Cheetahs rally past Tahs

Cheetahs rally past Tahs

26 May 2012

GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Cheetahs’ 35-34 comeback win over the Waratahs in Bloemfontein.

The Cheetahs were set for a third consecutive defeat as the Waratahs held a healthy 34-21 lead early in the second half. However, Naka Drotske’s charges dotted down for two converted tries midway through the final 40 via WP Nel and Willie le Roux, which secured the lead and swung momentum.

The Aussie tourists had the opportunity to pip the win at the death as they had possession in the Cheetahs’ red zone. Berrick Barnes was being set up for the drop goal by his heavies up front. However, they were held up during a rolling maul and the hosts were able to boot the ball into touch from the resulting scrum – sealing an admirable comeback triumph.

It’s a victory that breaks a two-match losing streak, but the Cheetahs will know they’ll have to bolster their guard. Defence has been their downfall this season, and it was a major issue in the first half.

The Waratahs started the match strongly as they exposed the Cheetahs, who slipped 18 tackles before the break. They ran in two converted tries in the opening 10 minutes via Dave Dennis and Sitaleki Timani.

The Cheetahs did well to break down the deficit as they rallied in three tries of their own through Piet van Zyl, Le Roux and Adriaan Strauss, but they fell behind again, as Timani crashed over for his brace, while Rob Horne had a clear run to the chalk after some individual brilliance from Adam Ashley-Cooper.

With Brendan McKibbin adding all the extras and a penalty, the Waratahs headed into half-time with a 10-point advantage.

McKibbin slotted his second penalty soon after the restart to stretch the visitors’ buffer, but the Cheetahs hit their straps thereafter. Nel’s charge from close range and Le Roux’s chip and chase sneaked their team ahead.

The Cheetahs are notorious for losing close contests, but they showed good composure at the death to keep the Waratahs out.


87 Comments

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  • 51.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:24 pm

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-48: i hear ya mate, still its how it’ll always be, no problem

  • 52.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:26 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-50: i was about to type that, that bloke just has no confidence right now, option taking is poor ,

  • 53.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:27 pm

    Basketball score

  • 54.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:28 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-51: True, big game for your troops tonight, tipped them against the Stormers. Game of the round. Sharks by 3, still got alot of respect for what the Stormers bring to the table.

    Bad penalty, Sarel was offside…

  • 55.John1976: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:29 pm

    SL, that is correct, back home they will definately be praised for the attractive rugby. You know the aussies want to be entertained.,

  • 56.roobarb2: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:30 pm

    35-34 Cheetahs 68 minutes in.

  • 57.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:31 pm

    Cheetahs are playin absolute shite rugby. The stormers shouldve steam rolled this team. The stormers have the ability but they go to sleep in the 2nd half. Hope their defence can get them tru

  • 58.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:33 pm

    No support to the ball carrier. How do they even in the lead mystifies me

  • 59.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:33 pm

    sias, sias, sias…. :-(

  • 60.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:34 pm

    @John1976(John1976)-55: lol true

  • 61.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:35 pm

    Now, don’t kick the ball away. Cheetahs have a great ball in hand engine, now stop kicking it away.

  • 62.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:35 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-59: what happened?

  • 63.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:36 pm

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-54: yes and off his feet, poor call

    Eish as for my Sharks?? as positives as i want to be very nervous right now,,

    Stormers aint ontop of the pile for nothing, and Sharks will have to be at their best

  • 64.John1976: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:37 pm

    CSI, Amen

  • 65.fitzella: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:37 pm

    Willie Le Roux should be a Bok if Heyneke Meyer had to use some those so called selective brains he’d select Le Roux as his wild card option to take up what Goosen could have offered him.

    Le Roux would offer damn sight more than either Morne Steyn or Pat Lambie at fly half or anywhere across the backline.

    Coetsee at Lions and Le Roux at Cheetahs, even Riaan Smit of Cheetahs are the pivot options we should be looking at in the absence of Johan Goosen.

  • 66.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:38 pm

    ai ai ai Coenie again gives away a silly penalty, this is biggest downfall and why he shouldnt be a bok yet, also his scrumming needs to get stronger

    but he is still young

  • 67.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:38 pm

    Just wondering when a referee is going to penalize Tatafu Polota Nau for his constant no arm grass cutting tackles, Faingaa was doing the same against the Brumbies. Most of the time it’s a poor technique and it usually results in Polota Nau laying prone concussed on the field.

  • 68.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:39 pm

    cheetahs always living dangerously!!! And when they lose they’ll say atleast it was clos

  • 69.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:42 pm

    barnes to drop

  • 70.fitzella: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:42 pm

    taking Smit off and bringing on Ebersohn at fly half is a mistake by Drotske I hope it don’t cost him the game

  • 71.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:42 pm

    Hard game, commom Cheetahs !!!!!!

  • 72.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:43 pm

    scrum strong now cheetahs ffs

  • 73.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:43 pm

    How’s the ref doing?

  • 74.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:43 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-71: GOOOOOOOO Sharkssssssssssssssssssssss , hiyas boompie

  • 75.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:44 pm

    bind doodpoes!!!

  • 76.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:45 pm

    Yeeeeeehaaaaa very happy for Cheetahs !!!

  • 77.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:45 pm

    well done cheetahs, eish it was touch and go , but atleast they held on

  • 78.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:46 pm

    @viewer(viewer)-73: ref has been fine, a mistake or 2 both ways bok he was not bad

  • 79.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:46 pm

    the cheetahs just want to put as much distance as they can between them & the lions :D

  • 80.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:47 pm

    Whew.

  • 81.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:47 pm

    Huzzit Sharkie, am getting the notebook out for the main event SHARKKKKKKkKKKksssssss

  • 82.fitzella: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:48 pm

    Joubert saves Cheetahs from the Barnes drop

    another good patriot to the precarious rescue

  • 83.John1976: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:49 pm

    Congrats to our Cheetah fans and players, not a great win but still nice coming back from 14 – 0

  • 84.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:49 pm

    Ok.
    Now for a demonstration of the laws of physics, otherwise known as an SA derby

  • 85.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 18:50 pm

    ok off to Sharks thread, main game should be a cracker lol

    congrats to cheetahs and their supporters

  • 86.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 23:56 pm

    Welll done Cheetahs. Good to see the close ones go your way.

  • 87.Bouts: Reply to this comment
    28 May 2012, 09:23 am

    @fitzella(fritz ellenbogen)-82: Funny. That’s a trick perfected by the Aussies. Keeping ball in the air. Now you’re seeing it as cheat? Ironic to say the least!!!

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