Landers spoil Cheetahs’ party

Landers spoil Cheetahs’ party

28 Apr 2012

GARETH DUNCAN watched the Cheetahs relinquish a 30-9 second-half lead in a 36-33 defeat to the Highlanders in Bloemfontein.

This match will be remembered as one of the most unlikely comeback wins in Super Rugby history. The Cheetahs have only themselves to blame after a shocking defensive performance during the final quarter. To concede 27 points during the closing stages of a game is embarrassing, especially after all the hard work done earlier on.

The Cheetahs held an all-round ascendancy against the ill-disciplined Otago team, and rightfully led 23-9 at the break and 30-9 shortly after the half-time restart. However, the Highlanders capitalised on the Cheetahs’ poor defensive showing midway through the second stanza as they ran in three converted tries to level the scores at 30-30.

After the teams traded penalties, Sias Ebersohn had the opportunity to convert a potential match-winning three-pointer from right in front of the posts, but he buckled under pressure and pulled the easy attempt. The Highlanders then edged the win in the 79th minute thanks to a Chris Noakes penalty. Astonishing.

During the week, Naka Drotske explained that he had a specific game plan to down the highflying Highlanders. The visitors came with strong reputation for their breakdown domination on attack and defence, and it was essential for the Cheetahs to nullify this threat to achieve victory.

And the home team did so impressively in the first half.

They committed enough numbers at the breakdown to halt the Highlanders’ strong counter-rucking, which saw them thrive on attack with the quick ball won at the tackle points. The Kiwis’ ill-discipline also cost them as they were issued two yellow cards in the 25th and 32nd minute respectively. Andrew Hore was the first player sent to the sin bin for a breakdown transgression, while James Haskell received the second for a blatant punch. The English flanker was lucky not to receive a red card as referee Marius Jonker was advised by his assistant to do so.

With this advantage, the Cheetahs built strong attacking momentum and crossed the chalk twice through Coenie Oosthuizen and Andries Ferreira. But it was Johan Goosen who was the main influence during the Cheetahs’ charge.

The 19-year-old flyhalf scored a haul of 18 points – kicking 13 in the first half (via three penalties and two conversions), before sprinting 65m down the touchline in the second stanza and beating two covering defenders to dive in at the corner. This gave the Cheetahs their 25-point buffer. In addition to his impressive spearheading of the backline and solid defensive display, he didn’t miss one goal attempt.

Unfortunately for the men from Bloemfontein, Goosen hurt his shoulder during the act of scoring and he was replaced by Ebersohn. And with Goosen’s early departure, came the Cheetahs’ downfall.

The hosts stifled on attack and their resolve crumbled on defence. This allowed the Highlanders to cut the deficit thanks to tries from halfback replacements Noakes and Jimmy Cowan, who completed a brace.

The Cheetahs still had the opportunity to close out the win, but they failed as Ebersohn missed his easiest goal attempt – handing the Highlanders their seventh win of the season.


385 Comments

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  • 1.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 16:29 pm

    I hope the cheetahs win but can’t see it happening. Even with the jet lag highlanders will have too much.

    Landers +5

  • 2.DAS: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 16:43 pm

    Anyone have a link to a stream?

  • 3.ufo: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 16:49 pm

    Go cheetahs… go make us proud..!!!

  • 4.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 16:52 pm

    No jonker no cry

    Highlanders by 1+.

  • 5.panniepeet: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 16:52 pm

    Cheetahs will be fired up for this one… Every week there is less and less pressure on them because of the terrible performances week in-week out by those cat-cousins further north…

  • 6.Slappes: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 16:53 pm

    Cheetahs!!!

  • 7.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:06 pm

    Ooo jinne it’s marius

  • 8.DAS: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:07 pm

    Anyone find this online somewhere?

  • 9.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:13 pm

    What I don’t get it this. The Cheetahs are having their best Super rugby season ever yet they can’t even fill a quarter of their stadium?

    What more do their fans want?

  • 10.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:13 pm

    Go Cheetahs.

  • 11.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:16 pm

    Oh dear, it’s Jonker with the whistle.

  • 12.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:18 pm

    Try Cheateeeeeeeeers.

  • 13.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:19 pm

    Someone please give a stream for those near the rivers

  • 14.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:19 pm

    Coenie Poethklap from short range.

