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, 15:03 pm
Odwa shouldnt have been in the starting 15, not with Mvovo playing like he has, not we have to start chopping and changing at 25 mins… fantastic!! Dumond you got to play outa your skin!!!
17 Oct 2009, 15:05 pm
heinrich is SA Player of the Year hands down!
17 Oct 2009, 15:05 pm
Gusy a fkn genius. The Diamond.
17 Oct 2009, 15:08 pm
why wouldn’t they put the reserve prop at hooker?
17 Oct 2009, 15:08 pm
Brussow is superb. Sharks scrum is struggling.
17 Oct 2009, 15:08 pm
#49 Slappes:
And please don’t tell us where he keeps his ticket.
17 Oct 2009, 15:08 pm
Jus, the bok front row looks ordinary without Bakkies
17 Oct 2009, 15:09 pm
sharks scrum is PAP
17 Oct 2009, 15:11 pm
#50 SodaJoe: told you Nel was good.
17 Oct 2009, 15:11 pm
#58 Transformation: You’re being too kind.
17 Oct 2009, 15:12 pm
#57 Travelling Shark:
I’ve been warning about that for while. That’s the problem the WP front row will have.
17 Oct 2009, 15:13 pm
#59 Big Hit: Very strong, some good tackles too.
17 Oct 2009, 15:14 pm
We look good with ball in hand and some space, need more possesion and some territory wouldnt help.
Cheetahs playing really good rugby
NICE PIENAAR!!!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 15:14 pm
Sharks counterattacks this and last week were outstanding.
17 Oct 2009, 15:16 pm
Jpp playing really well, looking for work. Adi also playing well, including defense.
17 Oct 2009, 15:17 pm
Win or lose, I can see some more players being made an offer to cross the Drakensberg after this match.
17 Oct 2009, 15:18 pm
that’s some shiner on the Cheetahs hooker
17 Oct 2009, 15:18 pm
SHARKIES!!!!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 15:19 pm
Geez again.
17 Oct 2009, 15:21 pm
Some brilliant counterattacks from the Sharks!
17 Oct 2009, 15:21 pm
trrrrrrrrrrrrry!!!!!
17 Oct 2009, 15:22 pm
#70 WP Till I Die: so much for Stransky’s view that they couldn’t attack
17 Oct 2009, 15:22 pm
I think manny pacquiao plays for the sharks!
17 Oct 2009, 15:22 pm
Very important for Pienaar to score there – he’s a confidence player.
17 Oct 2009, 15:26 pm
Long way to go in this one.
17 Oct 2009, 15:28 pm
Cheetahs suck! There goes our Loftus final.
17 Oct 2009, 15:29 pm
Champion sides take the pressure and then turn it around! Sharks looking good. Impressed with JP
17 Oct 2009, 15:29 pm
#73 Transformation: Dont be stupid
17 Oct 2009, 15:30 pm
So far so good Sharks. Wind will be on our backs in the 2nd half that will be a relief for the players.
Go Sharks.
17 Oct 2009, 15:30 pm
Look for an early drop from Hernandez!
17 Oct 2009, 15:31 pm
#69 SodaJoe: Howzit Joe, You getting the game boet?
17 Oct 2009, 15:32 pm
#68 Travelling Shark:
17 Oct 2009, 15:32 pm
#78 Porto: stupid as you are…
17 Oct 2009, 15:34 pm
Hernandez drop goal. Go Sharks. Hernandez having a brilliant game so far.
17 Oct 2009, 15:34 pm
#80 Nightwalker: Good one!
17 Oct 2009, 15:35 pm
This one is all over. Why don’t they play Coenie at 2? No logic there.
17 Oct 2009, 15:35 pm
What did I say
17 Oct 2009, 15:35 pm
Nice start to the final 40.
The cheetahs need Juries on the field.#66 David: We will gladly include Kockott in the deal
17 Oct 2009, 15:36 pm
Bwahahahaha, that will make your ears ring!!
17 Oct 2009, 15:37 pm
18-6
17 Oct 2009, 15:38 pm
Roll on Bulls in the final. Another year without the funny little people from the Cape in the final. WP rugby is dead – even with all the welathy backers they cant get it right. Hahaha
17 Oct 2009, 15:40 pm
what the heck, no forward passes in this game i see
17 Oct 2009, 15:40 pm
very flat pass from bosman
17 Oct 2009, 15:40 pm
Cheaters need to take their points.
17 Oct 2009, 15:42 pm
#93 Transformation: Do you know anything about rugby? your comments are stupid
17 Oct 2009, 15:44 pm
noooooooo try Cheetahs
17 Oct 2009, 15:45 pm
Try Cheetahs. Cheetahs right back in this game.
17 Oct 2009, 15:45 pm
Good play from the Cheetahs.
17 Oct 2009, 15:45 pm
Dont be too quick in saying this game is over – far from it… Sharks cant afford to become lethargic…
17 Oct 2009, 15:45 pm
Strong as an ox.
But now Wian off. I just don’t get Naka. Even if Wian is injured.
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