As it happened: Bulls v Cheetahs

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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert

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19:00 - PICTURE

Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius finds the going tough... (Gallo Images)

KEY STATS

Metres run: Bulls 356-479 Cheetahs
Carries: Bulls 89-89 Cheetahs
Defenders beaten: Bulls 17-19 Cheetahs
Clean breaks: Bulls 3-6 Cheetahs
Tackles made: Bulls 83-95 Cheetahs
Missed tackles: Bulls 19-17 Cheetahs
Turnovers won: Bulls 9-8 Cheetahs
Kick in play: Bulls 36-26 Cheetahs
Rucks won: Bulls 66-63 Cheetahs
Rucks lost: Bulls 2-3 Cheetahs
Mauls won: Bulls 10-1 Cheetahs
Lineouts won: Bulls 12-12 Cheetahs
Lineouts lost: Bulls 2-1 Cheetahs
Scrums won: Bulls 5-4 Cheetahs
Scrums lost: Bulls 1-1 Cheetahs
Penalties conceded: Bulls 9-13 Cheetahs

18:53 - MAN-OF-THE-MATCH

Bulls prop Marcel van der Merwe received the best player award.

18:50 - Thanks for tuning in! In next week's action, the Bulls host the Stormers, while the Cheetahs face the Western Force in Bloemfontein.

18:50 - TWEET:

Willie le Roux kicks the ball dead & final hooter goes. Sums up match in which Cheetahs promised much but ran out of ideas. Bulls win 26-21 - Ken Borland

80' - FULL-TIME: Bulls 26-21 Cheetahs

A great comeback by the Bulls in the second half - which they won 17-3. The Cheetahs will feel they let slip a golden opportunity to win for the first time at Loftus Versfeld in Super Rugby.

80' - TIGHTHEAD! The Cheetahs win the ball at the scrum and launch one last attack. However, Willie le Roux kicks it up-field and over the dead-ball line... and the game ends...

79' - The Bulls lineout goes awry and the Cheetahs attack, but a forward pass out wide to a sprinting Cornal Hendricks probably puts paid to their hopes. The Bulls get a scrum just inside the Cheetahs half with 20 seconds remaining...

78' - Yes they can. Centre Jan Serfontein wins a penalty on the ground with 90 seconds remaining.

77' - Cheetahs attacking ferociously inside the Bulls 22m area. Can the hosts hold on? 

76' - Goosen boots a penalty far down-field to set up a lineout inside Bulls territory...

75' - Shaun Venter has replaced Sarel Pretorius at scrumhalf for the Cheetahs, who now try to run it out of their own 22m area...

74' - Oh dear, Bulls wing Bjorn Basson knocks it on just before the tryline. Had he caught it, momentum would surely have taken him over. That would have been the ball game!

73 ' - A sniping break from Hougaard brings the Bulls into the Cheetahs 22m area... If they score now, the game is over.

72' - Just as I write the Cheetahs opt to run. They swing it wide to the powerful Cornal Hendricks, who breaks through but is hauled in, before being penalised for holding on too long. Great tackle and attempted steal by Francois Hougaard!

71' - A bit of an aerial kicking battle in the last few minutes, not what the Cheetahs would want...

68' - Victor Matfield looking a bit perplexed at himself after dropping the ensuing kick-off...

However, he dropped it backwards before a Cheetahs player knocked it on. This game seems to be slipping away from the Chetetahs...

67' - PENALTY converted by Potgieter.

Bulls 26-21 Cheetahs

66' - Penalty right in front of the uprights for the Bulls. Sarel Pretorius the culprit - caught off-side.

65' - PICTURE

Heinrich Brussow on the charge... (Gallo Images)

63' - Jacques-Louis Potgieter has also replaced Pollard at flyhalf for the Bulls now.

63' - Reprieve for the Bulls as Nyakane is penalised at a scrum right on the Bulls line...

62' - Whole new front row for the Bulls with Bongi Mbonambi, Morné Mellett and Werner Kruger all on.

60' - All out attack from the Cheetahs now, who again surge into the Bulls 22m area, only for Johann Sadie to knock it on which brings home relief.

59' - Goosen misses it to the right. Let-off for the Bulls...

58' - Cheetahs right back on the attack and win a penalty. Goosen lines up, about 15m in from touch...

56' - TWEET on the Callie Visagie try...

