The Toyota Cheetahs secured the hosting of the 2023 Currie Cup final following a brilliant 39-10 win against the Vodacom Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Toyota Cheetahs were in complete control of the first half apart from the third quarter when the Vodacom Bulls scored their only try of the half. Ill discipline by the Vodacom Bulls was extensively penalised by Ruan Pienaar's boot who eventually converted six penalties to secure a 39-10 win by the Toyota Cheetahs.
Reinhardt Fortuin charged down a kick from Johan Goosen to score the hosts' first try of the match after just two minutes of play. The visitors declined several opportunities to convert kickable penalties including the penalty following a yellow card shown to Conraad van Vuuren (Toyota Cheetahs) for cynical play, however, Johan Goose added the first three points after ten minutes of play the reduced the Toyota Cheetahs lead to 07-03.
Following ten minutes of dominance by the Toyota Cheetahs and unfortunately failing to score from the attacking ball, Ruan Pienaar converted a penalty to extend the Toyota Cheetahs' lead to 10-03 and twenty minutes of play in the first half.
A second converted penalty by Ruan Pienaar stretched the Toyota Cheetahs lead to 13-03 and eight minutes left to play in the first half. The Toyota Cheetahs continued to attack when Tapiwa Mafura is placed in space by a brilliant Pienaar pass to score a brilliant try. Pienaar's conversion extended the Toyota Cheetahs' lead to 20-03 which was also the halftime score.
A third penalty by Ruan Pienaar opened the scoring in the second half, however, the Vodacom Bulls launched attack after attack and after ten minutes of play, Johan Grobbelaar scored from the back of a lineout-maul to reduce the host lead to 23-10.
Ruan Pienaar's boot continued to penalise any ill-discipline from the Vodacom Bulls. Pienaar added an additional three penalties to stretch the host's lead to 32-10 and ten minutes to play.
A yellow card shown to Jan Hendrik Wessels ended any hopes the Vodacom Bulls had to gain some respectability from this semi-final. An Evardi Boshoff try with time already up on the clock secured a great 39-10 Toyota Cheetahs win. The Toyota Cheetahs will host the Currie Cup final next weekend.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Reinhardt Fortuin, Tapiwa Mafura, Evardi Boshoff. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2). Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (6).
Vodacom Bulls: Try: Johan Grobbelaar. Conversion: Johan Goosen. Penalty: Johan Goosen
Teams:
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jeandre Rudolph, 20 George Cronje, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Robert Ebersohn.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Sibongile Novuka, 23 Wandisile Simelane.