As it happened: Cheetahs v Lions

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Commentary by Sport24's Garrin Lambley

18:50 - In next weekend's matches, the Lions host the Stormers at Ellis Park (Saturday, February 22 at 19:10), while the Cheetahs welcome the Bulls to Bloemfontein on Friday, February 21 (19:10)

18:49 - Kudos to Johan Ackermann's men - and Marnitz Boshoff in particular (on debut nogal) for his match-winning six penalties and a drop goal.

Early days, but the Cheetahs don't look a patch on the side that finished sixth in the overall standings last season.

18:49 - LIONS WIN! LIONS WIN! LIONS WIN!

21-20 to the Lions in Bloemfontein as the FULL-TIME whistle sounds

18:48 - Boshoff drops back into the pocket and slots the drop goal to give the Lions a 21-20 lead after 79 minutes

18:48 - OH. MY. WORD

Marnitz Boshoff you biscuit!

18:45 - Oh dear. Elgar Watts what were you thinking my boy?!

He misses a sitter from right in front to give the Cheetahs breathing space.

Will that come back to haunt them?

18:44 - Hats off to the Lions for a brave effort. The Cheetahs will be in for a tongue-lashing - and no doubt some extra push-ups at practice this week...

18:43 - Frantic stuff by the Lions who swing it left, right and left again - and are awarded a penalty... which Boshoff successfully lands to narrow the gap to TWO once again

18:38 - FIVE-POINT GAP RESTORED

With 10 minute sto play, Elgar Watts - on for Johan Goosen - adds a PENALTY.

Cheetahs 20-15 after 70 minutes

18:36 - Johan Goosen leaves the field clutching his arm. He's had a tough afternoon and been a regular recipient of medical attention

18:34 - COACHES FILTHY

Both coaches will have reason to be fuming on the touchline at present!

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske for the way his team are playing at home, and Johan Ackermann as his team butchers not one, but TWO try-scoring opportunities due to knock-ons!

18:29 - YELLOW CARD

Replacement Jean Cook sees yellow for a late and dangerous tackle.

Boshoff adds the resultant penalty to narrow the gap to 17-15...

18:25 - The Cheetahs lead 17-12 after 60 minutes.

That's 20 minutes to get two more tries and a bonus point that will be vital come the end of the season considering pretty much every opponent the Lions play this season will be eyeing them as a "five-pointer"

18:25 - The Lions are back within five points of the Cheetahs thanks to a fourth penalty by flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff

18:18 - Sarel Pretorius enters the fray at scrumhalf for the Cheetahs - winning his 68th Super Rugby cap

18:16 - Goosen gets up after being injured in the build-up to the try to add the CONVERSION

Cheetahs lead 17-9 after 52 minutes

18:14 - Both Cheetahs wings are now on the scoreboard as Cornal Hendricks goes over for the home side's second try

18:14 - TRY TO THE CHEETAHS!

18:12 - CHEETAHS CHANGE

Trevor Nyakane on the field for Coenie Oosthuizen

18:11 - WILLIE BLOWS HOT AND COLD

Cheetahs fullback Willie le Roux has either been very hot - or ice cold today.

He's been involved in every Cheetahs attack and set up their try, but has had butterfingers in equal measure

18:10 - PICTURE

Happy Lions fans! (via Twitter)

18:07 - TWEET

Cheetahs up 7-2 in turnovers won, and 54-44 in tackles made ... Carries are 46 a piece ... Pretty damn toight at the moment - Front Row Grunt

18:06 - CROWD

No confirmation of the crowd in attendance today, but certainly no where near capacity

18:05 - LET'S PLAY!

Craig Joubert gets the second half started in Bloemfontein

17:52 - See you in 10 minutes!

17:51 - UNHAPPY CHEETAHS

Stern words no doubt at the break from Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske who won't be happy with his side's performance in the first 40 minutes against a Lions team sporting six debutants and last having played Super Rugby as a team in 2012.

17:50 - PENALTY TO THE LIONS

Marnitz Boshoff adds a third penalty on the stroke of half-time to narrow the deficit to 10-9 at half-time in Bloemfontein.

