This will be the inaugural meeting between the Cheetahs and Griquas in Super Rugby Unlocked; both teams come into this game on the back of consecutive defeats.
The Cheetahs are sitting in the fourth spot on the Super Rugby Unlocked log with two wins from four, while Griquas are yet to win any of their five matches this campaign.
- Griquas remain on the hunt for the maiden win in Super Rugby Unlocked; however, their half-time lead against the Sharks in Round 6 was the first time they’ve led at the end of either half of a game this season.
- The Kimberley side has won 8.8 turnovers per game in Super Rugby Unlocked, the most of any team in the competition and more than twice as many as the Cheetahs (4.3).
- The Cheetahs have gained 365 metres per game in Super Rugby Unlocked, the joint-most with the Lions in the competition.
- Griquas duo Adre Smith and Hendrik Luushave each won six turnovers this Super Rugby Unlocked campaign, the joint-most of any player in the competition.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway at a soaking Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein.
3.00: Cheetahs win the first penalty of the game, but it is inside their 22.
4.00: TRY! Andisa Ntsila beats Rosco Specman to the bouncing ball to dot down in the corner. Zak Burger tried to get back but he could not control the rolling ball. 5-0
5.00: MISS! The conversion attempt is wide. 5-0
8.00: The conditions are very poor, the rain is teeming down. Both front rows are struggling to keep their footing in the scrums.
11.00: Superb work by Adre Smith, winning the turnover and penalty at the ruck. Tinus de Beer clears the danger to the Cheetahs’ 22.
12.00: Jeandré Rudolph, despite being told three times to leave the ball because he was off his feet and in from the side, does not, allowing the opposition a shot at goal from in front.
13.00: PENALTY! De Beer puts his team on the scoreboard. 5-3
15.00: Harlon Klaasen is offside. Tian Schoeman will take a shot.
16.00: PENALTY! Tian Schoeman slots the kick. 8-3
19.00: Cheetahs back in the mix, they win a kickable penalty.
21.00: MISS! Schoeman misses again, he’s one from three. 8-3
23.00: Griquas win a scrum-penalty after the line judge tells the ref that Hencus van Wyk collapsed the set-piece. Burger points to the poles.
24.00: PENALTY! Superb strike by De Beer on the angle and from about 45 metres in the wet. 8-6
26.00: Howard Mnisi knocks-on with a huge hole in front of him. Griquas’ defence has been solid, they are flying up in the Cheetahs’ face, forcing them into errors as they look to spread the ball in wet conditions.
28.00: Griquas win another scrum-penalty, and will take a long-distance shot at goal.
30.00: MISS! De Beer’s kick did not have the legs, falling well short of the posts. 8-6
32.00: A couple of reset scrums, which seems to be the norm today (or every game). The front rows might need to change their boots at the break.
35.00: Another soft penalty by Rudolph will give De Beer a chance at putting his team in front.
36.00: PENALTY! De Beer makes no mistake this time. 8-9
38.00: Cheetahs not adapting to the conditions, they are kicking poorly out of hand and making too many mistakes. Griquas are well worth their lead, they have been the better team.
41.00: The ball is kicked into the stands.
The halftime score was Cheetahs 8 Griquas 9
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway at a drenched Bloemfontein.
43.00: MISS! Another miss from De Beer. 8-9
46.00: Cheetahs on the attack after some scrappy play by both sets of players.
49.00: TRY! Griquas run out of numbers, but that it is poor play by the visitors, allowing Howard Mnisi to flop over the try line with nobody around him. 13-9
50.00: MISS! The kick is well wide again. 13-9
54.00: Griquas win the turnover and scrum after a superb defensive maul.
55.00: BIG SCRUM by the Cheetahs, they kick to the corner.
56.00: No advantage, but the Cheetahs will go to the lineout again. Griquas under pressure, are starting to tire as the fresh legs for the hosts turn the screw.
57.00: Another well-defended maul by the Kimberley men, who disrupt the opposition, and win a lineout after the loose ball rolls into touch.
60.00: Free state are all over Griquas, but cannot score; instead, their handling and decision making continues to hamper Fourie’s side.
63.00: PENALTY! Schoeman extends from the tee. 16-9
67.00: Griquas squander another good opportunity at five points with some poor handling.
69.00: Cheetahs keep coming, but they will not break down this strong defence by trying to play wide. Griquas conceded another penalty inside their half, Schoeman will take a shot.
71.00: MISS! Schoeman’s kick is wide. 16-9
75.00: TRY! Ruben de Haas finishes off Griquas. It was a comedy of errors but the hosts put the game to bed. 19-9
76.00: MISS! The kick no is good. 21-9
80.00: TRY! Rudolph gets another one for the home team, scoring from close range. 24-9
81.00: CONVERSION! Fortuin’s conversion ends the game.
FULL TIME
To refresh this page click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.
The final score is Cheetahs 28 (8) Griquas 9 (9)
Scorers
Cheetahs
Tries – Ntsila, Mnisi, De Haas, Rudolph
Pen – Schoeman (2)
Con – Fortuin
Drop –
Cards –
Griquas
Tries –
Pen – De Beer (3)
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Ref 1: Griffin Colby
Assistant Ref 2: Ben Crouse
TMO: Willie Vos
Teams
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 William Small-Smith
Griquas
15 Masixole Banda, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Mox Mxoli
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Madot Mabokela, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Theo Maree, 22 André Swarts, 23 Daniel Kasende