Brussow penalised, lineout, no drive but ball to backs, bit messy but Visagie powers over from 10m out, great effort. Bulls 23 Cheetahs 21 - Ken Borland

56' - TRY! The picture is back and it appears the Bulls have scored a try. They lead 23-21 now.

Hooker Callie Visagie was the man who scored next to the uprights...

53' - APOLOGIES, there is a loss of picture from the ground. This writer has to watch the game on TV from the News24 HQ, so cannot comment at present.

53' - Brussow again pinged at a ruck. It's in kickable range, but again the Bulls opt not to kick for goal...

52' - JJ Engelbrecht replaces William Small-Smith in midfield for the Bulls.

Small-Smith had a decent game, making a few promising runs, but should have been utilised more often by the hosts!

52' - PENALTY slotted by Goosen.

Bulls 16-21 Cheetahs

51' - Bulls loose forward Jono Ross penalised for not rolling away at a ruck in front of his own posts...

Goosen to line up an easy kick.

49' - Morné Mellett replaces Dean Greyling at prop for the Bulls.

47' - TWO BOKS ON FOR CHEETAHS

Johan Goosen on at flyhalf for Elgar Watts and Coenie Oosthuizen on at prop for Maks van Dyk.

46' - Trevor Nyakane has replaced Caylib Oosthuizen at prop for the Cheetahs.

46' - Pollard CONVERTS from close to the touchline.

A good call by skipper Matfield not to opt for the three points...

Bulls 16-18 Cheetahs

45' - TRY! Big Bulls lock Paul Willemse barges over for the hosts after a concerted period of attack.

44' - A great chip-kick (and gather!) over the Cheetahs defence by Pollard puts the Bulls hot on the attack. They win a penalty in front, but opt not to kick for posts...

42' - Attendance at Loftus Versfeld today: 17 606

41' - Cornal Hendricks replaced Cheetahs try-scorer Raymond Rhule at the half-time break.

Rhule seemed to injure himself after scoring just before the break...

40' - Immediately a penalty for the Cheetahs as Bulls captain Victor Matfield comes in from the wrong side of a driving maul...

40' - Welcome back for the second period. Pollard starts proceedings.

FIRST HALF STATS

Metres run: Bulls 202-287 Cheetahs
Carries: Bulls 46-40 Cheetahs
Defenders beaten: Bulls 10-10 Cheetahs
Clean breaks: Bulls 0-3 Cheetahs
Tackles made: Bulls 29-44 Cheetahs
Missed tackles: Bulls 10-10 Cheetahs
Turnovers won: Bulls 5-5 Cheetahs
Kick in play: Bulls 19-13 Cheetahs
Rucks won: Bulls 35-23 Cheetahs
Rucks lost: Bulls 1-1 Cheetahs
Mauls won: Bulls 4-0 Cheetahs
Lineouts won: Bulls 7-5 Cheetahs
Lineouts lost: Bulls 1-1 Cheetahs
Scrums won: Bulls 1-3 Cheetahs
Scrums lost: Bulls 0-1 Cheetahs
Penalties conceded: Bulls 5-5 Cheetahs

HALF-TIME: Bulls 9-18 Cheetahs

40' - Watts misses the conversion attempt.

39' - TRY! Cheetahs wing Raymond Rhule scores in the corner after a brilliant backline move from the visitors. Some silky running and handling skills by the Cheetahs backs, most notably Le Roux and Sadie...

That try also came from first phase - a lineout!

38' - TWEET

Poor decision by TMO! Marcel van der Merwe's try disallowed due to "obstruction" by Matfield. But Van der Merwe stepped inside of him ... - Ken Borland

37' - PENALTY slotted by Pollard.

Bulls 9-13 Cheetahs

36' - Another Bulls penalty in range. Brussow the man pinged for not releasing the ball at a ruck...

Pollard  to line up, about 28m out, slightly to the right of the uprights.

35' - Reprieve for the Cheetahs as the hosts are penalised at the ensuing scrum.

34' - NO TRY!

Replays show Matfield had obstructed Cheetahs flank Heinrich Brussow. It was not intentional, so it will be a scrum to the Cheetahs, five metres from their own line.

34' - TRY OR NO TRY?

Bulls prop Marcel van der Merwe barges over next to the uprights! However, the TMO must decide if Bulls captain Victor Matfield blocked a defender there...

34' - Big blow for the Cheetahs as Jean Cook leaves the field. Looks like a rib injury. Teboho Mohoje replaces him.

33' - Pollard is now back on after spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

32' - Bulls opt not to take a kickable penalty just inside the Cheetahs half...

