Delicious
Digg
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Click here to bet on Rugby Union with Sky Bet
Winning the race: Cheetahs
Related links
Also see
- Minute-by-minute: How the try-fest entertained those in Wellington
A total of eight tries were scored in the first-half as the Cheetahs came from behind to stun the Hurricanes 47-38 at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors from South Africa were 32-11 down to the in-form Hurricanes, who had picked up a try bonus-point with only half-an-hour played after hooker Dane Coles, fly-half Beauden Barrett, full-back Andre Taylor and wing TJ Perenara scored.
But back came the free-running Cheetahs with full-back Hennie Daniller, wing Rayno Benjamin, loosehead Coenie Oosthuizen (2) and tighthead WP Nel contributing to their impressive triumph.
Coles had got the home side off to a strong start when he stepped a defender and went in under the posts with only three minutes having passed.
But soon after Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss was on the board after taking a nice pass from Willie le Roux to go in near the right touchline.
It was a sign of things to come as the game continued to excite, with end-to-end rugby allowing both teams' in-form runners plenty of room to manoeuvre in the open field.
Man of the moment Barrett was next to trouble the scorers as he slipped four tackles in the midst of an excellent 50-metre sprint for the whitewash, while possible All Black Taylor added to his own strong start to the Super Rugby season with a scintillating score that saw him make a tackle in his 22, turnover possession and then finish in the space of 70 metres.
They were not done there too as winger Julian Savea set up the third just two minutes later as his run down the left wing led to him offloading inside to waiting scrum-half Perenara.
Naka Drotske's charges then launched their impressive comeback through Daniller and Benjamin before the destructive Oosthuizen barged over just before the half-time whistle.
Barrett slotted his fourth shot to make it 40-38, but Oosthuizen's second try sealed victory.
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Coles, Barrett, Taylor, Perenara
Con: Barrett 3
Pen: Barrett 4
For Cheetahs:
Tries: An Strauss, Daniller, Benjamin, Oosthuizen 2, Nel
Con: Goosen 4
Pen: Goosen 3
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tristan Moran.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Jayden Hayward.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 George Earle, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Andries Ferreira, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman.
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Comments
martinmarais78 says...
Naikok aka Daibok, word net wakker boet!!
Posted 19:51 01st April 2012
meneer says...
Respect to all the positive & intelligent comments by the Kiwi supporters, graceful in defeat. Is there any chance you guys could teach your neighbours? especially their commentators (will miss Mexted by the way)
Posted 10:25 01st April 2012
zuluboy11 says...
Winning the hearts and minds of all rugby fans. Well done Cheetah"s.
Posted 07:20 01st April 2012
Hybrid187 says...
From a canes fan... Great game and well done cheetahs ! I don't like seeing my team lose but you have to take your hat off to the cheetahs. That was an incredible come back. I really like the way they play, can't believe they could possibly be getting relegated this season.
Posted 00:02 01st April 2012
Daibok says...
Great win. Super Cheetahs. Perhaps MartinmoronIQ78 could explain what this has to do with the Sharks?
Posted 19:37 31st March 2012
Ramage says...
It was only a matter of time before the Cheetahs clicked. I have been impressed with the efforts they have been putting together as the rugby they are playing is breathtaking.Well done a very well deserved win and I take nothing away from the Cheetahs on their win.Back to the drawing board Mr Hammett your troops had no answer and were bewildered by the frenzied attacks thrown at them. Seems the calls last week that the Canes were back were a bit premature. @jmangod what can you expect Ian Smith is a pretty ordinary ref at the best of times and as the only real Oz referee having regular games shows how the lack of a National competition is really hampering Oz referees they really are out of their depth. The two new OZ referees haven't been appointed to any games yet apart from the one who took over when Smith injured himself in the Reds Force game in Brisbane and he too was pretty ordinary compared to the new Saffa and Kiwi refs.
Posted 16:39 31st March 2012
JayStarr says...
WHAT A GAME...!!! I thought I was going to have a heart attack..! One moment of agony, the next moment ecstasy... Mercilessly carrying on this way and that way... BRILLIANT attacking play... Relentless courage from both teams... Amazing stuff. My game of the season so far!
How can you not love the Cheetahs!?
Posted 15:34 31st March 2012
SACanuck says...
Finally it clicked for the Cheetahs, great. Hope it continues, and it is great to see a team with heart.
Posted 14:44 31st March 2012
carpelone says...
Lekker!!
Posted 14:31 31st March 2012
rolf says...
i luv it!
somehow the cheetahs eventually becmae the hottest thing in s15.
Posted 12:42 31st March 2012
tweedledee49 says...
missed the game but well done to the cheetahs...im a kiwi fan but im happy the canes lost...some of the canes players can be a lil ignorant at times or maybe im still pissed they beat the blues lol
Posted 11:52 31st March 2012
letsgoboks says...
These boys are looking great!
Posted 11:14 31st March 2012
jmanngod says...
rubbish ref'ing at the rucks... players sealing off all over the place. What happened to the tough interpretations? No one bother to tell the Aussie refs?
Posted 09:53 31st March 2012
rugby_lord says...
One word - WOW
Posted 09:25 31st March 2012
zambokke says...
Weird but great. I didn't see this game. Did the Hurricanes (a) relax and then not be able to pick up momentum again (b) get arrogant (c) allow a free running game when they should have played tight after securing their bonus point (d) bring on a raft of subs ? Or, were they simply shocked and blown away (excuse the pun) by a great attacking Cheetah's side? Or a combination of all of the above? It is difficult to know these things from the PR review.
Posted 09:20 31st March 2012
hellovanite says...
I am a New Zealander and usually I don't enjoy seeing New Zealand teams get beaten and so it goes I still feel the same way. However, I just watched this game and found myself applauding the handling skills, off loads and backing up shown by this Cheetahs outfit. They may find it harder against better defenses like the Stormers, Bulls and the Crusaders but if they can develop and maintain structure in defense and push up quicker to cut down the space they will be a hard team to beat anywhere. Well done Cheetahs on your first win in NZ.
Back to the drawing board for the Hurricanes. I must say that while I'm happy when any of the NZ teams win, I am a bit concerned about some of the game stats shown by the NZ teams lately. Win or lose it seems that in a lot of games we make more tackles in our own half, have less ball and less territory. Hey I'm all for broken play, but I still want to see the basics done well... Not sure where I'm going with this?
Posted 08:47 31st March 2012
ben7 says...
My new favourite team! they play the most exciting rugby of all the teams!
Posted 08:19 31st March 2012
IslandPower says...
well done cheeta's finally get the result they deserve. Great fightback from 32-11
Posted 08:11 31st March 2012
bloemboy says...
Incredible to think there is talk of denying this team a place in Super Rugby. We would be all the poorer for it.
Posted 08:06 31st March 2012
martinmarais78 says...
If the Sharks could only buy some good old 'Vrystaat gees', they would have had 10x more to show in terms of Super trophees!!
These guys (Cheetahs) still play rugby with their hearts instead of their bank balances.
WELL DONE CHEETAHS!!
Posted 07:39 31st March 2012