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, 11:13 am
@Pencil-245:
Yes, two tries were scored against the run of play.
But, there were 5 penalties scored and the Highlanders could not get on the front foot.
I’d say dominated was a pretty good description.
9 Mar 2013, 11:24 am
Good Coaching Naka Drotske and Hawies Fourie!
To coach a team and motivate them from 3-45 to 36-19 in 1 week is very good.
Trevor Nyakane is the next Beast … mark my words.
His tackling is very good and good scrummer.
Lood de Jager still 20.
Gonna be the back up for Etsebeth within the next year or 2.
Lineouts good and good defender. High workrate.
Johan Goosen show his class and 8 out of 8 kicks.
9 Mar 2013, 11:32 am
Jammie Joseph is certainly to receive his Bye Bye call soon
He may find a job as Brian Lam assistant?
9 Mar 2013, 11:33 am
@hendrikp-29:
Nyakane and Adriaanse scrumming was very good today.
Nyakane defence very good.
Naka is wakker, thats why he coach the team to this great victory in New Zealand.
9 Mar 2013, 11:45 am
My comment after Chiefs game.
Im so proud of the Cheetahs.
166.bokkefan: Reply to this comment
2 Mar 2013, 11:51 am
Cheetahs played good 1st half.
Could be ahead by 12-10 if Goosen convert 3 penalties.
He is responsible for 16 points difference by giving away a try early in 2nd half.
Sadie missed 2 tackles = 14 points.
That is 30 points between 2 players.
Sarel passing not so good.
Cheetahs had jetlag in 2nd half.
Fly to Sidney Austr arrived Monday.
Fly thursday to Auckland NZ.
By bus to Hamilton.
Ask the Sharks they loose 36-8 in Final last year.
To play a 1st game on tour in New Zealand especially in Hamilton (extra long bus trip) is too much asked.
The Cheetahs will bounced back.
Heinrich Brussow is back next week and hopefully Johan Goosen can sort out his goal kicking.
9 Mar 2013, 12:01 pm
The Goose is back!
9 Mar 2013, 12:05 pm
Great result for the Cheetahs.
Lol, and Poppa the Cursed, De Ranged, NZINCHINA and Hurricane have been trying to tell us the Cheetahs are easy beats and “a walking 4 or 5 pointer” in the SA conference????? How do they explain this whipping?
9 Mar 2013, 12:11 pm
Not sure why everyone is giving Goosen all the plaudits here.
Yes he played well and kicked all his kicks(something Lambies has done since the forst second of his first S15 game this year.)
That game was won by the forwards and in particular the loose trio. They were huge in defence and in getting go forward to allow the Goose to play freely.
9 Mar 2013, 12:15 pm
@ShaunB-257:
Yes ShaunB I agree.
I comment on that 4-5 points against Cheetahs.
Bloem is waiting for SA Teams.
Ask the Sharks. They are lucky they played the Cheetahs so early.
The backline starts finding form.
Goose, Brussow and Coenie gonna improve and finding top form very soon.
Andries Ferreira coming back after tour aswell.
9 Mar 2013, 12:17 pm
@Hondo-253:
hello Hondo,
just so you know i lost money going on your picks but it was money well worth losing all the same, looks like a good win for the cheetahs.
think i will watch the highlights of this match, from the little i’ve gathered so far it seems Nick Briant played his worst game for the Highlanders this year and Cheetahs did all the right stuff for the win.
9 Mar 2013, 12:39 pm
What an unexpected results.
Kaka your job is secure once again.
9 Mar 2013, 12:47 pm
I actually bucked the trend and tipped Cheetahs in this game and my smile is from ear to ear. After Canes stuffed my tipping last night, I needed an upset and thank you Cheetahs. Gone from last place at work to second…. last. I’m off the bottom.
9 Mar 2013, 12:50 pm
oh and, Andrew Hore you filthy scumbag… welcome to karma… she’s a beetch… just like you…
9 Mar 2013, 12:54 pm
busy watching the highlights
Brad Thorn you filthy piece of cheating scum
farking kiwis
typical
9 Mar 2013, 12:57 pm
Bakkies
Hard day at the office?
9 Mar 2013, 13:03 pm
the referees actually blowing the Highlanders for their infringements
i dont understand why he would do this..?..
this is a strange game of rugby
9 Mar 2013, 13:04 pm
Sopoaga is terrible
9 Mar 2013, 13:06 pm
CSI
no, not today
but the pressure’s still there
9 Mar 2013, 13:06 pm
@John Galt-258: this is not about Lambie ! What’s wrong with you varkies? When we sing the praises of Goosen you guys take it as an attack on Lambie !
9 Mar 2013, 13:07 pm
Highlanders clearly have intent to play dirtier
there’s subtle stuff going on
expect the 2nd to get worse
9 Mar 2013, 13:07 pm
Okay, tyd om ‘n bottel wyn af te polish voor die Stormers game.
Good day all. Mag al ons spanne (buitens die Kings) wen.
9 Mar 2013, 13:11 pm
@hendrikp-271: the kings not one of ‘our’ teams?
