Three wins in a row: Cheetahs
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A virtuoso display from Sias Ebersohn helped the Cheetahs to an 33-20 upset Super Rugby victory over an injury-hit Crusaders outfit in Bloemfontein.
The fly-half contributed 21 points for his side, with his brother also adding a score before Ashley Johnson crossed to cap a workmanlike success.
Naka Drotske's side did well from the outset to close Sonny Bill Williams' space down, giving the Crusaders playmaker little room to create magic.
The hosts opened the scoring with Ebersohn slotting over a penalty.
Crusaders fly-half Dan Carter missed in his attempt at the posts moments later, but soon afterwards the visitors scored the first try of the match. It came following good work from Robbie Freuan, who broke through the line to offload to the finishing Zac Guildford. Carter converted the try to give the Crusaders a four-point lead.
Despite a strong attacking performance in the opening moments of the match the Cheetahs lost too many balls at the contact area. They did get back onto the front foot from a Riaan Viljoen kick which was fielded by Sarel Pretorius. The home side secured quick ball with Ashley Johnson sending a long pass to Robert Ebersohn who stepped inside to score. His twin converted and then added three more points.
Carter then responded with a dummy and dart for the line just five minutes before the break. His conversion gave the Crusaders a one-point lead going in half-time.
After the interval Sias Ebersohn continued his fine form with a penalty in the 50th minute and moments later he confirmed his class with a converted try of his own.
With a 26-17 lead the Cheetahs' confidence grew at a steady pace as they kept the Crusaders from their goal line. The Crusaders only added only three points in the second half through a penalty kick from Mat Berquist who came on for Carter.
With seven minutes left in the match, standout forward Johnson scored an intercept try after the Crusaders fumbled the ball on attack and from there it was all too late for the men from Christchurch, who had also lost centre Williams to injury.
The scorers:
For Cheetahs:
Tries: R Ebersohn, S Ebersohn, Johnson
Con: S Ebersohn 3
Pen: S Ebersohn 4
For Crusaders:
Tries: Guildford, Carter
Con: Carter 2
Pen: Carter 2
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Robbie Fruean, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Joe Wheeler, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Steve Alfeld, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Brent Ward.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Comments
dylster says...
@ ryan
missing Dagg, Maitland, Ellis, Fotuali'i, Sam Whitelock, Thorn from memory.
Well played Cheetahs, Johnson try was a highlight, and Guildfords for the leadup by Fruen.
Posted 06:40 15th May 2011
KiwiLad says...
Well done Cheetahs... Was a weekend for the upset
Posted 06:28 15th May 2011
Ramage says...
Congratulations to the Cheetahs as I said last week I was worried about this game as the Cheetahs are prepared to run the ball at their opposition and were staunch in their defence. The crusaders looked limp devoid of ideas and quite tired and were well beaten. It shows how much the game last week affected them. however two interesting factors emerge from this game which are worth commenting on. The first shows that while McCaw and Carter are top class players if the other players in the team are not performing then no amount of class from these two will help. A team is more than just two players and once Sonny Bill went off the backline, which had been totally disrupted, failed to function at all and the error rate continued to build helped by the terrific defence of the Cheetahs. The second factor worth commenting on is that Iunderstand that the referee who controlled the game was a NZer and the NZ team lost and badly. So perhaps we can get rid of all the conspiracy suggestions over appointments and refereeing bias. A referee is not usually bad because of bias or favouritism but because of competence on the day.
Posted 03:58 15th May 2011
bokboyinbrazil says...
well done guys. JEALOUS SHARKS FAN!
Posted 23:49 14th May 2011
pacfcrugby4eva says...
And certain 'Sad as' supporters kept knocking the Reds....hmmmm. I'm gutted that Canterbury lost, but well done the Cheetahs all the same. Go the Reds!
Posted 23:48 14th May 2011
runnrugby says...
@ ryan. Yes they are still injury hit. They may of gotten McCaw and Carter back but they did lose four backs last week including Dagg and Maitland who are top try scorers. They've been pretty unlucky with injuries this season with SBW probably another.
Dagg, Maitland, A. Whitelock, B.Thorn, S. whitelock, Ellis, Fotuali'i still need to comeback.
Its been a weekend of big upsets. chiefs, lions, cheetahs all winning.
Posted 23:18 14th May 2011
Kailomafala says...
Hands done.................?
Posted 21:28 14th May 2011
NoSeriously says...
By my count, 9 All Blacks in the starting line up and with a Crusaders setup that frequently have quality players as backup, the last card that can be played is the injury hit card. The Crusaders were outplayed and outmuscled by a gutsier and more determined outfit than they expected. Let us also not forget that the Cheetahs are without their inspirational leader, Juan Smith and Corne Uys was injured. Heinrich Brussow, who was a real thorn in the Crusaders side, and Waltie Vermeulen were also injured during the game. The difference is that their replacements stepped up to the plate.
Posted 20:59 14th May 2011
sillysonofa says...
To all the idiots who shoot their mouths off without thinking, New Zealands best including the magic Carter and McCaw beaten by SA's second worst with defence so bad my granny would score against them and who don't have anyone of international significance in their team.
This obviously means that South Africa has serious depth and talent at their disposal and will steam roller everyone else at the World Cup.
Take your heads out from between your bottom cheeks!
Wish McCaw and Carter were playing against the Stormers, we might have won. Although, given their performance today, that probably wouldn't have been enough.
Posted 19:58 14th May 2011