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As it happened: Cheetahs v Crusaders

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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert

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or send suggestions to: herman.mostert@sa.24.com


19:03 - PICTURE

Nemani Nadolo scored a hat-trick of tries... (Gallo Images)


18:55 - Thanks for tuning in. In next weekend's action, the Cheetahs face the Sharks in Durban, while the Crusaders are away to the Chiefs.

Be sure to follow our live updates on the next match between the Lions and Sharks in Johannesburg!

CLICK HERE to go to that game.


18:50 - KEY STATS

Metres run: Cheetahs 400-507 Crusaders
Carries: Cheetahs 92-93 Crusaders
Defenders beaten: Cheetahs 20-15 Crusaders
Clean breaks: Cheetahs 5-9 Crusaders
Tackles made: Cheetahs 72-73 Crusaders
Missed tackles: Cheetahs 15-20 Crusaders
Turnovers won: Cheetahs 2-10 Crusaders
Kicks in play: Cheetahs 28-33 Crusaders
Lineouts won: Cheetahs 10-11 Crusaders
Lineouts lost: Cheetahs 2-1 Crusaders
Scrums won: Cheetahs 4-6 Crusaders
Scrums lost: Cheetahs 0-2 Crusaders
Penalties conceded: Cheetahs 8-7 Crusaders


18:48 - MAN-OF-THE-MATCH

Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock.


18:47 - TWEET

The record will show Cheetahs got a 52-31 hiding - sport can be so cruel - Dan Retief


18:46 - FULL-TIME: Cheetahs 31-52 Crusaders.


18:45 - Replacement back Tyler Bleyendaal CONVERTS from the touchline.


18:44 - TRY AWARDED! A hat-trick for Nadolo.

The TMO ruled there was no earlier knock-on in a tackle or obstruction as the Cheetahs had claimed...


18:43 - TRY OR NO TRY?
The Cheetahs try manfully to attack, but drop the ball close to the Crusaders 22m line...

Nadolo pounces to sprint through and score in the corner, but the referee wants to check for an earlier knock-on...


18:41 - CONVERSION by Slade.

Cheetahs 31-45 Crusaders after 78 minutes.

It is GAME OVER for the Cheetahs! Best they can hope for now is a losing bonus point which would give them two points on the night. They need a converted try...


18:40 - TRY! Colin Slade pounces on a dropped ball by Teboho Mohojo, sprints 50m down the touchline before finishing under the posts.


18:37 - Daniel Lienert-Brown has replaced Wyatt Crockett at prop for the Crusaders. Good decision from coach Todd Blackadder. Crockett has given away a few scrum penalties in the last while...


18:36 - Obstruction at a vital moment by Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss gives the Kiwi side the chance to get back inside the Cheetahs half with five minutes left. 


18:35 - But the 'Saders are again penalised at the ensuing scrum and the Cheetahs get a chance to attack up-field...


18:35 - The Cheetahs try to run it out from inside their own half and get into trouble when Cornal Hendricks gets trapped by four 'Saders defenders...


18:33 - Ryno Barnes replaces Boom Prinsloo for the Cheetahs. Barnes is normally a hooker but will now play at flank for the last eight minutes!


18:31 - PICTURE

This 'try' from earlier in the first half wasn't awarded to Sarel Pretorius... (Gallo Images)


18:30 - Six tries have now been scored in the last 28 minutes!


18:29 - Slade misses the conversion.

Cheetahs 31-38 Crusaders after 69 minutes.


18:29 - That's also the BONUS POINT for the Crusaders.


18:28 - TRY! Big winger Nemani Nadolo scores his second try in the corner. It was set up when Slade took a quick tap from a penalty inside the Cheetahs half...


18:26 - Watts misses the penalty from about 20m in-field. Let-off for the visitors!


18:25 - But the Crusaders are immediately penalised from the ensuing kick-off when replacement hooker Ben Funnell comes in from the side at a ruck...


18:24 - Slade CONVERTS from close to the posts to put his team back in front.

Cheetahs 31-33 Crusaders after 64 minutes.


18:23 - TRY! The Crusaders hit back immediately with a try for replacement back Tom Taylor.


18:20 - That was also the BONUS POINT try for the hosts!


18:20 - CONVERSION by Watts.

Cheetahs 31-26 Crusaders after 59 minutes.


