Cheetahs shock Sharks
17 Oct 2009
Jacques-Louis Potgieter slotted a last minute drop to knock the Sharks out of the Currie Cup at Kings Park.
The Cheetahs have come back from the dead in the league stages in the competition, and did the same in this semi as they trailed 18-3 early in the second half. But a remarkable comeback, aided by the Cheetahs flyhalf scoring 18 points, secured one of the great upsets in the competition as they won 23-21.
The Cheetahs were expected to trouble the Sharks at the scrum, breakdown and with their attack. They did just that, and throughout the opening 40 minutes they produced most of the play. Looking at the scoreboard however, it wouldn’t have told. The Sharks led 15-3 at the break, 10 of those points coming in the final 10 minutes, but for the visitors it was a half of lost opportunities.
No 8 Ashley Johnson was held up inches from the tryline, while Potgieter’s goal-kicking problems were initially exposed. He missed nine points off the boot from two penalties and a drop, and playing with the wind, trailing by 12 points was far from Naka Drotske’s plans.
Heinrich Brussow – who was easily the best player on the park on the day – delivered yet another masterclass at the breakdown, but when the Sharks did force turnovers they made it count. Stefan Terblanche opened the scoring from a long range effort from their 22 after 10 minutes. Ruan Pienaar also slotted a penalty from another Sharks counter, while the scrumhalf’s try on the half-time hooter came from JP Pietersen’s break in their own territory, the Bok winger brushing off tackles and linking brilliantly.
The Sharks had little possession and territory, while their scrum was a shambles. The Sharks attempted to win the territorial battle largely via the educated boot of Juan Hernandez and his array of different kicks, but they had little ball to do it with. The Cheetahs conversely looked to run as much as possible, but couldn’t convert their pressure into points.
They were also winning a number of the personal battles, especially at the scrum and breakdown, with referee Marius Jonker rewarding them with many penalties. Both sides’ lineouts struggled and as a result, neither side constructed much play.
The visitors’ hopes of an upset were also hampered after half-time when Richardt Strauss had to be substituted. They had no specialist hooker cover and Johnson had to move into the front row, further curbing their plans to attack the Sharks’ set-pieces.
Early in the second stanza, the story of the opening stages was clearly exemplified. As soon as the defending champs got into opposition territory, Hernandez put over a drop to extend the lead. Corne Uys then had a chance to score from a chip, but failed to hold on. Potgieter slotted a penalty and cancelled out the Argentinean’s effort, but yet again the Cheetahs would have felt they should have gained more from their work.
Finally the underdogs made it count. Impressive tighthead WP Nel carried a number of defenders on his back to surge over the line and put his side back into it at 18-13 after 52 minutes. When Frans Viljoen looked to have dotted down four minutes later, the Cheetahs should have been in the lead. Somehow Jonker referred with his assistant ref and they ruled a forward pass, but it wouldn’t matter in the end.
Just two minutes later they wouldn’t have worried about that when Potgieter ran 50m to score. A shocking pass from Pienaar was lapped up by the flyhalf, putting the visitors in front for the first time since the opening five minutes.
Pienaar reclaimed the lead, and while the Sharks dominated territory in the last quarter, they failed to close out the match. Decision-making was poor as Hernandez, Terblanche and Adi Jacobs all went for drops when they had the visitors on the ropes. Ironically, it was Potgieter who was the one who dropped into the pocket to seal the result.
By Grant Ball
323 Comments
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17 Oct 2009, 13:35 pm
Table Top Dragons Vs Veldite Dragons.
May the best Okes win.
17 Oct 2009, 13:36 pm
lets get dangerous!
17 Oct 2009, 13:38 pm
Both these teams are rubbish. Only reason I want the Cheetahs to win is so we can have a Loftus final.
17 Oct 2009, 13:40 pm
Ops…………
My humble apologizes to The Cheats and Sharkies. may the best predator win.
17 Oct 2009, 13:41 pm
#3 BlueBlood: Haven’t you got homework or something to do?
17 Oct 2009, 13:49 pm
Sharks in the water!
17 Oct 2009, 13:50 pm
yoh yoh yoh, some good rugby today.
17 Oct 2009, 13:50 pm
Who are the refs today?
17 Oct 2009, 13:52 pm
#5 jonnymain: No, Im going to be here for both games to rub the BB victory in tinkerbelle’s faces.
