The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the New Nation Pumas at Bloemfontein on Friday 9 July 2021. They managed to overtake the Pumas on the scoreboard in the second half to just beat them 17-16.
The Pumas travelled to Bloemfontein with an established team, while the Cheetahs were severely affected by Covid19 with the head coach and 9 players not available for the match. 5 Players subsequently made their debut for the Cheetahs.
The match was surprisingly a close affair, as the Pumas were expected to dominate being the favourites for the match. Both teams used tactical kicks to try and gain territorial advantage. Basic handling errors especially from the Pumas marred the quality of the match and prevented scoring opportunities. Both teams tried to attack each others' try line from scrums and with driving mauls. The Cheetahs managed to score 2 tries in the second half from backline play to a penalty try awarded to the Pumas.
10:51 A yellow card was given to Cheetahs Jeandre Rudolph for cynical play at a ruck in front of the Cheetahs posts. Eddie Fouche from the Pumas successfully kicked the subsequent penalty (3-0).
20:00 The first 20 minutes saw both teams sharing possession and territory. The Pumas could not capitalise on the yellow card awarded to the Cheetahs and made many basic handling errors similar to the Cheetahs. Both teams tried to attack each others' try line with driving mauls but were unable to score.
37:50 A penalty was awarded to the Cheetahs 10 meters inside the Pumas' half, which was successfully kicked by Ruan Pienaar for the first points for the Cheetahs (3-3).
39:58 A penalty was awarded to the Pumas on the half-line against a Cheetah player for obstructive running. The penalty was successfully kicked by Eddie Fouche (6-3).
40:00 The last 20 minutes of the half saw the Cheetahs gaining a bit more territorial advantage and unsuccessfully attacking the Pumas's try line from numerous set scrums. Both teams managed to each were unsuccessful with penalty kicks except for the Cheetahs who managed to
44:50 A yellow card was given to Pumas Willie Engelbrecht for foul play when he used his shoulder and elbow to fend off a Cheetah player at a ruck.
58:06 Ruan Pienaar scored the Cheetahs' first try after debutante Brandon Thomson broke through the Pumas defence from inside the Cheetah half and then passed to Ruan Pienaar who cracked on the pace to just reach the Pumas try line to score. Conversion by Ruan Pienaar (6-10).
59:10 The Cheetahs conceded a penalty in their half after offside play by two Cheetah players. Penalty successfully kicked by Eddie Fouche (9-10).
60:00 The Pumas tried to attack the Cheetahs defence with strong backline running but only managed to get 3 points for their efforts.
61:40 Lesley Botha scored the Cheetahs' second try after good backline play from a ruck in the Pumas' half. Conversion by Ruan Pienaar (9-17).
66:10 A penalty try was awarded to the Pumas after a Cheetahs player cynically lies over the ball in a ruck whilst the Pumas were attacking the Cheetahs try line. The Cheetahs player was also yellow-carded (16-17).
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Ruan Pienaar, Lesley Botha. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2). Penalty: Ruan Pienaar.
New Nation Pumas: Try: Penalty try. Penalties: Eddie Fouche (3)
Teams:
Toyota Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. Lesley Botha*, 12. Siya Masuku*, 11. Cohen Jasper, 10. Brandon Thomson*, 9. Ruan Pienaar (C), 8. Aidon Davis, 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. Jean Droste, 4. Rynier Bernardo, 3. Hencus van Wyk, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 1. Aluluthu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16. Louis van der Westhuizen, 17. Schalk Ferreira, 18. Conraad van Vuuren, 19. Victor Sekekete, 20. Junior Pokomela, 21. Mihali Mosi*, 22. Zinedine Booysen*, 23. Malcolm Jaer. (*Players making their Currie Cup debut for the Toyota Cheetahs.) Players not available: The following players are not eligible for team selection due to injury: Oupa Mohoje (calf), Chris Smit (calf), Craig Barry (hamstring), Andisa Ntsila (hamstring), Marcell Muller (hamstring), Tian Meyer (hamstring), George Cronje (knee). Players In isolation: Aranos Coetzee, Cameron Dawson, Chris Massyn, David Britz, Evardi Boshoff, Howard Mnisi, Janus Venter, Reinhardt Fortuin, Wilmar Arnoldi.
New Nation Pumas: 15. Devon Williams, 14. Tapiwa Mafura, 13. Erich Cronje, 12. Matt Moore, 11. Jade Stighling, 10. Eddie Fouche, 9. Ginter Smuts, 8. Willie Engelbrecht, 7. Phumzile Maqondwana, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4. Brandon Valentyn, 3. Ignatius Prinsloo, 2. Simon Westraadt, 1. Dewald Maritz. Replacements: 16. Hendrik van Schoort, 17. Ruan Kramert, 18. Eduan Swart, 19. Kwanda Dimaza, 20. Daniel Maartens, 21. Chriswill September, 22. Wayne van der Bank, 23. Sebastiaan de Klerk.
Article by Francois du Toit