18:19 - TRY! Willie le Roux scores in the corner after calmly handling a cross-kick from Watts. Unbelievable scenes here!


18:17 - All going Cheetahs way now as the 'Saders are penalised at scrum time when Wyatt Crockett slips...

Watts sets up an attacking lineout...


18:15 - Seems to be only one team on the park at present!


18:14 - CONVERSION by Watts.

Cheetahs 24-26 Crusaders after 54 minutes.


18:13 - TRY! Teboho Mohoje scores under the posts after breaking and stepping like a centre before sprinting clear like a wing!

He ran from halfway with the Crusaders defence at sixes and sevens...


18:12 - Watts CONVERTS from the touchline.

Cheetahs 17-26 Crusaders after 51 minutes.


18:10 - TRY! It's that man Pretorius again. He dives over in the corner after Johann Sadie's chip-kick put the Crusaders under pressure.

There was nothing on there when Sadie got the ball inside his own half...


18:08 - A sniping break from the nippy Pretorius gives the Cheetahs hope but he knocks it on in a tackle just outside the 'Saders 22...


18:03 - Prop Trevor Nyakane also now makes way for Caylib Oosthuizen.


18:02 - Teboho Mohoje came on at half-time for flank Lappies Labuschagné.


18:01 - CONVERSION by Slade.

Cheetahs 10-26 Crusaders after 42 minutes.


18:00 - TRY! Lood de Jager drops the ball from the kick-off which puts the Crusaders on the attack with Nemani Nadolo rounding off the move near the corner.

A quite brilliant off-load from Read put the big winger away for his first Super Rugby try!


17:59 - Welcome back, Colin Slade starts the second half...


17:50 - FIRST HALF STATS

Metres run: Cheetahs 131-244 Crusaders
Carries: Cheetahs 27-59 Cheetahs
Defenders beaten: Cheetahs 4-8 Crusaders
Clean breaks: Cheetahs 1-3 Crusaders
Tackles made: Cheetahs 53-25 Crusaders
Tackles missed: Cheetahs 8-4 Crusaders
Turnovers won: Cheetahs 1-3 Crusaders
Kicks in play: Cheetahs 19-22 Crusaders
Lineouts won: Cheetahs 6-8 Crusaders
Lineouts lost: Cheetahs 2-0 Crusaders
Scrums won: Cheetahs 1-4 Crusaders
Scrums lost: Cheetahs 0-0 Crusaders
Penalties conceded: Cheetahs 6-3 Crusaders

From these stats, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see which team bossed the first half!


17:47 - HALF-TIME: Cheetahs 10-19 Crusaders


17:46 - PICTURE

Adriaan Strauss going hard at the Crusaders... (Gallo Images)


17:45 - Howard Mnisi has replaced Rayno Benjamin at inside centre for the Cheetahs.

A new 10 and 12 for them now...


17:44 - PENALTY by Slade.

Cheetahs 10-19 Crusaders after 37 minutes.


17:43 - Straight from the kick-off, the Crusaders surge up into the Cheetahs half and win a penalty as the hosts go off-side.

Another shot for Slade, from in front...


17:43 - PENALTY converted by Slade.

Cheetahs 10-16 Crusaders after 36 minutes.


17:42 - Lappies Labuschagné penalised for not rolling away after making a tackle. Slade to line up from in front, about 35m out...


17:40 - Easy PENALTY for Watts.

Cheetahs 10-13 Crusaders after 33 minutes.


17:39 - Crusaders players caught off-side, not falling behind their own kicker, and it gives the Cheetahs an immediate chance to strike back!


17:38 - CONVERSION by Slade.

Cheetahs 7-13 Cheetahs after 30 minutes.


17:37 - TRY! Fullback Israel Dagg scores near the corner after following up on a grubber kick in behind the Cheetahs...

The try came after the Crusaders won a turnover just inside the Cheetahs half in the middle of the park.


17:35 - Good refereeing from Glen Jackson to go back and refer it. Also good to see that a TMO made the right call this time!


17:34 - NO TRY! Replays show that the ball went forward off Adriaan Strauss' hands in a tackle. Correct call made.


17:32 - After a concerted period of attack, the Crusaders drop it and Sarel Pretorius pounces to run 50m and score. But the referee wants to check for an earlier knock on from the Cheetahs...


