Johannesburg – A stunning defensive effort by the Cheetahs on Saturday ensured they’ll push the Bulls all the way for top spot in the South African Conference in this year’s Super Rugby competition.
The highly-fancied Reds managed just one try against Naka Drotske’s men – and that, too, late in the contest after the Cheetahs had all but sewn up the game.
A combination of multiple errors by the Reds on attack and the Cheetahs’ defence saw the Bloemfontein-based team to a comfortable win and they bremain hot on the heels of the Bulls, who also won at the weekend.
Crucially for the Cheetahs, they still have a bye – which will net them four extra log points – and they still have to face the Kings, South Africa’s weakest outfit ... if only just. But Drotske and Co will fancy their chances in Port Elizabeth this weekend, while the Bulls travel to Durban to take on the Sharks, who’ll be in better spirit after picking up a win in Melbourne against the Rebels on Friday.
The Cheetahs hit back brilliantly against the Reds after going down the week before, with scrumhalf Piet van Zyl scoring two fantastic tries, but it was the defence and in-your-face play by Drotske’s team that secured the win. And let’s not forget the accurate goal-kicking by Elgar Watts, who was making his first start for the Cheetahs after playing off the bench in recent weeks.
But while the Kings won’t be pushovers in PE – they won last time out against the Highlanders – the Cheetahs will be hoping the week off will have stunted their momentum. It should be a highly entertaining game, one the Cheetahs simply have to win to keep the pressure on the Bulls.
The Pretoria-based side didn’t reach the high standards they’ve maintained since returning from overseas a few weeks ago, but they were always in control against the Highlanders and picked up a four-try bonus point as well.
They go into this week’s matches six points clear of the Cheetahs, but they’ll know they have some huge derbies to come, starting in Durban this weekend.
The Sharks, after a week of bizarre allegations levelled at captain Keegan Daniel, hit back in the best possible way with a win against the under-rated Western Force.
They’ll be in a better space than 10 days ago going into the Bulls match and you can be sure they’ll lift themselves now that their tour is over and they’re back on familiar ground, against familiar opposition.
One gets the feeling, though, they’ll need a miracle to get into the play-offs.
For the Stormers it is all but over in 2013.
They crashed to their seventh defeat of the competition against the Rebels, even though the match was marred by further controversy regarding the officiating and officialdom.
At the weekend they were on the wrong side of a poor decision by the TMO, who gifted the hosts a penalty try, which swung the game the Rebels’ way.
The Stormers, though, to be honest, have been poor this season.
And this weekend they’re up against the Reds who’ll be desperate to win and stay in touch with the Brumbies in the race for the Australian Conference title. – The Star