The Cheetahs recorded their first Super Rugby win of the season with a comprehensive 36-19 win over the Highlanders at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Saturday night.
The Highlanders, coming off the bye, looked disjointed and not even the return of hooker Andrew Hore from suspension and locking legend Brad Thorn’s first game for the franchise could spark them.
They struggled for momentum against a superb Cheetahs forward pack, and possibly also missed the influence of All Blacks midfielder Ma’a Nonu, out with a late knee injury.
Skipper Adriaan Strauss said the win was invaluable, especially looking ahead to next week’s clash across the ditch against the Waratahs.
“We needed this win – we’ve got a couple of youngsters in the squad and we needed a bit of confidence,” he told Sky TV.
“I think the guys have that belief now.”
The Cheetahs ran in three first-half tries, a stark contrast to last week’s 45-3 defeat by the Chiefs when they couldn’t buy a five-pointer, and led 30-7 at the break.
Halfback and former Waratah Sarel Pretorius opened the scoring at 20 minutes, latching onto a well-timed inside flick from flanker Lappies Labuschagne as he burst down the left wing.
Stung into action, the Highlanders replied five minutes later when five-eighth Lima Sopoaga’s kick through found winger Kade Poki in perfect position to score.
From then on, however, Sopoaga’s night careered downhill as he gifted the Cheetahs 14 points with two horrible mistakes.
The first came on the half-hour mark as he tried to chip over the flat Cheetahs defensive line, only to see second five-eighth Robert Ebersohn charge the kick down and canter over unopposed for the try.
Pretorius then picked up his second five minutes from halftime, snaffling Sopoaga’s attempted flip to Hosea Gear with the Highlanders hot on attack and running 70m unopposed to touch down.
Five-eighth Johan Goosen’s boot was clinical in adding the extras, banging over five penalties and three conversions to keep the home team’s hopes of a fightback well under wraps.
Coach Jamie Joseph benched Sopoaga for All Blacks No.10 Colin Slade three minutes before halftime, and the Highlanders began the second spell promisingly as Poki crossed for his second try after four minutes.
But the Cheetahs defence regrouped and held strong, and not even Poki’s third try of the night, coming after he sliced through four tackles in the 73rd minute, could put the final result in doubt.
Hey, if derek Hougaard could thrive behind the Bulls pack then it should be a breeze for Catrakilis
Nicksa
Guest
He has really impressed me. Playing behind a pack that is going backwards is hell for a FH. He place kicks well, he drop kicks well and he tackles! Hopefully a stronger franchise snatches him up so we can see if he can attack with a forward pack on the front foot. I actually think he would thrive with the bulls, maybe when morne is gone...
tubby
Guest
chiefs didn't exactly break through the stormers defence, they got around it with a great short kicking game. Very similar to the one executed so badly by the wallabies last year, the difference being the chiefs kicks were good as was the chase. the coach deserves a lot of credit for coming up with a tactic that they executed very well. Only joe pieterson's boot kept the stormers ahead, if jantjies was kicking the chiefs would have won that game
winston
Roar Rookie
It was a strange move from Kirwin considering the strength of the Bulls. And what was Luatua thinking running at the sideline on thier last possession. Despite this hump on the weekend I have no doubt come the end of the season it will be pretty clear the NZ is still the strongest conference. Though the Cheetahs have thrown a real spanner in the works.
Felix
Guest
Thanks for the Ranger info,it was really confusing why he wouldnt be selected
Suzy Poison
Guest
Or possibly the kings aren't that bad? They might even win another game! The Kings defence was good I thought! Bulls surprised me, by beating Blues..that was one result I did not expect. I have been critical of Spies in the past, but having Vermeulen as competition, is pushing him. He really is looking like a man who wants his jersey back.
Red Kev
Guest
That's a real shame as this year he's finally starting to prove he can play at All Black level week in week out not just for 30 minutes every month.
mania
Guest
yes he's signed for a French club
Red Kev
Guest
I thought Ranger had signed overseas? Is it not a done deal yet?
Red Kev
Guest
The Cheetahs' backrow was immense against the Highlanders, I think they'll destroy the Waratahs.
mania
Guest
KPM- i wouldnt say he's good enough for the AB's yet. he still has to prove that he's consistent.
Team Taniwha
Guest
The super competition is a marathon not a sprint, but a bad weekend for NZ teams. In all three games between NZ and SA teams, SA teams just beat up their opponents around the break down. The old mantra earning the right to go wide rings true as ever!
rae1
Guest
Agree with you about Fruen,the guy gets hurt and stays on the field.Started with a hiss and roar but once he was injured became invisible.Should have taken himself off.
rae1
Guest
winston
Roar Rookie
Ranger's 2013 form has been electric but more importantly consistant. I've been really impressed with his work in the rucks getting turnovers like an accomplished 7. ABs suddenly have very few options at 13 especially since Conrad is due for a sabbatical. On current form Ranger would be shoe in for the squad. Previous years he's had his moments but was not consistant. The leadership role (and of course SJK) has done wonders for him. Francis Saili may get a call up too. That combination has massive potential. Fruean seems to be getting worse with every season. No fault of his own, just his medical condition.
rae1
Guest
Yes, Ranger pretty average last year during S15 and less than average during the ITM. Last year the guy showed he could be easily riled if things are not going his way incurred a high penalty count against him because of this. The change in culture within the team this year has enabled him to show what he is truly capable of.Kirwan and co seem to be getting the best out of him at the moment,but I believe he needs to show consistency to get a shot at the ABs.Early days,too soon to call.
winston
Roar Rookie
Spending a week in Queenstown would not have done any harm either.
winston
Roar Rookie
Yeah no shame in losing to the Stormers in SA.
rae1
Guest
Totally agree,Cheetahs were my favourite team outside of the NZ conference and now they are finally proving their worth via the scoreline. I believe they will be the bolter in the SA conference.Although the chiefs(my team) lost they still managed 2 points and that is better than no points.Still way too early to call re: strongest performing conference,give it another 3 to 4 weeks.
kingplaymaker
Guest
Ranger is a risk of leaving. So the NZ media praise him so that he stays and the ABs select him so he stays. Before, he was too flaky to choose, but now he's a danger of leaving according to the NZ media he is suddenly no longer flaky and suddenly good enough for the ABs. If Fruean threatened to leave he would suddenly be no longer flaky and good enough for the ABs.