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Bloemfontein – The biggest upset of the Super 14 rugby season happened at Bloemfontein's Vodacompark when the 14th placed Cheetahs hammered the first placed Sharks 31-6.
Although it was a team effort, tough Cheetahs' flanker Heinrich Brussow was at the forefront of everything good the Cheetahs had to offer.
Judging by the confidence in the Cheetahs' game, one wouldn't think that this had been their only win of the season.
It started fairly even with both sides putting together several phases on attack in the first 20 minutes, but then kept each other out with good defence.
The first points went to the Sharks in the 16th minute when the Cheetahs were penalised for an offence in the tackle and Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked a penalty.
Most pressure
The scale had to swing one way, but not many would have predicted the Cheetahs to take the initiative.
The Sharks started giving away needless free kicks and on one such occasion a quick tap kick saw Cheetahs flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter gather the ball in space. He shrugged of a defender and skilfully put the flying Jongi Nokwe away in the corner. Potgieters' touchline conversion put the Cheetahs 7-3 up.
Soon after that the Sharks nearly scored through Stefan Terblanche, but again the Cheetahs' defence was up to the task.
The Cheetahs applied the most pressure for the rest of the half, stealing line-out ball and holding onto possession.
The Sharks gave away another unnecessary penalty shortly before half-time when a Cheetahs player chasing a kick was held back. Potgieter was spot on again and the Cheetahs led 10-3 at the break.
The Sharks were in desperate need of some energy in their game. The Cheetahs energy mostly came from players like Brussow, Hendro Scholtz (eighthman) and Wayne van Heerden (lock).
Shortly after half-time the home side nearly stretched their lead after a good counter attack from fullback Hennie Daniller.
The Sharks were now eager to get going, and Kockott kicked a penalty after 46 minutes. He hit the upright with another attempt soon after.
Ball in space
But in the log leaders' overeagerness they lost possession whilst on attack to the Cheetahs' Van Heerden, who offloaded to Brussow - the latter setting off on a strong run.
Outside him was Nokwe once more, who sped away from Ryan Kankowski on cross defence to score his brace.
The Cheetahs had another speedster on the other wing in Bjorn Basson, who was a late replacement for the injured Danwel Demas. Basson also put on a good show and was next to score when he got the ball in space after a centre field scrum on the Sharks 22m line.
The Sharks just couldn't get switched on and were also getting a smashing at the breakdowns from Brussow and co.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske brought on fresh legs and to the disbelief of the local crowd the Sharks were now also starting to fall off tackles.
Replacement Kabamba Floors was the beneficiary of more bad tackling as he tip-toed and dummied through the Sharks' defence with ten minutes to go.
The scoreboard read 31-6 in the Cheetahs favour and Floors' try was also his teams' bonus point try.
Scorers:
Cheetahs: Tries - Jongi Nokwe (2), Bjorn Basson, Kabamba Floors. Conversions - Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Meyer Bosman. Penalty - Potgieter.
Sharks: Penalties - Rory Kockott (2)
Referee: Nathan Pearce (AUS).
Although it was a team effort, tough Cheetahs' flanker Heinrich Brussow was at the forefront of everything good the Cheetahs had to offer.
Judging by the confidence in the Cheetahs' game, one wouldn't think that this had been their only win of the season.
It started fairly even with both sides putting together several phases on attack in the first 20 minutes, but then kept each other out with good defence.
The first points went to the Sharks in the 16th minute when the Cheetahs were penalised for an offence in the tackle and Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked a penalty.
Most pressure
The scale had to swing one way, but not many would have predicted the Cheetahs to take the initiative.
The Sharks started giving away needless free kicks and on one such occasion a quick tap kick saw Cheetahs flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter gather the ball in space. He shrugged of a defender and skilfully put the flying Jongi Nokwe away in the corner. Potgieters' touchline conversion put the Cheetahs 7-3 up.
Soon after that the Sharks nearly scored through Stefan Terblanche, but again the Cheetahs' defence was up to the task.
The Cheetahs applied the most pressure for the rest of the half, stealing line-out ball and holding onto possession.
The Sharks gave away another unnecessary penalty shortly before half-time when a Cheetahs player chasing a kick was held back. Potgieter was spot on again and the Cheetahs led 10-3 at the break.
The Sharks were in desperate need of some energy in their game. The Cheetahs energy mostly came from players like Brussow, Hendro Scholtz (eighthman) and Wayne van Heerden (lock).
Shortly after half-time the home side nearly stretched their lead after a good counter attack from fullback Hennie Daniller.
The Sharks were now eager to get going, and Kockott kicked a penalty after 46 minutes. He hit the upright with another attempt soon after.
Ball in space
But in the log leaders' overeagerness they lost possession whilst on attack to the Cheetahs' Van Heerden, who offloaded to Brussow - the latter setting off on a strong run.
Outside him was Nokwe once more, who sped away from Ryan Kankowski on cross defence to score his brace.
The Cheetahs had another speedster on the other wing in Bjorn Basson, who was a late replacement for the injured Danwel Demas. Basson also put on a good show and was next to score when he got the ball in space after a centre field scrum on the Sharks 22m line.
The Sharks just couldn't get switched on and were also getting a smashing at the breakdowns from Brussow and co.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske brought on fresh legs and to the disbelief of the local crowd the Sharks were now also starting to fall off tackles.
Replacement Kabamba Floors was the beneficiary of more bad tackling as he tip-toed and dummied through the Sharks' defence with ten minutes to go.
The scoreboard read 31-6 in the Cheetahs favour and Floors' try was also his teams' bonus point try.
Scorers:
Cheetahs: Tries - Jongi Nokwe (2), Bjorn Basson, Kabamba Floors. Conversions - Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Meyer Bosman. Penalty - Potgieter.
Sharks: Penalties - Rory Kockott (2)
Referee: Nathan Pearce (AUS).
