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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28 Apr 2012, 20:41 pm
@cab(cab)-293:
Yes, he’d listen, but first and foremost Jake is an analyst, not a creator. He knows how to counter the oppostion but not how to dominate them other than through forward power and aggressive defense.
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-294:
Jake seemed determined to accomodate Spies in some loose forward position. If you remember, he tried him at 6, 7 and 8 before Spies seemed to believe that 8 was his best position. That myth has been perpetuated ever since.
28 Apr 2012, 20:44 pm
Mitchell a great coach, not a one-trick wonder at all, neither is white – mitchell had something like 87% success rate with kiwis and part of Woodwards’ juggernaut – ive never seen a team so decimated with injuries as current lions one. You said JW and AC were kak coaches, yet AC led stormers to back-to-back playoffs and current team looking formidable with its hardnosed approach and disciplined defensive structures that are tighter than a bears arse in fly season. You said JW would come a cropper when coach super rugby, now you moved goalpost to longer term. No ou doos u are wrong.
28 Apr 2012, 20:46 pm
@David(David)-301:
yip i think thats sort of right if u can at all label or analyse ppl.
28 Apr 2012, 20:48 pm
Alberts been found out lately and not having a great season for Sharks he’s already falling way off the radar where youngsters like Coetsee are outplaying him week in and week out
Alberts is great as a gain line busting ball carrier which is precisely what Boks with Rassie and PdV should have used him for at the EC instead of that outright f’ng stupid moronic ploy of making Burger the chief ball carry go to man.. Alberts should have had that role with Bismark on as fetcher / spoiler in the tight / loose and Boks would have sailed through that quarter final.. instead burger fck’d it all up.. and Alberts and Bismark came on too late.
However Vermeulen is still a far more constructive and industrious proper strong attack and defensive natural No.8.. which neither Alberts nor Spies are by a long shot.. for differing reasons.
28 Apr 2012, 20:55 pm
AC is a better coach without Maverick Rassie throwing his maverick spanners in the works..
AC getting it right through some sound selection by utilizing the gifts of the young ball breakers we have such as Elstadt, Kolisi, and now Carr and since Burger been out the way.. if Burger was still running on as captain we would not be producing results like we have without him., as was pretty clear when we got done at the tight end of the comp last 2 years when Burger led he team to consecutive losses.
White is an opportunist.. AC a far more rounded and humble individual who can command quiet respect and build a team though some of his success is attributed to the good quality depth we have built through junior structures and through getting a sound team ethic going under alternative captains to Burger.. which is partly as a result of (mis)fortune rather than by coaching design.
28 Apr 2012, 20:57 pm
Coetsee is going to come and go, i saw take a hit and stay down, he’s very athletic and we got many of those – but u need a MINIMUM of one looseforward who gets you the momentum. Vermeulean v good allround, not a bad carrier and massive workrate but does not have that impact. Rugby also a psychological game – ive watched when alberts drives into the oppo – they straightaway know its a different sharks team, just the sharks have got such kaksleg tight 5 at present. put bismarck and alberts into any of the Stormers, Bulls or Cheetahs team and u got a decent Bok pack. Forwards got a repuration for domkrag for a reason, u wanna pick the more mobile guys fine, but we keep getting the balance wrong and going to light, where white knew to go to our strengths – what he didnt know was how to get our backs to attacks and create, and perhaps even worse, was to concentrate on defense far dar more than attack – unfortunately it doesnt make him wrong if you look at winningtests, which perhaps says something about the game or rules of it itself which favours better defense teams – maybe u got to give 2 points for a penalty then and 6 for a try.
28 Apr 2012, 21:00 pm
Damn, electric storm, so I need to disconnect my router. Might see you guys later (Cab and Shamps).
28 Apr 2012, 21:01 pm
@David(David)-307:
Bye David
28 Apr 2012, 21:03 pm
Talking snot as per usual. White is one of a handful of astute coaches that has graced this planet. This skopshyte goon made his name arse how many times this week about the Lions vs Brumbies game. Moron of note.
28 Apr 2012, 21:08 pm
Whites win loss ratio vs NZ was pathetic 3 from 10
his win loss ratio vs France was worse 1 from 4
His win loss ratio vs Ireland was lost all away and won all at home
Against Eng. was a 50/50 affair
So White was a mediocre middle of the road coach who could get a team fired up to begin with but when their one track mentality got found out he had nowhere to turn or go.. that why he hired Jones because he was totally and abjectly LOST without a hope in finding any direction after losing hand over fist in the 3N through 2006 and 2007
David is correct he can analyse only to a point.. then he need somebody else to create what he himself cannot…
Mitchell is a better all round coach than White though yesterdays result at Ellis Park will beg to differ on that point.