30' - Reprieve for the Bulls who win a penalty at the ensuing scrum...

29' - Cheetahs centre Ryno Benjamin takes a short pass from Willie Roux and cuts open the Bulls midfield defence. He runs right up to the tryline, but then loses control in a tackle just before scoring.

Big chance gone begging for the visitors!

28' - PENALTY converted by Visser.

Bulls 6-13 Cheetahs.

27' - The Bulls - looking to hit back - win a penalty in front of the uprights after Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss goes off his feet at a ruck. They Bulls got themselves in range when Grant Hattingh broke through brilliantly in midfield...

With Pollard off, Jurgen Visser will take the goal-kick.

25' - Le Roux's attempt is away to the left of the uprights...

24' - Wow, the Cheetahs scrum absolutely DEMOLISHES the Bulls. They duly win a penalty just inside their own half.

Willie le Roux will line up in the middle of the field, about 53m out...

22' - Watts coverts the PENALTY.

Bulls 3-13 Cheetahs.

21' - YELLOW CARD for Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard after a cynical infringement.

He tackled Sarel Pretorius after the latter took a quick tap-kick following a Cheetahs penalty. Pollard had not retreated 10m back...

That's always a harsh call in my book!

20' - A clever kick over the top by Sarel Pretorius sees the ball run out just before the Bulls tryline...

A complete momentum shift in the game after that Sadie intercept.

18' - CONVERSION by Watts.

Bulls 3-10 Cheetahs

17'- TRY! Cheetahs centre Johann Sadie intercepts a Handré Pollard pass and sprints 80m to score under the posts! Completely against the run of play, but well read by Sadie!

16' - The Bulls hot on the attack inside the Cheetahs 22m area... Good to see them swing it around a bit!

13' - William Small-Smith looking really promising in midfield for the Bulls - already two promising breaks by the centre.

12' - Helter-skelter stuff here as the Bulls now launch another attack - they almost score themselves but the referee calls them back for a forward pass from Francois Hougaard!

10' - The Cheetahs win a turnover on their own 22m line, launch a counter attack from which Willie le Roux almost scores in the corner. Unfortunately for him, his kick up-field went out just before he could chase it down.

8'-  What a strike from Watts, who slots the PENALTY.

Bulls 3-3 Cheetahs

7' - Former Bull, Jean Cook, wins a penalty on the ground for the Cheetahs.

Watts will now line up. It's close to the touchline, just inside the Bulls half...

6' - PENALTY converted by Pollard. Great strike from the youngster!

Bulls 3-0 Cheetahs

5' - Bulls win a penalty at scrum time just inside their own half. Handré Pollard will line up - about 55m out.

2' - TWEET

Bad start by the Bulls. Jacques du Plessis turned over from the kickoff + bad kick, Bulls lucky not to be punished in 22 due to knock-on - Ken Borland

1' - In a rarity for the home side, they lose their first lineout. Bulls normally the best lineout team in the competition.

1' - Cheetahs hot on the attack after winning a turnover at the kick-off, but a knock on halts their charge...

0' - Elgar Watts starts proceedings. 

Marius van der Westhuizen is the referee.

17:04 - Not the best crowd at Loftus. But that's what you get for losing four on the road I guess...

17:02 - TON UP FOR CHEETAHS CAPTAIN!

Adriaan Strauss leads out the Cheetahs.

It is his 100th Super Rugby match! Eight games were for the Bulls, and the other 92 for the Cheetahs.

SPORT24 'EXPERT' PICKS

Sport24's self-proclaimed experts - Editor Garrin Lambley and Chief Writer Rob Houwing - give you their thoughts on today's match.

Click HERE to listen to their thoughts...

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OFFICIALS

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)

RECENT RESULTS

2014: Cheetahs won 15-9, Bloemfontein
2013: Bulls won 30-25, Bloemfontein
2013: Bulls won 26-20, Pretoria
2012: Bulls won 40-24, Pretoria
2012: Bulls won 51-19, Bloemfontein
2011: Bulls won 32-21, Pretoria
2011: Bulls won 25-23, Bloemfontein

TEAMS

Bulls:

15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Wimpie van der Walt, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 23 Johannes Engelbrecht.

Cheetahs:

15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Johannes Prinsloo, 7 Jean Cook, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Rynhardt Landman, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Cornal Hendricks

Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super Rugby match between the Bulls and Cheetahs in Pretoria!