9 Mar 2013, 13:15 pm
@S_K-269: Yeah you right – Goosen deserves credit for today. Hopefully this is the start of the road back to form.
Goosen is undoubtedly the most talented flyhalf SA has had in year’s however there are those that are throwing him into the Springbok number 10 jersey already. He needs to come through the Super 15 without injury first – it’s pointless placing him above Lambie in the pecking order just yet. Lambie has been good this season and he is currently the number 1 choice but things could swing in Goosen’s favour if he keeps this form going.
For me currently, Lambie deserves his place in the national team and has done nothing wrong so why people are already placing Goosen above him I don’t know. Maybe because they ‘hate’ the Sharks so much.
Either way as mentioned, Goosen deserves credit for today’s game and I hope through the season he will keep this form up and prove to everyone that he should be Bok 10. Same for Lambie – both quality players and this can only be good for SA rugby.
9 Mar 2013, 13:15 pm
@S_K-269:
maternal instincts.
9 Mar 2013, 13:17 pm
one thing immediately obvious is that the Cheetahs have dealt with the ‘off the ball’ stuff really well.
9 Mar 2013, 13:22 pm
Brad Thorn again
what a doos
9 Mar 2013, 13:30 pm
that the ref blows them is good but lets be honest he only does it when the spotlight is on and it involves play directly on and off the ball
everything the away from the ball has mostly been allowed
9 Mar 2013, 13:57 pm
good win Cheetahs
this Kiwi ref wont stay in the game long
9 Mar 2013, 14:13 pm
Now for the Waratahs and Force. If we can beat the Tahs then we’ll be looking good to come home with some decent points. Would have been nice to get a bonus point today though.
9 Mar 2013, 14:27 pm
@S_K-269:
Calm down and read post 216 Capo.
My post was in dierct response to that one.
And I said that Goosen played well you tikkop. He finally had a pack that gave him good ball to work with. And he had his kicking boots on this week.
The Goose and Lambie will be Bok 10s this year. End of.
9 Mar 2013, 14:32 pm
@John Galt-280: Agreed. They definitely the front runners. Goosen needs to keep today’s form up and Lambie has been good thus far. Both quality players – great for SA rugby.
9 Mar 2013, 15:20 pm
@David-274: definitely .sharkslover and Galti the big mommas?
9 Mar 2013, 15:22 pm
@John Galt-280: what is dierct,you Fa&ggotboy ?
9 Mar 2013, 15:27 pm
Cheetahs are a bit of a hit and hope at the moment, and for the last couple of years, really.
It happens when you have so much talent, and a dud like Naka as coach.
Yes, you can win games with only 29% of possession, but not more than, well, 29% of the time.
Combine that with the evident complacency of the Landers – who had ’4 tries’ written in their eyes – and you have a recipe for a comfortable away win.
But most weeks will go like last week, unfortunately.
Nevertheless, loved it, and I am glad to lose the SuperBru points courtesy of the real Tahs.
Sadly no similar hope for the Bulls tomorrow – the Blues will neither be under-prepared nor complacent.
9 Mar 2013, 15:28 pm
*yawn* So, the Cheetahs got pounded by the Chiefs last week. So what? All teams will be this year. When exactly did the Cheetahs become the underdog against the Highlanders??? Heck, when exactly did the Highlanders become the favourites for anything? The upset was last year when the Highlanders managed to beat the Cheetahs in the final minutes.
9 Mar 2013, 15:35 pm
@Bouts-285:
LOL. So you really believe a team that finished above the Cheetahs last year, winning 9 games as opposed to the Cheetahs’ 5, and ran the Chiefs a lot closer 2 weeks ago, and were fresh coming off a bye, and generally finishes much higher on the standings than the Cheetahs year after year after year, were not the favorites this morning? Interesting.
Next thing you’ll try to convince us that the Kings must be the favorites to win the whole damn thing.
9 Mar 2013, 15:51 pm
@Bouts-285: cheetahs beat them for the first time in eight attempts ….surely that counts for something!
.
9 Mar 2013, 15:54 pm
Clinical Cheetahs hammer Highlanders http://t.co/yjl8jthOwf via @sharethis Lappies legendary in stunning win
9 Mar 2013, 16:08 pm
Well played Cheetahs ! Had they played like that against the Sharks, they would have won without a doubt. Excellent !
9 Mar 2013, 17:44 pm
I am so proud of the Cheetahs!
11 Mar 2013, 07:12 am
@bokkefan-255: Is there no planes directly to Hamilton? What a backwater!
11 Mar 2013, 11:37 am
Bokkefan – Lood de Jager is 2.05 m tall and 118kg, where did they make this Oue?
11 Mar 2013, 11:41 am
The Cheetahs have been playing enterprising rugby for a few seasons now, now they have their defence in place, what a great team to watch!!!
11 Mar 2013, 15:29 pm
@race of tan-292:
Lood de Jager played for Leopards 0/21 last year.
From Pukke.
Have never played Vodacom Cup or Currie Cup.
First game at senior level is Superrugby!
Watch this young lock.
Next back up for Eben Etsebeth.
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