Whites penchant for size and brawn over skill gave him a mediocre middle of the road results portfolio.. the combination of Burger, Smith and Spies or Roussouw was a poor one overall and got horribly found out.. least of all when he went to Brisbane with CJ, OS, Smit, Matfield, Van Niekerk, Roussouw, Cronje and Smith and got done by 49 points to ZERO… Had he played Watson at open side none of that sh’t would have happened.. and White got bailed out his abject stubborn idiocy blindness by none other than Eddy Jones.
28 Apr 2012, 21:12 pm
i thought u just been punting van niekerk as the ideal no 8?
gotta go, out.
28 Apr 2012, 21:13 pm
@David(David)-307: so long
28 Apr 2012, 21:16 pm
White has taken the Brumbies to unimaginable heights. In 2004 he also took over a train wreck and brought us the RWC. He would have won more trophies but politics got in the way and comic relief was introduced for four years.
28 Apr 2012, 21:16 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-70: HaHa Scum
28 Apr 2012, 21:20 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-313: Did you watch the Sharks XV earlier today??
28 Apr 2012, 21:37 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-313: He defn has some coaching ability ol Jake
28 Apr 2012, 21:45 pm
skopshyte talking tripe as usual.
28 Apr 2012, 22:28 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-313: Extremely generous with the “Comic Relief” tag, I had other terms to describe the nauseating de Villiers era or error. Those who doubted JW (Iwas one of those naysayers), must remember that the team he built, was inherited by a bloke with a coaching pedigree of a bed bug.
28 Apr 2012, 22:34 pm
Oh jakey jakey – what a coach!
28 Apr 2012, 23:02 pm
What i´d like to know from you guys is who you would put together as the loose forwards (2 per position) – Theres a lot of talent lately but some of the old stalwarts are not as impressive as they used to be in my opinion. Alberts and Brussouw spring to mind. both still good players but not as incredible as a year ago for example. That injury to Brussouw has taken some of his edge away it seems.
Loosies who are in contention would be:
Bulls: Stander (havent seen enough of him to be convinced yet), Jacques Potgieter (who I think is a great player), Pierre Spies (but blows hot and cold like he always has)
Lions: Thought maybe Josh Strauss or Minnie might be possibles but after the last 2 weeks I think the Lions players should be forgotten about completel. Limited is being nice
Cheetahs: Brussouw (who has lost a bit of his edge) and Ashley Johnson, also Juan Smith (but when will he be back from injury if ever?)
Sharks: Deysel (have yet to see him play for an extended period of time free of injury), Alberts (who has also lost some edge and seems a bit cumbersome nowadays), Keegan Daniel (not sure if he is Test material though), Kanko (but we know his limitations already), Marcell Coetzee (but not totally convinced by his energetic peformances – no doubt he flies into everything but one has to question – just how effective is he)
Stormers: Siya Kolisi (have to say he is one of my favourites at present. In the beginning I wasnt sure he had the size or ability but week in and out he is proving me wrong – tons of commitment and puts his tackles in solidly), Burger (but I dare say he´s a bit over the hill and the hanging around in the backline is killing me – I hate it), Elstadt (see him more as a loosie than lock nowadays – has potential but is a hothead and also prone to stufffing up regularly), Koster (possible but another injury prone character), Vermeulen (playing excellent rugby – such a pity he´s injured now, gets over the gainline regularly and works his *** off), Nizam Carr (was everywhere today – nothing flashy yet but I think given a chance he could prove to be something special)
Who to choose out of that lot as the Bok loosies (remember x 2 for each position) is a tough nut to crack. Based on performance thus far I´d have to pick these guys:
6 Brussouw
6 Kolisi
7 Alberts
7 Jacques Potgieter
8 Vermeulen
8 Ashley Johnson
but i´m a bit in two minds about a few of them.
