Cheetahs edge feeble Force

Cheetahs edge feeble Force

5 May 2012

GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Cheetahs’ unconvincing 17-13 win over the Force in Bloemfontein.

A win is a win, but head coach Naka Drotske won’t be raving about his team’s performance against the errant Force.

They should’ve cruised to victory as the visitors’ were ill-disciplined, starved of possession and played in their own territory for most parts of the match. However, the men from Bloemfontein uncharacteristically lacked accuracy and composure on attack. They showed flashes of elusiveness and broke the Force defence on numerous occasions, but their poor finishing cost them.

Flyhalf Sias Ebersohn also disappointed from the kicking tee, missing three of his six goal attempts. It’s clear that injured pivot Johan Goosen is a major loss as he spearheaded the team effectively and provided a reliable boot. Drotske will be hoping that Ebersohn rediscovers the magic that he showcased in 2011 as the player is struggling with form and confidence.

With an evenly-contested battle between the heavies up front, the first half was a kicking contest as all the points were scored via penalties. Ebersohn and flyhalf David Harvey traded goal kicks before scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn added a late three-pointer to give the Cheetahs a 9-6 half-time lead.

The Force did cross the chalk during the opening 40 through wing Napolioni Nalaga, but the try was disallowed after referee Stu Berry was informed by his assistant about foul play from tighthead prop Salesi Ma’afu on eighthman Philip van der Walt earlier in the move.

Shortly after the restart, the Force grabbed a try against the run of play. Centre Winston Stanley charged down fullback Hennie Daniller’s clearance and collected the loose ball for an easy run to the whitewash.

It wasn’t long before the Cheetahs regained the lead as they camped inside the tourist’s red zone thereafter. After being frustrated by their own poor decision-making and the Force’s disobedience on defence, the home side finally scored their try when skipper Adriaan Strauss dived over in the corner. Ebersohn missed the following conversion, but nailed a long-range penalty to secure his side a four-point buffer.

Both teams had scoring opportunities in the final quarter, but untidy play saw them fail to add to their tallies. The Cheetahs were able to hold on for a much-needed win, but one they won’t be proud of. The Stormers will beat them in Cape Town next weekend if they deliver a similar display.


132 Comments

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  • 1.Troedels: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 18:40 pm

    Cheetahs!!!

  • 2.ufo: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 18:49 pm

    go cheetahs…!!!!

  • 3.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 18:56 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-2:

    Yip, my second favourite SA team.

    Poco ck versus Brussow should be good- personally I think Po **** is the better of the two but lets see how they go tonight.

    I hope Elvis (Force no 16 ) gets a chance tonight to show off his blue suede shoes :)

  • 4.ufo: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:00 pm

    Rob @ 3

    yeah… and they are playing good rugby… they must forget last week and just stick to what they do best…

    DP is having a very good season… heinrich not as great as in the past but still very good to… their battle perhaps the highlight of the game to come..

  • 5.David: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:04 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-3:
    Pocock is a more complete player, in my opinion.

  • 6.David: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:06 pm

    The stadium looks less than half full. What’s up with their supporters?

  • 7.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:06 pm

    Go Cheetahs.

    Got them by 10. They’re a great attacking team to watch. But the D will have to be huge tonight.

  • 8.Guns: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:10 pm

    “Lots of talk about Adriaan Strauss for Bok captain”…. Interesting..

  • 9.Guns: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:11 pm

    @David(David)-6: Many of them started supporting other teams a couple years back..

  • 10.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:13 pm

    @Guns(Guns)-8:

    That’s commentators talk.

    Jean seems to be favoured right now.

  • 11.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:13 pm

    Come on witkoppe….

  • 12.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:14 pm

    @Guns(Guns)-8: Lots of talk about that where ? Weskoppies ?

  • 13.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:15 pm

    @David(David)-6: It’s half price on ribs night at the Spur. In Bloemfontein, the Spur is like the biggest attraction. When I used to go there on business, I would stand and wait for a table – even in the week….prime attraction….Spur…

  • 14.David: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:17 pm

    @IAAS(I am a stormer)-10:
    Yeah, can you imagine the bissie fit?

  • 15.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:19 pm

    Oooooo Dusky’s here

  • 16.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:21 pm

    @Dusky(Dusky)-13:

    hehe- when i did national service many years ago I once went there to take part in a defence force-cricket tournament. At that stage the biggest attraction was the local putt-putt course, the whole bloem used to hang out there, lol.

  • 17.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:22 pm

    @Guns(Guns)-8:
    never
    How can you leave out Bismark
    Pick the team then the captain

  • 18.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:24 pm

    Everyone outta da water!

  • 19.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:24 pm

    Chelsea 2-0 wtf.

  • 20.ufo: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:30 pm

    good stuff sias…!!!!

  • 21.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:30 pm

    Anyone got a streaming link? None of my links are working!!!

