Pumas

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 21: Simon Westraadt of the New Nation Pumas during the Carling Currie Cup match between New Nation Pumas and Toyota Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

Pumas have one foot in the semis after Currie Cup win over Cheetahs

The Pumas did their Currie Cup playoff push no harm with 28-19 win over the Cheetahs in Nelspruit on Saturday 21 August 2021.

Pumas

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 21: Simon Westraadt of the New Nation Pumas during the Carling Currie Cup match between New Nation Pumas and Toyota Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

The Pumas did their Currie Cup playoff push no harm with 28-19 win over the Cheetahs in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Following a disappointing 33-26 midweek defeat to the Bulls, where they gave away a lead, the pressure was on Jimmy Stonehouse’s charges as a second loss to the Cheetahs this season would see them drop out of the top four.

The Pumas were solid in the basics and setpieces and dominated possession, although their red-zone attack left a little to be desired and the Cheetahs were always in the game.

On the other hand, the Cheetahs shot themselves in the foot with a brace of yellow cards and a penalty try given away in the contest.

How the Pumas won

The Pumas went to their dominant driving maul early to draw first blood as Westraadt scored an unconverted try five minutes into the match. The hosts continued their strong start by winning a scrum penalty, which took them back into the attacking 22, where the visitors were caught offside and Eddie Fouché kicked a straightforward penalty goal from right in front.

Fouché stretched the scoreline to 11-0 in the 24th minute after the Cheetahs Aidon Davis failed to roll away on another Pumas foray forward.  

The Cheetahs got back into the contest when a strong carry by David Brits provided the go-forward that led to an easy run in for Victor Sekekete and Ruan Pienaar slotted the conversion to make it a four-point game.

Cheetahs implode

Despite seeing the Cheetahs reduced to 14 men, the Pumas required some concerted defence to keep the visitors out before mounting their own late surge which saw Westraadt go over for a second try which saw him draw level with Eduan Keyter as the second-highest try scorer in the 2021 Currie Cup to date.

The first points of the second half came on the hour-mark, as Fouché slotted a third penalty goal to leave the Cheetahs with trailing by 14.

Bloemfontein’s finest responded by giving the hosts a dose of their own medicine, driving the ball up some 18 metres before replacement Andisa Ntsila dotted down in the corner. Pienaar’s excellent conversion made it 21-14 with 15 minutes remaining.

Ntsila was one of two Cheetahs carded as the Pumas pressed to kill off the game, and when they were awarded a penalty try it looked to be done and dusted.

Clayton Blommetjies scored after the Pumas lost a man to a card as well but it would not be enough and the Cheetahs are now out of the running for the last four.

Scorers: Pumas 28-19 Cheetahs

Pumas 28 (18) – Tries: Simon Westraadt (2), Penalty try. Conversion: Eddie Fouché. Penalty goals: Fouché (3).

Cheetahs 19 (7) – Tries: Victor Sekekete, Andisa Ntsila, Clayton Blommetjies. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2).

Rugby Championship: Springboks vs Argentina – LIVE scores