28 Apr 2012, 23:04 pm
Sorry based on performance and making some allowance for adding a bit of experience hence adding in Brussouw and Alberts
28 Apr 2012, 23:07 pm
Brussow become a bit if a hero so lost some hunger but still class – time is right for brussow and alberts IMO – question is who is the 3rd – vermeulen is my choice but maybe too close too Alberts – don’t think so tjo most teams picking 2 big loosies – even froggies got picamoles
28 Apr 2012, 23:10 pm
If I had to pick a Bok team now again based on performance and experience it would be this so far:
1 Beast/ Greyling
2 Bismarck/ Chilliboy
3 Coenie Oosthuizen/ CJ van der Linde (only for experience and no-one is really great at the moment)
4 Etzebeth/ De Kock Steenkamp
5 Becker/ Juandre Kruger
6 Brussouw/ Kolisi
7 Alberts/ Jacques Potgieter
8 Vemeulen/ Ashley Johnson
9 Houghaard/ Sarel Pretorius
10 Morne Steyn/ Goosen
11 Habana/ Mvovo or Basson
12 Frans Steyn/ Jean de Villiers
13 Juan de Jongh/ Robert Ebersohn
14 Aplon/ JP Pietersen
15 Joe Pietersen/ Patrick Lambie
28 Apr 2012, 23:13 pm
Why is everyone picking coenie at TH? Must be playing there – that is a helluva big call – if England do us at the scrum could be the start of an ignominious series – boks can’t handle that.
28 Apr 2012, 23:26 pm
@cab(cab)-322: Yeah in a way I see Vermeulen as an ideal 7. Perhaps someone liek Jacques Potgieter might make a better 8. I´d say one needs speed off the back of the scrum as well as size – ideally – Spies has this but is soft. Kanko also has these attributes but also a powder puff. Koster seems like he could make a good 8 if given a longer run in the position perhaps.
28 Apr 2012, 23:27 pm
@cab(cab)-324: just out of desperation cos the rest are so k@k – Coenie played TH all through school and shifted there last year for Cheetahs in the CC – he want sto play TH to get in the bok team – but yeah aint gonna happen whilst Cheetahs need him and Wp on the field.
28 Apr 2012, 23:27 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-325: Also Ashley Johnson has the right attributes for 8 and if I played him i´d play him at 8 not 7.
28 Apr 2012, 23:53 pm
it appears the cheetahs have been cheetered..
they did a similar thing to the hurricanes a few weeks back, now the reverse has happened..
why does SA have 5 teams in Super rugby? seriously, they obviously dont have the incredible depth to support such a scenario (though the blind on here will argue otherwise), yet SARU want a sixth team? reduce them to three I say, we antipodeans are sick of improving the standard of SA rugby by playing these weak SA teams….
no need to thank us though, just seeing the false dawn of many a SA supporter is all the reward we need..
28 Apr 2012, 23:57 pm
@willievz(willievz)-161:
Thats why the bulls invest in making sure the ref maak n’ plan for them.
29 Apr 2012, 00:06 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-329: come on, if you were a ref, and you seen rugby players that had to wear PINK uniforms, you’d feel awfully sorry for them too..
I mean Pink, seriously?
29 Apr 2012, 00:24 am
Potgieter too much glamour – he loves the pretoria ladies – nothing wrong but not what us needed – I say bring that neanderthal willie a and tell him to go mal.
29 Apr 2012, 00:28 am
Poppa come on man. Highlander are one of the top 3 Kiwi teams and they just squeaked past the Cheetahs. Cheetahs did ok on their tour and to be honest have been playing some damn entertaining rugby. With such limited resources at hand I think theyre doing pretty well.
Now Lions are a different story – those kiwi coaches cant even fix that bunch. Relegate them and as for the Kings – its a bloody joke. If we had to relegate at least one of your 5 teams then the Ozzies need to relegate at least 2 – the Waratahs although always in contention play the most awful NH rugby ever. The Force are bottom feeders of note. And the Rebels are a joke. So its not only Saffa teams. TBH theres always at least one Kiwi team of the 5 underperforming as well – so we should really all be sticking to a max of 4 teams probably 3 would be the most just.
Ozzies have the most teams in the last 5. SA has 3 teams in the top 7 along with NZ and Oz only one. I think youre certainly talking about the wrong country in terms of underperformers.
And our number 11 on the log team are at least playing entertaining rugby running most teams close and occasionally beating them. If they had to put the best of the Lions players in the mix with the Cheetahs then maybe they would start being more competitive – but to be honest there are probably only 5 or 6 decentish Lions players at the moment anyway.
29 Apr 2012, 00:29 am
@cab(cab)-331: Too much glamour? who cares he plays damn good rugby. lol
29 Apr 2012, 00:29 am
Yip from my mouth to gods wars but astride fk these knts will pick potgieter or spies or koster – the one who looks the part rather than is.
