By Lucky Maree
MATCH OF THE DAY: Just when the Cheetahs needed their A team, their senior players are overseas for their EPCR Challenge Cup match.
The Pumas, however, have fielded their very best team.
If you were looking forward to seeing how Ruan Pienaar would handle Jimmy Stonehouse’s fast-playing team, you’ll be disappointed. Pienaar and the Cheetahs A team are overseas.
While the scoreboard shows no score after ten minutes, the momentum is clearly with the Pumas.
The score for Diego Appollis gives the Pumas a deserved five-point lead but the Cheetahs respond through hooker Janus Venter to give them a two-point lead.
Then comes one of those moves when the Pumas start from their own try line that puts a big smile on the face of Jimmy Stonehouse up in the coach’s box. They score a team try that ends up with Wian van Niekerk scoring under the posts.
Hooker Eduan “Sakkie the Tank” Swart is in charge of the ball when the Pumas score a pushover try two minutes later.
Eduan “Sakkie the Tank” Swart gets stretchered off but that doesn’t stop the Pumas once again manhandling the Cheetahs scrum over the line as Llewelyn Classen scores.
At halftime, the Pumas have a 19-point lead. This could turn into a rout.
After a minute Devon Williams starts a move from the 22m line and runs past five or six Cheetahs players before going to the ground. Six team passes later he gets the ball again and runs around to score under the posts.
Another long-range try results in a try for Tinus de Beer and, if the Cheetahs ever had a plan, they don’t have one now.
When Corne Fourie is yellow-carded for one of those offences that nobody understands, the Cheetahs seem to get inspired and immediately score a forward try through Roelof Smit followed by a try by Marcell Muller. They have three converted tries but are still 19 points adrift.
Again the Pumas go in for some sleight of hand that the Cheetahs simply don’t understand. Stefan Coetzee scores.
Devon Williams again does the magic and scores in the corner.
Who scores the next try from the very next move? Devon Williams, of course. It’s a hattrick try.
Congratulations Jimmy Stonehouse. You have built something really special.
Cheetahs (3 tries) 21-61 (9 tries) Pumas.
Pictured above: The Pumas taking on the Cheetahs
Image source: Currie Cup
