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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  • 101.willievz: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:34 pm

    @brains_trust(brains_trust)-86: Unbelievable. Last week too.

  • 102.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:34 pm

    The Cheetahs have given up.

  • 103.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:35 pm

    sadly the Cheetahs have lost the plot

  • 104.DAS: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:35 pm

    Why are the Cheetahs playing broken rugby against these Highlanders backs? Come on!

    Ben Smith is class, would walk into most international sides.

  • 105.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:35 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-95:
    Yes he is going to have some off time to train

  • 106.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:35 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-102: cheetahs need to regroup very quickly

  • 107.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:35 pm

    it was 30 – 9 just a few minutes ago….

  • 108.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:36 pm

    since Goosen off Cheetahs all the way back to the drawing board

    That the difference between Cheetahs with or without Johan Goosen

    And he could be damaged beyond repair so leaving the fly half berth open to the likes of one dimension Morne Steyn or little hopeful pretender Lambiekins

  • 109.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:37 pm

    Keep it the feck together cheetahs

  • 110.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:38 pm

    Father, Father, Father help us
    Send some guidance from above
    ‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
    Where is the love? the love, the love.

  • 111.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:38 pm

    higlanders have also gotten away with murder, and whats the bet the dirty yellow spinedHaskell will prolly get off scott free for punching a man from behind, what a coward

  • 112.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:38 pm

    One would have thought Highlanders would be getting tired they have 2nd wind going here

  • 113.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:39 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-105: Definitely. You can punch and play on.

  • 114.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:39 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-105: can’t – that is.

  • 115.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:40 pm

    Chettahs have to win here, They do not deserve to lose

  • 116.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:40 pm

    Madness is what you demonstrate
    And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
    Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
    Take control of your mind and meditate
    Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’all

  • 117.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:41 pm

    Ag poethklap that was baie dom.

  • 118.cab: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:41 pm

    wtf cheetahs doing with those 2 soft tries, they had this game, was looking a great result.

  • 119.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:42 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-113: Agreed Nils, its just so wrong, And the way i see it he is a disgrace to his own team mates that i am sure are trying to play and win with honour

  • 120.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:42 pm

    James Haskell got expelled from Wellington for making a porn tape with his sheila.

    #karakter

  • 121.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:43 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-120: :lol:

  • 122.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:44 pm

    more SharkieVarkie cnteyes up each others SharkieVarkie backsides., poeftas together arsecreeping up their SharkieVarkie arseholes in unison

    Slave traders all of them together inthe last bastion of inbred ignoramus’s

    What’s this Jonker pulling a proverbial home town decision., so what’s new in the S15 zoo?

  • 123.viewer: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:44 pm

    33 – 30
    Huh?

  • 124.David: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:44 pm

    @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-108:
    It wasn’t just Goosen going of. The Highlanders are tearing the Cheetahs defense to shreds with ball in hand.

  • 125.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:46 pm

    @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-122: Madness is what you demonstrate
    And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
    Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
    Take control of your mind and meditate
    Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’all

  • 126.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:46 pm

    with Goosen at 10 it would be a sure drop goal
    Still can happen

  • 127.viewer: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:47 pm

    The remnants of the old Cats franchise

    Lucky cheetahs 36 – 33 Lucky

  • 128.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:47 pm

    bwahahahaaaa …..

  • 129.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm

    wow what a shocker from Sias

  • 130.viewer: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm

    . . . But he misses WTF Sias

  • 131.Nils: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm

    WHAT??? jonker gives wrong guys a pen in the last minute??? I have seen it all.

  • 132.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm

    …..and that’s why he’s not a bok

  • 133.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm

    Sias just cost his team the match

  • 134.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm

    ag no

  • 135.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm

    That will haunt Ebersohn for a veeeeeeery long time.

    Poor kid.

    But BMT is needed and he didn’t have it.

  • 136.David: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:50 pm

    Oh dear, Sias. :roll:

  • 137.viewer: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:50 pm

    Unbelievable!

  • 138.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:50 pm

    These are the old Cheetahs.

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

    So it’s official, SANZAR medicine works, Jonker is well again.

    (miracle recovering and biblical implode by the Cheetahs)

  • 140.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:51 pm

    well kudos to landers for not giving up, even with some poor officiating which went both ways

  • 141.viewer: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:51 pm

    Wow this defeat can destroy a player’s mind. Shocking!

  • 142.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:51 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-133:
    Not really the whole team lost it for the cheetahs
    No just one kick

  • 143.JA-JA: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:51 pm

    I just changed my mind please bring back the Cats ASAP, it’s the only hope these guys have!!!

  • 144.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:51 pm

    Lose Goosen And you lose the game., that’s how the tough cookie crumbles in the tough nut real world cauldron of Super rugby

  • 145.SteveWarren: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm

    someone here said sias must move to wp! No thanks we have already had a gaffie.

  • 146.Getafix: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm

    Cheetahs…. why don’t you just lay over and take it up the bum? Should also get relegated…. Weak!!!!!! looks like 14 and 15 again this year……

  • 147.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm

    Poor Cheetahs.

    Ultra Kak to lose when you are 30-9 up.

  • 148.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm

    Sias must be absolutely gutted. Tough luck Cheetahs.

    But the Landers didn’t panic and took their opportunities. Kudos to them.

  • 149.XV: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm

    Sias Eberson….3 easy misses at posts…wtf?

  • 150.cab: Reply to this comment
    28 Apr 2012, 18:53 pm

    agmefok

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