  • 22.David: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:31 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-19:
    Why are you surprised? It’s only Liverpool. :lol:

  • 23.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:32 pm

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-21:
    yes Vipbox.tv

  • 24.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:33 pm

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-21:
    Click the buzzin tv link

  • 25.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:33 pm

    @David(David)-22:

    Do not rub it in :)

  • 26.ufo: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:35 pm

    27 @ 21

    try http://www.vipbox.tv

  • 27.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:37 pm

    Caroll !! 1- 2

  • 28.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:37 pm

    @David(David)-14:

    Jean will be in the Bok team. Whether at 12 or 13 because HM is going to go for experience. And very possibly as captain. that is my choice.

    And Bissie must look after Bissie. He has competition this year despite John Smit being off the scene.

  • 29.David: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:46 pm

    @IAAS(I am a stormer)-28:
    I agree. HM needs his experience for this tour.

  • 30.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:47 pm

    Thanks guys. Got it…

  • 31.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:51 pm

    @IAAS(I am a stormer)-28:
    Yes agreed too
    Possibly at 13 if lambie is at 15 and F steyn at 12
    Seems headed that way

  • 32.Blitzbok: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:52 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-4: Brussow has been very good, plays the laws much better than pocock who was outclassed badly by hooper.

  • 33.Blitzbok: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:54 pm

    @IAAS(I am a stormer)-28: bissie has been pretty awful and jean passed it time to look to the future and blood some new players i reckon ebersohn at 13 is a pretty good option. fransie should take 12 and lambie on the bench covering 12 and 15. im not sure who our best 15 is but i dont think its lambie. pietersen or kirchner maybe?? wish we had a dagg in the ranks.

  • 34.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:57 pm

    @Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-33:
    Please not Kirchner
    Taute or lambie or for the future Coetzee (Lions)

  • 35.Blitzbok: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:59 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-34: hmmm taute? not so sure. lambie is too scared and nervy looks a lot like ruan when he played 15. he screwed up that try against australia as well kirchner would have timed his run perfectly and scored that one for certain. kirchner is our best attacking fullback and joe a tactical master like monty was. id go for another monty at test level.

  • 36.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 19:59 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-31:

    I prefer Frans Steyn at 12. And there has to be a place for Jean – even at 13.. And people forget that Lambie is the current Bok 15.
    They haven’t all played together in that set-up but that is one I would favour. With any choice of wings outside whether Aplon, Habana, JJ engelbrecht, Joe Petersen, JP Pietersen.

  • 37.David: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:00 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-31:
    I think 15 is still open for a number of players for this tour. Apart from Frans if HM keeps Jean at 12, there’s also Gio and Kirchner’s been playing well this year. I reckon Lambie may end up as bench cover for a number of positions.

  • 38.meerkat: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:00 pm

    Guys help me out here. the try of the Force was disallowed because of foul play beforehand, The ref ask the touchie if the foul play influence the play leading to the try. Surely that is irrelevant as the foul play occur before the try was scored ?

  • 39.viewer: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:01 pm

    Liverpool have been robbed by the ref
    Shocking

  • 40.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:03 pm

    @viewer(viewer)-39:

    For sure- it was clearly over the line.

  • 41.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:03 pm

    @Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-35:
    There’s an option from Iaas Joe Peietersen at 15
    Tuate is big and solid and has guts and plays hard got a great boot too
    Wings I think Habana and JP because he is going for experience

  • 42.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:04 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-40:
    Hey Rob I think the whole ball must go over the line

  • 43.viewer: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:04 pm

    We don’t see fair sporting contests anymore in most teams sports
    Rugby is a major culprit too

  • 44.Dwarslat: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:04 pm

    What a kaka game so far. Cheetahs ready to capitulate?

  • 45.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:07 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-42:

    They need to make use of modern technology- i mean it is the biggest game in the world and they do not want to use technology? – i think the whole ball went over the line but I am a liverpool supporter

  • 46.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:09 pm

    All over, fark.
    Dalgish now under real pressure- why did he wait so long before he brought Andy Carroll on?

  • 47.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:09 pm

    HELLO DAWN.TIME FOR WRINKLIES TO SLEEP.
    HOWEVER IN LIGHT OF SHARKS WIN WILL FIRST HAVE A LIBATION
    (OR 2)

    MARCEL & BISSIE & KEEGAN VERY GOOD.
    GOODNIGHT

  • 48.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:10 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-45:
    I dont care either way :) its the wrong shaped ball :)

  • 49.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:10 pm

    Stop with this football twaddle and answer Meerkat’s question!!!!!

  • 50.viewer: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2012, 20:11 pm

    Rob

    I feel for ‘pool fans. Just like in rugby, the replay tech is available but they’ve never introduced it. A simple referral (maybe 2 mins in duration) is all it takes

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