17:30 - PENALTY by Slade.

Cheetahs 7-6 Crusaders after 22 minutes.


17:29 - Another chance for Slade to reduce the gap as the Cheetahs are penalised at a scrum just inside their own half.


17:28 - DID YOU KNOW?

According to the Vodacom Stats App the Cheetahs have not missed one conversion this season!


17:27 - TWEET

Daniller and Hendricks. Cheetahs gameplay seems to benefit from having nice, big wingers - Ami Kapilevich


17:24 - Watts CONVERTS from the touchline.

Cheetahs 7-3 Crusaders after 17 minutes.


17:22 - TRY! Cornal Hendricks scores in the corner after a brilliant break from Johann Sadie in midfield. That try came from first phase - a lineout on halfway...

I just criticised Sadie for not running straight . Maybe he heard me this time round...


17:21 - BIG BLOW FOR CHEETAHS!

Johan Goosen is still groggy and is now off for good. Elgar Watts returns...


17:19 - Some sideways running by the Cheetahs backs early on in this game. Johann Sadie the main culprit...


17:16 - PENALTY by Slade.

Cheetahs 0-3 Crusaders after 11 minutes.


17:15 - As always, the first scum is a right old mess, but the Cheetahs are the ones penalised.

Slade to line up again, about 35m out, 20m in-field...


17:14 - PACK WEIGHTS

Cheetahs 902kg
Crusaders 889kg


17:13 - GOOSEN BACK!

Johan Goosen has passed his concussion test and is back on. Good news for the home side!


17:13 - Colin Slade misses the penalty, just off the left-hand upright but misses...


17:12 - Cheetahs centre Johann Sadie caught holding on in the middle of the park. First kick at goal coming up, about 40m out...


17:09 - GOOSEN OFF!

Early injury blow to the Cheetahs as Johan Goosen leaves the field, replaced by Elgar Watts. Looks like concussion for Goosen!

He can come back if he passes the concussion test...


17:08 - Good pressure build-up from the 'Saders sees them surge up to the Cheetahs 22m line, but the move goes awry as the ball goes to no-one and into touch...


17:08 - Unfortunately, the Free State Stadium - as always - is pretty empty.


17:05 - Wow, almost a try from the kick-off as Sarel Pretorius charges down Colin Slade's kick!

But Pretorius couldn't get to the ball in time as he was illegally held back by hooker Corey Flynn. Referee Glen Jackson missed it!


17:05 - Cheetahs 10 Johan Goosen gets play under way...


17:04 - The roar of the Harley Davidson motorbikes greets Adriaan Strauss and his Cheetahs team...

The hosts are in all whites.


17:03 - Kieran Read, who is back after a concussion problem, leads out the Crusaders, clad in a predominantly black and grey jersey, with red shorts.


16:43 - Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské would be asking more of the same on the attacking front this week, after they ran in four tries to lead 34-10 against the Chiefs at half-time last week.

However, poor defence again cost them and they eventually ended up sharing the spoils 43-43. Improved defence must be at the order of the day this time round!


16:42 -  The Crusaders are seeking their first victory in Bloemfontein since 2007.

However, the 'Saders became the first team in 2014 to cross the Indian Ocean and claim a Super Rugby victory when they comfortably beat the Lions in Johannesburg last week, so they will be backing themselves today.


16:30 - Naka Drotske chats to Sport24

Cheetahs coach, Naka Drotské addresses his side’s defence, Heinrich Brüssow’s return from injury and the clash against the Crusaders...

Click HERE for the full Q&A...


16:30 - 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...


ARE YOU AT THE GAME?

If so, then send us your pictures and we'll hit the publish button!

Send to: mysport@sport24.co.za


OFFICIALS

Referee:
Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Francois de Bruin Francois (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)


RECENT RESULTS

2012: Crusaders won 28-21, Christchurch
2011: Cheetahs won 33-20, Bloemfontein
2010: Crusaders won 45-6, Christchurch
2009: Cheetahs won 20-13, Bloemfontein
2008: Crusaders won 55-7, Christchurch
2007: Crusaders won 49-28, Bloemfontein


TEAMS

Cheetahs

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Hennie Daniller, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Pieter Labuschagné, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Rossouw de Klerk, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Howard Mnisi

Crusaders

15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett

Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Tom Taylor


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


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