Super 15: Cheetahs - Brumbies in Bloemfontein (29-04-2011)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The Cheetahs and Brumbies play each other in Bloemfontein which is the first of the 2 matches the Brumbies will play in South Africa. Next week they meet the Sharks and with that, they travel the exact same route the Hurricanes did. For the Canes it brought them 10 conceded tries in 2 matches and the Brumbies hope they can do better defensively. The Canberra side is losing Adam Ashley-Cooper at the end of the season which means a serious blow to the squad, knowing also Matt Giteau is leaving for Europe at the end of the World Cup. With only 2 wins in the season so far, it hasn't been the best start the team from Canberra could have hoped for.

With only 165 points scored, they are the least scoring side in the competition, with even the Force, Rebels, Lions and Cheetahs scoring more. Can they recover in Bloemfontein and get back on track? A lot will depend on Matt Giteau and Pat McCabe. The Brumbies, who will probably be coached by Jake White next year, need to win if they want to grab the final straw towards the play offs. A bonus point win will bring them to 26 points and only a 5 point-win will do.

How different are things for the Cheetahs. They lost 47-50 in the most thrilling match so far in 2011. 11 tries between them and the Hurricanes and only 20 seconds away from a win 2 weeks ago, the Cheetahs want to strike back and this time win. They only managed to beat the Waratahs, in Sydney, but have snatched up 7 bonus points including 2 in the loss to the Canes 2 weeks ago. Big man on the Cheetahs side is Sarel Pretorius. The 27-year old has clubs chasing him from New Zealand, Australia and even France. With his contract expiring this year, things look good for the scrum half who is contracted to the Griquas from Kimberley.

Last week he scored a hat-trick and it brought him to a total of 6 tries already this season. The good play by Pretorius is hiding the fact that the Cheetahs are missing some key players. Andries Strauss, his cousin Adriaan Strauss, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussow have all missed several matches. Adriaan Strauss made his comeback last week as a sub and Brussow might be fit to play but the loss of Juan Smith is a severe loss to the franchise.

History shows that matches never end on a low point. There is always something to look forward to when these 2 teams play each other. Ever since the Cheetahs formed their own franchise in 2006 and seperated from the Lions (with whom they formed the Cats previously), they have beaten the Brumbies only in 2007. This was a match where there were 5 tries scored by the Cheetahs (Falie Oelschig, Gavin Passens, Richardt Strauss, Phillip Burger and Juan Smith) which were all converted by Willem de Waal (later Stormers and now playing for Benneton Treviso).

The biggest win for the Brumbies against the Cheetahs was last year when they managed to beat them 61-15 with tries by Ben Alexander, Stephen Hoiles, Patrick Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Rocky Elsom, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua and Alfi Mafi.

As the Cats, they have suffered bigger losses in 2002 (64-16) and 2000 (64-0).


2010 Brumbies 61 - 15 Cheetahs
2009 Cheetahs 27 - 40 Brumbies
2008 Brumbies 29 - 23 Cheetahs
2007 Cheetahs 38 - 20 Brumbies
2006 Brumbies 53 - 20 Cheetahs
2005 Cats 29 - 34 Brumbies
2004 Brumbies 68 - 28 Cats
2003 Cats 34 - 32 Brumbies
2002 Brumbies 64 - 16 Cats
2001 Cats 17 - 19 Brumbies
2000 Brumbies 64 - 0 Cats

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Both these team could've/should've done better IMO. While the Brumbies have also had to deal with some injuries I think form is their major concern while the Cheetahs have been woeful in defense.

Sarel Pretorius is a great attacking scrummie and keeps opposition honest with the combination of quick service and deadly runs but he is probably the biggest culprit on defense. I remember a game on tour where he made 6 tackles of which 4 were missed!! That said a lot of the problem is with the severe injury toll at the Cheetahs and them having to play half a Vodacom cup team rather than their regulars and the constant reshuffling it has led to also doesn't help.

Uninspiring as the fixture is (battle of the cellar dwellers) we can certainly look forward to an intense affair with both teams looking to bring their seasons back on track. I'll back the Cheetahs for a win at home if they have Brussow, Andries - and Adriaan Strauss back as I've heard they possibly might.