  • 15.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:20 pm

    Maybe Joanne’s first project can be to give a list of streams for our keolings on foreign shores

  • 16.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:20 pm

    doodpoes!

  • 17.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:23 pm

    And then she can give us up close and personal insight articles on the hottest players. No stats, looks.

  • 18.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:24 pm

    http://www.kostatz.webs.com/

    Now save the blerrie thing!

  • 19.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:25 pm

    :lol:

  • 20.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:26 pm

    Ag fok man every game Owen tells us the SA team needs to use the boot more.

    Enough of that weak boring *** mentality Owen!

    If Stransky was commentating he’d issue Owen with an immediate rebuttal.

  • 21.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:27 pm

    The Cheetahs are in the lead with the only try so far FFS why should they kick more Owen?

  • 22.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:27 pm

    Good link about viewing games on Supersport (works perfectly for me)

    http://forum.wiziwig.eu/threads/71369-SA-Supersport-addon-for-XBMC?p=1462137#post1462137

  • 23.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:29 pm

    Joanne are you taking note

  • 24.David: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:30 pm

    I sometimes get the impression that Jonker will only call the penalty advantage over, if a try is scored.

  • 25.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:35 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-22: Thanks Nils, I’m using kostatz at the moment but will look into that.

  • 26.viewer: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:36 pm

    Nils ha ha ha
    Caught your sarcasm late. . .

  • 27.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:36 pm

    That ball was out.

  • 28.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:38 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-17: She can rather give us up-close-and-personal close-ups of her chest :mrgreen:

  • 29.Guns: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:40 pm

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-18:
    Good link this!

  • 30.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:42 pm

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-25: I like it, because it updates itself. Just click on the program icon and current game codes appear. Nice. Sofar no problems whatsoever with the stream.

    @viewer(viewer)-26: Hehe.

    Ag, stupid by the Highlanders, cannot blame Jonker here. Stupid stupid.

  • 31.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:42 pm

    Haskell zapped Downey with a sneaky Pom punch to the side of the head

  • 32.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:42 pm

    Should be red.

  • 33.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:43 pm

    @Guns(Guns)-29: ‘

    Best around.

  • 34.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:44 pm

    Haskell is lucky to get just yellow. Idiotic behaviour and they really are fortunate, I thought homeboy Jonker will send him off. Phew.

  • 35.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:44 pm

    Well the TMO recommended very firmly a red card, Jonker overruled him.

  • 36.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:45 pm

    Both touchies say red, Jonker chickens out and say yellow…weak!

  • 37.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:45 pm

    Good that it wasn’t a red.

    Red cards kill games.

    And this is not tiddlywinks.

  • 38.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:46 pm

    Watsup Guns what’s it like in the stream

  • 39.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:47 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-37: What do you think would have happened if the situation was reversed and a Cheetah player through a clear punch like that in front of a Kiwi assistant referee and with a Kiwi referee in charge in New Zealand?

  • 40.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:48 pm

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-39: through should be threw

  • 41.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:48 pm

    Yippee kay yay mfckrs!

  • 42.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:49 pm

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-39: Why, the hitter would have SBW next. 12 rounds.

  • 43.Slappes: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:49 pm

    Jonker is a f@rkin idiot, tj said red card! Wonder if the lions are watching this game… Bunch of idiots

  • 44.Guns: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:51 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-38:
    The Stream seems a bit laggy today.. European rugby on the TV.

    Whats news Dawn?

    & – Did you manage to see the video btw?

  • 45.David: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:54 pm

    The rules don’t give the ref any leeway of interpretation when it comes to a punch like that. It’s an automatic red. Either he takes the assistants word for it or he doesn’t. He can’t say he didn’t see it and then decide it was only worth a yellow.

  • 46.Guns: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:55 pm

    lol these okes realise they still being broadcasted?

  • 47.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 17:57 pm

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-32:

    It should be red.

    Wonder what the citing commis going to see in the brawl on the other side of the field.

  • 48.wallabie.: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:00 pm

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-36:

    Hes under the pump. He gave yellow and refferal…a player will get further punishment. After last week jonker would have preffered to have had an easier game.
    Jonker i think is trying to avoid this game turning into one full of spite.

  • 49.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:02 pm

    Am well impressed Guns

  • 50.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:05 pm

    Held up, it looks.

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