17 Oct 2009, 13:53 pm
#8 MG: jonker has this game
17 Oct 2009, 13:53 pm
Marius Jonker this game and Mark Lawrence in CT
17 Oct 2009, 13:53 pm
#6 Big Hit: Big ***, its more like guppies my son.
17 Oct 2009, 13:53 pm
#4 cane:
I don’t understand the South African competition. There are 6 teams in the 1st devision and 2 teams in the 2nd devision but they display them all in the same table?
Seriously though, the NZRU would be having wet dreams about their up and coming relegation decision being on the Curry Cup and not AirNZ Cup.
17 Oct 2009, 13:56 pm
Thank goodness. Jonker the biggest bulls fan. Free State has a good chance today. I am glad he does not have the second game.
17 Oct 2009, 14:19 pm
#13 chch – welcome back Laulala: Howzit chch. You taking about the CC mate? We have 8 teams there.
17 Oct 2009, 14:19 pm
GO SHARRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
17 Oct 2009, 14:27 pm
#16 Puma: You sound nervous there Puma
17 Oct 2009, 14:28 pm
Does any one know where i can get alive feed for this game…desperate…LONDON
17 Oct 2009, 14:31 pm
is anyone watching this through rugbyzone? they only have the useless 500k flash feed?? what the heck is up with that?!
17 Oct 2009, 14:32 pm
Juries gonna pose problems in the final 30…
Come on Sharks!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 14:34 pm
#17 bananaboy: I am flipping nervous… been upset to many times to write off the cheetahs
17 Oct 2009, 14:35 pm
Come on cheetahs, you’re rubbish but I want a Loftus final.
17 Oct 2009, 14:41 pm
go cheetahs
17 Oct 2009, 14:41 pm
Brusssow steal, then great break. Lovely rugby.
17 Oct 2009, 14:41 pm
HAK VRYSTAAT!!!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 14:41 pm
Bismark you Bus
17 Oct 2009, 14:42 pm
Well done Biz.
17 Oct 2009, 14:42 pm
where can I watch the games online from the UK??
17 Oct 2009, 14:43 pm
THATS IT BOYS!!!!!!!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 14:44 pm
Wow what a counter attack. Superb.
17 Oct 2009, 14:44 pm
Cheetahs playing some solid rugby – very good counterattack by the Sharks, but was it grounded properly?
17 Oct 2009, 14:47 pm
Yip, Solid
17 Oct 2009, 14:48 pm
Really good rugby being played by both sides here.
17 Oct 2009, 14:48 pm
Does any one know where i can get alive feed for this game…desperate…LONDON
WAKA
If you have sky press the red button there is a choice of 4 games 3 HC Munster Treviso,Biarritz Gloucester,Viadana Leicester, and Sharks Cheetahs
17 Oct 2009, 14:50 pm
yes! against the bokke frontrow!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 14:51 pm
Honestly our Springbok front row is getting moered. Nel is first class.
17 Oct 2009, 14:53 pm
Mapoe – great feet.
17 Oct 2009, 14:56 pm
#37 SodaJoe:
Fetishist?
17 Oct 2009, 14:56 pm
Duck
17 Oct 2009, 14:56 pm
tell you what, Cheaters can win this.
17 Oct 2009, 14:57 pm
#38 David: rugby players only.
17 Oct 2009, 14:57 pm
#41 SodaJoe: ok that’s a lie.
17 Oct 2009, 14:58 pm
Eina. He’s done. He mustn’t be dof.
17 Oct 2009, 14:59 pm
i see juan smith didn’t go chill at the beach while his teammates are playing
17 Oct 2009, 15:00 pm
#36 SodaJoe:
to be fair they are held together by elastoplast at the moment…
17 Oct 2009, 15:02 pm
#45 gunther:
Yeah, elastobok front row.
17 Oct 2009, 15:02 pm
the bulls made a good signing in jlp…tacitus thinks he is better than burton francis…what hogwash!
17 Oct 2009, 15:03 pm
What a game – Cheetahs want this one.
17 Oct 2009, 15:03 pm
Sitting next to Robzim, justrugby, dawn, grant in cubanas. Grant wearing a speedo. Disgusting
17 Oct 2009, 15:03 pm
#45 gunther: Nel is destroying Beast. Who might need a plaster-cast after this.
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