The Cheetahs take on Melbourne Rebels tonight at the beautifully named Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein. Join us for live scores from 2.05am AEDT.
In Perth last week the Cheetahs managed to defeat the Force while playing badly – the hallmark of champion teams.
While it may be a long shot to label the Cheetahs finals-material, they are looking good in 2013.
They come into this game having deserved their three out of five wins, and sitting just behind the Stormers on the table.
Their weakness? Continuity in the forwards – they concede a turnover every nine rucks, the worst in the comp in terms of ball retention.
Their opponents, the Rebels, have their own statistical demons.
They’re fresh off a right spanking at the hands of the Sharks, flogged 64-7 and an uncharitable 10 tries scored against them.
The Rebels’ scrum is, curiously, the bright point of their game, with their completion rate fourth-best in the comp.
They will want to tone down on the brain snaps, with the highest number of yellow cards so far this year.
And with Beale and Vuna’s slap and tickle last week there’s not much let-up once the whistle goes.
Coach Damien Hill will want to channel his side’s energies into constructive footy instead of foreheads and eye sockets.
With some of the busiest tacklers in the tournament, with Luke Jones, Scott Fuglistaller and Gareth Delve, there’s plenty of defence in this team.
We’ll have to wait and see what transpires this evening against a Cheetahs outfit that loves to run with the ball.
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Harry Plummer spent 10 minutes in the sin bin over the tackle, but some of the commentators thought it was a tough call.
The Melbourne fly-half admits that some players are worried about their next moves with the club's future in doubt.
The centre was forced out of the game during halftime after being knocked out trying to make a tackle.
No one could believe how he could snap a pair of rugby boots.
After Melbourne scored the opening points, a sloppy play allowed the Blues to hit straight back.
The final result was 4-1 for the Kiwi sides but some of the results could easily have been different with a bit more maturity from the Aussies.