I've also heard Juan SMith might be playing in the Vodacom cup in a months time or so. Anyone able to verify?

 

[Seaton]

'Mon the men from Bloemfontein

Do us a favour by smashing the Brumbies and leaving them hopeless for when they face us.

Hopefully Adriaan Strauss will start this game, Ryno Barnes has been uninspiring to say the least

Edit: With regards to the post above, I don't know about Smith, but when the Cheetahs played the Hurricanes, they did a touch line interview with Andries Strauss, who said that he is definitely out for the rest of the competition, but they were hoping not for the year.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

'Mon the men from Bloemfontein

Do us a favour by smashing the Brumbies and leaving them hopeless for when they face us.

Hopefully Adriaan Strauss will start this game, Ryno Barnes has been uninspiring to say the least

Edit: With regards to the post above, I don't know about Smith, but when the Cheetahs played the Hurricanes, they did a touch line interview with Andries Strauss, who said that he is definitely out for the rest of the competition, but they were hoping not for the year.

Too bad. Juan Smith and Andries Strauss are probably the two that'd make the biggest difference to the Cheetahs' compeitiveness; leadership and a solid presence in the centres. Still, they've lost a lot but almost all of them close and against a team as off form as the Brumbies they might just sneak it. It'd still be a slight upset IMO but at home and with this beig the Brumbies' first game on tour I am quietly confident. VRRYYYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!



EDIT: I see Frans Viljoen, Hennie Daniller and Rayno Benjamin are also set to make a return if not this week then the next. Not world beaters but will definately shore up the team somewhat and give a less ad-hoc look to the line-up sheets. Hope it translates to on-field sucess!

 

[Darwin]

Cheetahs:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller

Having Adriaan Strauss and Brussow back is bound to be a huge boast for the Cheetahs.

 

[User1245]

Not in a long time have I sworn at a team like I did when the Cheetahs threw the game away against the Hurricanes.
Here's hoping they can pip this one, the Brumbies are looking weak.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Put some money on the cheetahs. Fingers crossed

 

[Seaton]

Holy sh*t

Riaan Viljoen- epic 60 metre drop goal, could have taken it from 5-10 metres further even!

And now a great run and kick by Sarel Pretorius has set up a Cheetahs line-out, from which they have scored

Cheetahs look up for this!

 

[Amobokoboko]

what a kick by Viljoen

 

[Amobokoboko]

Now Try oosthuizen, if they keep this pace going it will be a monster score.

 

[Seaton]

Cheetahs leading 15-0, looks like we could have a thrashing on our hands, how much have you got riding on the Cheetahs Amabokoboko?

Sarel looking world class tonight

22-0 NOW!

WP Nel scores after a wonderful off-load by Pretorius!

 

[Amobokoboko]

Idd, what a game. I said cheetahs +7 for 100
Please god let them win this game and no more injuries

 

[Amobokoboko]

What did those guys eat today?

 

[Amobokoboko]

First point for the Brumbies

 

[Amobokoboko]

Another try for the Cheetahs. yes bonus point.

 

[Seaton]

Cheetahs going off the boil here...

You can just sense the crowd starting to think " Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap , crap, crap, crap!!!"

 

[Amobokoboko]

Brumbies fighting back now. Sincerely hope the cheetahs can get back in control. Why is Steenkamp not the captain today?

 

[Seaton]

Brumbies fighting back now. Sincerely hope the cheetahs can get back in control. Why is Steenkamp not the captain today?

Andriaan Strauss is th regular captain, apart from Juan Smith of course...

Cheetahs have shot themselves in the foot now, from being 25-0 up they now lead only by 1 score
The defense has been absolutely shocking, the first time tackles are really poor

 

[Amobokoboko]

Indeed, but still 6 up ahead. And if they keep on attacking like they did and work on their defense they should be able to pull his.

 

[Seaton]

I think I would actually cry if the Cheetahs lost today, especially after their Vodacom Cup XV team lost 46-39 to the Pampas after the Pampas scored in the last movement of extra time