Clinical Cheetahs hammer Highlanders
9 Mar 2013
Sarel Pretorius scored twice and Johan Goosen kicked 21 points in a stunning Cheetahs triumph in Invercargill.
The Cheetahs beat the Highlanders 36-19 after leading 30-7 at half time.
Loose forward Lappies Labuschagne’s star shone the brightest on a night in which every one of the visitors had a glow about their performance. Labuschagne was immense on defence, forceful on attack and dominant in everything he did.
The try count was shared at three each but it is misleading in terms of a contest in which the Cheetahs gave a lesson to the hosts in how the game is meant to be played.
The Highlanders were guilty of playing too laterally but that was a consequence of being manhandled in the collisions whenever one of their players tried the direct route.
This looked like men against boys and the Cheetahs seemed to know it. Goosen played the game in the right areas, kicked his penalties and was true to any counter attacking opportunity.
There was nothing fortunate about the Cheetahs two intercept tries. They were a result of brutal defence and this defence was turned into attack by way of intercepts and turnovers. The Highlanders attack made errors because of the pressure of the defence.
The turnaround was amazing, given the Cheetahs were demolished 45-3 in Hamilton a week ago, but the Highlanders are not in the same class of the Chiefs. The hosts’ All Blacks looked old and lethargic and the pack simply got punished for being physically inferior.
Highlanders winger Kade Poki got a hattrick but it had no impact on the result because the Cheetahs were always two scores ahead whenever he scored.
Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussouw completed his comeback to Super Rugby with an effective 30 minute cameo, in which he won turnovers and tormented the home team at the breakdown area.
By Richard Ferguson
294 Comments
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9 Mar 2013, 09:20 am
to say the cheetahs are leading 30 – 7 and they have butchered 2 tries and were denied 2 more is almost unbelievable.
Go Cheetahs but theres still plenty off time for an implosion
9 Mar 2013, 09:21 am
Sarel is the unluckiest Saffa scrummie.
9 Mar 2013, 09:21 am
@hendrikp-94:
You were not joking you backspitting queen.
Labuschagne is having a huge game,if he plays like this the whole season I would give him a run for the Boks.
9 Mar 2013, 09:22 am
Everything is going for the cheetahs.
9 Mar 2013, 09:22 am
@MacroBull-99:
Are you a Bulls supporter that works at Macro?
9 Mar 2013, 09:23 am
@Fern-86:
He coached/ played Ngati Porou East Coast back to the second division last year. Hes doing ok developing talent and Rugby on the Coast.
He had an awesome career, involved in some memorable games.
9 Mar 2013, 09:24 am
@Te Rangatira-106:
His step was nearly up there with mine.
I am a fan of him.
9 Mar 2013, 09:24 am
Was 2 from 2 on the bru up until now.
The cheetahs Farking my bru and I don’t really care.
9 Mar 2013, 09:24 am
Sarel’s move to the Tahs was out of frustration i think but SA is where he belongs.
With Franscois fluffing his passes at the Bulls it is time to give an oldish industrial head some bok game time.
Who knows? Sarel a bok from 28-31 might give us a good three years.
He does not have to be a starting player but he sure deserves to be on the bok bench
He played himself in from the time he played for an invitational side against the lions.
9 Mar 2013, 09:24 am
If the Cheetahs can see this 1 through my position in the lead on Bru will cozy..
9 Mar 2013, 09:25 am
Very similar game to last season against the Highlanders. Leading comfortably and then we lost Goosen to injury and everything went wrong. Lost a 21 point lead in final quarter. Got to keep this up in next 40.
9 Mar 2013, 09:25 am
Won’t be many Springboks from the Cheetahs regardless. They rather pick the Bulls 3rd-stringers.
Might be a tactic to try get the guys to make the move to Pretoria.
9 Mar 2013, 09:26 am
Cheetahs +14.5 doesn’t look so bad now, ne?
9 Mar 2013, 09:26 am
WOW, what a peerless performance from the Cheetahs!
A tale of 2 backs: the awesome Pretorius & the awful Sepoaga.
Can they sustain it?
Go Cheetahs!
9 Mar 2013, 09:27 am
I take back what I said about Sarel Pretorius.
Not the bit about him not being able to tackle…. the bit about not wanting him starting this week.
9 Mar 2013, 09:30 am
Still think there is a highlanders comeback on the cards. But is the cheetahs too far ahead?
9 Mar 2013, 09:30 am
@hendrikp-115:
Julle sien seker nie Boots and All daar nie?
9 Mar 2013, 09:31 am
What do people think about Goosen’s performance?
Hasn’t had to do too much, but offering that running threat and playing a good tactical game seems to going well.