29 Apr 2012, 00:40 am
Jacques Potgieter is the part. His hits count – Marcell Coetzee fits into the looks the part scenario. He flies into every tackle and launches himself at the opposition with ball in hand but 9 times out of 10 is always stopped dead in his tracks.
Alberts does the business but he has been almost lazy of late. Not sure whats up with him. Just doesnt steamroll people like he used to.
Time will tell.
29 Apr 2012, 00:43 am
Poor choice of words -apologies – lack of a decent vocab – actually no just poor form.
29 Apr 2012, 00:45 am
@cab(cab)-336: lol no harm done. One thing for sure theres a fair bit of competition on for the loosie spots and it will be interesting to see who stands tallest by end of the Super rugby season and see how the guys perform (whoever gets picked) come England tests
29 Apr 2012, 00:48 am
Slumtown
the Cheetahs are my fav SA team, and I was just on the windup. don’t know how many times we hear of this incredible depth SA has. While you guys undoubtably have some very good players, I think a lot of SA fan over estimate this apparent depth.
I would prefer we go back to a super 12, with a 4 team split between the nations, though tbh I think a 3 Aus, 4 SA and 5 kiwi team comp would also work. some would say that’s my bias showing too, but every kiwi team has competed in a final before, so justification IMHO
Sanzar won’t do that though, and if SA still want to push for 6 teams, then SARU need to produce a two division 8 team model with playoffs for promotion/relegation
this would ensure much stronger competition on both divisions, whereby like versus like ensuring the overall products quality would be much improved.
29 Apr 2012, 00:52 am
each division would then play home and away = 14 games…
top two teams in each division play the final, hence first spot gets home advantage, then promotion relegation after the final could be a home and away scenario with aggregate points scored the decider
29 Apr 2012, 00:57 am
I see poops is back, only a matter of time before he has another mental breakdown.
Oh and by the way, AUS conference a lot weaker than SA. You talking about NZ depth? Well if SA adopted the pacific islanders like NZ do then we could put 8 teams on the field.
Cheers
29 Apr 2012, 00:58 am
True slummies
popps – get fkd my pal – there plenty depth and u know it
29 Apr 2012, 01:01 am
Just heard on the news that one patient escaped from the NZ mental hospital. This coincides with poops return.
Coincidence?
I think not
29 Apr 2012, 01:02 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-340: the old pacific islander routine? have you ever been to NZ? most of those players are BORN and bred in NZ, Auckland being the polynesian capital of the world..
I love it when people who have NO CLUE continue to spout this bullshit, it shows they simply live uin a little media fed bubble. I imagine you are the lead lemming just itching to fall over the cliff..
your nick should be Nofarkenbrains really…
@cab(cab)-341: hahahaha Cab, after your ASSERTIONS that the Bokke would win the WC, and your 8th place finish, I think we all know it shows this depth theory to be just that, all fkn theory..
got any more wonderful rugby predictions mate? your last one was rather pathetic..
29 Apr 2012, 01:07 am
@ poops,
Hand yourself back to the doctors, this site is poisoning you… Remember
Those polynesian boys in Auckland is making blues look very good this year. I reckon blues will win S15, what do you think or don’t you have TV at ward 4 special care unit
29 Apr 2012, 01:11 am
Coenie is a mother of a prop / dies everything aparty from scrum – also not sure he got thecgene for mixing it with men of his own size or bigger
29 Apr 2012, 01:11 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-344:
a hahahahaha
so funny, even your material is UNORIGINAL…
those blues you talk about, are 3 times Super rugby champions, STILL tied with the top SA team after 15 years, and they are only the second best NZ team when talking titles..
thanks for proving how very dumb you are, its blokes like you that perpetuate the whole Domkof Saffa stereotype..
you do it so effortlessly too, or is that just your racism itching to spew forth with your constant reference to PI’s..
youre not bobby Skinstad are you? you seem to have the sane racist tendencies..
29 Apr 2012, 01:15 am
Better look at these tannies in bham or I get meself into bother
29 Apr 2012, 01:18 am
“just your racism itching to spew forth with your constant reference to PI’s”
Where is my racist comment or constant reference?
I was referring to the player base NZ chose from poopsicle. Picking players from 4 different countries sure beats only picking from one or is this math too difficult for you?
Oh and what’s a “domkof”? Is that coconut slang?
29 Apr 2012, 01:21 am
God the pretty ones got no idea – right going home – too much entertainment for the brumbies.
29 Apr 2012, 01:25 am
Popps big fella, good to have u back – u more one-eyed than tactitus. A kiwi fkn tactitus who woulda guessed
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