Toyota Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie says Siya Masuku’s dramatic match-winning penalty against Section Paloise in the EPCR Challenge Cup was a just reward for his efforts on the training ground.
The fly-half nervelessly struck his third three-pointer of Sunday’s Round 4 contest to snatch a 9-6 victory at the death and send his team into the knockout stage.
Fourie, whose side will visit EPCR heavyweights RC Toulon in the Round of 16, hailed Masuku’s effort in testing conditions and revealed that the 26-year-old had been honing his skills in the days prior to the clash in Parma.
“I was kicking the balls back from behind the posts, so I know he was kicking during the week,” he told OFM Sport.
“The one thing that I was thankful for was that the penalty was on the right-hand side of the pitch. It was quite a long-distance kick, and it was a bit dewy, so the ball was a bit wet and heavier than normal. But that was a sweet strike."
“That’s why you practice and put in the hours when the other guys are sitting next to the field or are back on the bus, and you continue to kick at goal. That’s the reward you get as a kicker. I thanked him for that kick, he made a few mistakes with the penalties that he didn’t kick out, but I have forgiven him for that.”