And he’s kicked 6 from 6 so far.
For Keohane’s own credibility I suggest he removes that Jantjies article once he plays poorly in another Stormers loss.
9 Mar 2013, 09:31 am
The Cheetah just play such an exciting brand of rugga, u can’t help but love them.
9 Mar 2013, 09:32 am
@John Galt-108: Hiyas John. did you manage to go watch the Sharks XV yesterday??
9 Mar 2013, 09:33 am
@Fern-117:
Nope. Used to and then had something called ‘All Out Rugby’ which was SA program I think?
Don’t need it though we’ve got Sky Sport Highlights. No point watching Naas and co. babble on about nothing.
9 Mar 2013, 09:33 am
The difference so far has been the shallow in-your-face defence of the Cheetahs forcing silly mistakes & turnovers by the Landers, & of course, the clinical finishing of those counter-attacking opportunities created by the Cheetahs!
A team effort really.
What a wonderful surprise!
9 Mar 2013, 09:33 am
Please Please Cheetah’s…more of the same. Dont start defending the lead.
COME ON CHEETAHS!
9 Mar 2013, 09:33 am
Cheetahs got the best balance loose trio in the country Vd Walt Viljoen and Labuscagne with Brussow off bench if played behind a dominant tight 5 would be top super 15 side. Meyer should take note of these players because as a mobile hard working and swift back 3 unit they’re a very good underrated unit
9 Mar 2013, 09:34 am
@hendrikp-118:
If the opposition wants to play their game they can be devastating, as we have seen so far, last week they couldn’t keep up in the second half.
Against the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers they will not look even half as impressive.
They are almost a 6th NZ franchise
9 Mar 2013, 09:35 am
Would’ve thought Coenie would come on at halftime. Maybe 50th minute alongside Brussow.
9 Mar 2013, 09:37 am
No…. The comeback begins.
Might be in trouble here. Come on Naka, bring on some subs.
9 Mar 2013, 09:38 am
Try highlanders… Cld this be the start of the comeback,,, surely not????
9 Mar 2013, 09:38 am
No deja vu
9 Mar 2013, 09:39 am
I smell a boerse comeback, hope I’m wrong
9 Mar 2013, 09:40 am
Here we go. Coenie on for Adriaanse.
9 Mar 2013, 09:41 am
lets see what doodp oes can do
9 Mar 2013, 09:42 am
Cheetahs get their first scrum penalty in forever.
Woodcock slips bind. I knew Coenie wore those skintight jersey for a reason.
9 Mar 2013, 09:42 am
Good decision to go for lineout.
Cheetahs must keep attacking and not sit on the lead.
9 Mar 2013, 09:43 am
Jeez! Sadie, first touch after 48 minutes…
9 Mar 2013, 09:44 am
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-120:
Unfortunately not mate.
Worked too late.
I see they drilled Border? Did you get down there?
9 Mar 2013, 09:45 am
And Coenie follows that up by conceding one as well.
Eish that guy can’t scrum. Most athletic prop you can ask for though.
9 Mar 2013, 09:46 am
Coenie is a liability in the scrums
9 Mar 2013, 09:47 am
Rhule not convincing
9 Mar 2013, 09:49 am
first steal from brussouw
9 Mar 2013, 09:49 am
Coenie is a decent loosehead. He is not a tighthead.
9 Mar 2013, 09:50 am
I believe it was Meyer’s idea to convert him.
9 Mar 2013, 09:50 am
@Fern-140:
sorry coenie doing a brussouw
9 Mar 2013, 09:50 am
@Fern-140:
Luckily they showed the replay. That was what you can expect from Coenie. Now if only he could scrum.
9 Mar 2013, 09:50 am
@John Galt-136: Yeah, went and watched the game With Rudolf lol
Was excellent though, we should have scored 100 plus, Ungerer and Fisher were superb.
So to Dell
9 Mar 2013, 09:50 am
What has happened to Rule’s form this year…? He is no where this year, looks unsure and apprehensive ! Pity and I hope he gets his form back
9 Mar 2013, 09:51 am
Cheetahs props solid all round
9 Mar 2013, 09:51 am
Frightening number of tackles made by the Cheetahs.
9 Mar 2013, 09:52 am
Ruben Thorne has dived into rucks with no arms and off his feet about 5 times in this game.
I’m sure, like Kevvy, he’d be devastated if anyone thought of him as a dirty player.
9 Mar 2013, 09:52 am
@kaksioek-142:
Coenie has been wanting to convert to tighthead since he first played for the Cheetahs.
With all those injuries it was decided he shouldn’t play on the loosehead side unless completely necessary.
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