cheetahs

  • 61.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:12 am

    Dagg scores!

  • 62.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:16 am

    Not near a tv. Sounds tense.

  • 63.chch: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:18 am

    and the Cheetahs secure the point by kicking the ball out

  • 64.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:19 am

    Goosen kicked it out, why?

  • 65.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:19 am

    what the f(uck goosen?!!!!!

  • 66.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:19 am

    Ja nee Goosen is so talented he would rather lose than try to win!!! WTF??

  • 67.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:20 am

    interesting decision by Goosen to kick it out, keeping in mind Crusdaers only needed 1 more try for bonus point and the Cheetahs now at least come away with a point…not seeing it as such a bad decision.
    your guys thoughts?

  • 68.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:20 am

    To confuse Skoppie.

  • 69.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:20 am

    Hoosen???

  • 70.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:21 am

    Thats absolute white flag rubbish!!

  • 71.whatever: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:21 am

    what a doos, goosen kicks it out………….like a boxer staying down after a little slap………sorry boet you need to grow some balls if you want to go further!!

  • 72.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:21 am

    Two very good games this morning…

    Sharks and Cheetahs both played excellent rugby but just came up short…

    Pity…

  • 73.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:22 am

    Hy was so geleer deur buurman van zyl.you cant blame him this is how they get coached at school level

  • 74.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:22 am

    i somehow dont see it as throwing a white flag, are you guys here always complaining about how Cheetah teams gift overseas teams 5 points?

  • 75.chch: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:23 am

    @Papoose(papaown)-67:

    They were not under pressure and you would have thought that they would have had a go

  • 76.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:24 am

    Cameron Jacobs dropped 3 balls today. If he wants to play like the old Saru players of the 80′s then he must go to Zimbabwe! shocking! Hennie was also poor in the second half

  • 77.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:26 am

    Also very dissapointed in Ashley letting his body go like that. That is not how a pro rugby player should look like, did he swallow enrico january?

  • 78.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:28 am

    @grant10(grant100)-77: you are not Grant… GO AWAY

  • 79.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:28 am

    Goosen obviously not the quickest snail on the wall…?

    Not the guy we want making decisions for the Boks…

    Yet, anyway…

    Still loads of potential… needs time to fulfill it…

  • 80.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:29 am

    @chch(chch)-75: just trying to defend the young lad, i reckon his team is going to give it to him in the changeroom

  • 81.pat1: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:31 am

    It wasnt that stupid to kick the ball out. The reality is a draw was the only outcome they could hope for, and that was pending a conversion possibly from the touchline. Plus the Cheetahs were out on their feet and attacking from deep within their own half would leave them vulnerable to Crusaders attack and potential score or penalty leaving them outwith the 7 and they would have got nothing out of the game.

  • 82.whatever: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:31 am

    @chch(chch)-75:

    blooody right

  • 83.whatever: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:33 am

    @pat1(pat1)-81:

    got to give it a go dude…….

  • 84.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:33 am

    @pat1(pat1)-81: that’s what i’m saying, but the same time it is a defeatist mentality and a lack of belief in your teammates?

  • 85.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:34 am

    Chch…

    Well done Crusaders… that’s what champion teams do…

    Welcome home..!!

  • 86.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:36 am

    What ****?? The draw would give them 2 points and also the Saders 2!! The 1 point is not going to get the Cheetahs in the semis!!

  • 87.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:40 am

    Pragmatic choice by Goosen, also pretty defeatist. He’ll learn from it either way, so it’s not a wasted exercise.

  • 88.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:41 am

    Gotta give it everything till the final whistle…

    the rest of the team looked like having a go…

  • 89.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:41 am

    @pat1(pat1)-81: dude had FOUR players outside of him ready to have crack…his captain held his hands on his head when he saw the ball flying in the air!

    i’m interested to see what the reaction was from the coaches box.

  • 90.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 10:43 am

    Unbelievable, missed most of what sounds like an incredible game, my lifestyle seriously starting to get in the way of my rugby viewing, and this from a person that would not go to her own sisters wedding if the Sharks were playing in a Currie Cup semi.

    Possible I will miss the 2 big games this evening, so please give running commentary when they are on.

  • 91.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 11:06 am

    @JL1(JL1)-6:
    6th post in and first cheating ref comment, more to come. :-)

  • 92.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 11:09 am

    @JL1(JL1)-9:
    You seem to forget, we still here in amongst damaged roads, houses get pulled down still and half the city still is not able to be accessed by the public.
    This includes Jade stadium which will probably be pulled down.
    So *** off

  • 93.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 11:14 am

    Cane, and its been 1 year allready? your government just as ****** as SA’s! look at the **** … now there are hard workers!

  • 94.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 11:17 am

    @grant10(grant100)-93:
    And i live here.
    Its a mess. Billions of dollars to be spent.
    Unless you have walked down the streets, you really dont know the amount of damage.

  • 95.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 11:26 am

    @grant10(grant100)-93: Insensitive wanker

  • 96.scar: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 11:39 am

    Congrats to the Saders for a returning win to Christchurch. Congrats to my beloved Cheetahs for showing great fighting spirit!

  • 97.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 12:03 pm

    Howzit Hurricane

  • 98.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 12:22 pm

    what ever happened to playing the ball to the end??

    all this kicking out to end the half or game – its not in Good sport and fair to fans who pay good money

    Goosen – Brain explosion??

  • 99.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 12:52 pm

    Goosen confirms what we have already known a very long tine

    its 2 for the price of 1 lobotomies for rugby players in Yappieland

  • 100.whatever: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 23:11 pm

    Still not sure what a yap is?

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