17:49 - STORMERS FANS STOP READING

For those Stormers fans out there you won't want to read that your team is trailing 24-7 at half-time in their final Super Rugby warm-up match in a boiling hot Wellington

17:45 - TWEET

I like Raymond Kofi Rhules commitment on defence,his getting the balance right,good prospect that boy! - Breyton Paulse

17:42 - Despite what Bob Skinstad says to the contrary, scrappy play from both sides in the first half. Typical 'first match of the season' stuff

17:38 - And just as the Cheetahs score, they concede a penalty... Boshoff adds three points to the Lions' tally.

The Cheetahs lead 10-6 after 31 minutes

17:37 - PICTURE

Rhule, 21, scored his sixth Super Rugby try of his career (via Twitter)

17:33 - Goosen adds the CONVERSION

Cheetahs lead 10-3 after 26 minutes

17:32 - The Lions break out from their 22m but spill the ball around halfway. Willie le Roux counter-attacks and offloads to Rhule on his outside who goes over untouched

17:31 - AND THE FIRST TRY OF 2014 SUPER RUGBY GOES TO...

Cheetahs flyer RAYMOND RHULE!

17:27 - THE SCORES ARE LEVEL AGAIN

The enigma that is Johan Goosen as he lands the third - and toughest - penalty to give the Cheetahs a share of the lead at 3-3 after 20 minutes.

17:22 - Penalty to the Cheetahs, but REVERSED for indiscipline.

And Lions No 10 Marnitz Boshoff gives the Lions a 3-0 lead against the run of play!

17:21 - Scrappy opening 15 minutes to the match.

It must be said, the Free State Stadium has never looked greener!

17:20 - TWEET

Both Cheetahs props are Oosthuizen's but not related ... Caylib not so sharp in first scrum ... Both not so good on own ball in last one - Front Row Grunt

17:17 - It's all the Cheetahs in the opening 11 minutes but the scoreboard remains 0-0...

17:16 - TWEET

Lions make silly errors at the moment,trying to found their momentum! - Breyton Paulse

17:14 - TWEET

First scrum of S15 2014 end with a short arm ... Oi vei! - Front Row Grunt

17:12 - Oh dear!

Woeful kick in perfect conditions by Goosen. He'll have to do FAR better than that should the Cheetahs have any aspirations of doing well in this year's tournament.

17:11 - Another penalty to the Cheetahs, this time in a far easier position for Goosen to give the hosts the lead.

17:08 - First penalty goes to the Cheetahs, but flyhalf Johan Goosen pulls it to the left of the upright

17:08 - AND WE'RE UNDER WAY IN BLOEM!

16:54 - HAVE YOU MADE YOUR SUPERBRU PICK?

If not, HURRY UP!

And if you haven't yet joined the Sport24 Super Rugby SuperBru challenge - shame on you!

Do so NOW!

16:54 - LATE CHANGE

If things weren't bad enough for the Lions, a late change at No 9!

Francois de Klerk replaces Michael Bondesio.

16:51 - PICTURE

Jan Braai about to, um, braai in Bloemfontein (via Twitter)

16:49 - DID YOU KNOW?

The Cheetahs and Lions have clashed NINE times previously in Super Rugby, with the Cheetahs holding a 5-4 edge.

The average score in those previous matches is 31-20 to the side from Bloemfontein.

16:48 - CALLING ALL RUGBY FANS!

Got any pictures of you proudly supporting your team? If so, email them to mysport@sport24.co.za and we'll hit the publish button!

16:47 - WEATHER UPDATE

Sunny skies at Free State Stadium should offer the perfect platform for running rugby.

16:44 - DID YOU KNOW?

Johan Ackermann's Lions' XV includes SIX Super Rugby debutants - Chrysander Botha, Marnitz Boshoff, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee and Schalk van der Merwe.

16:43 - Nick Mallett and Naas Botha in the SuperSport studio discussing the match - no change in personal there...

16:42 - Twenty off minutes to go until the 2014 Vodacom Super Rugby tournament blasts into action!

15:49 - 'EXPERT' PREDICTION

If you don't believe the bookies, maybe you'll take Sport24 Editor Garrin Lambley's predictions to the bank...

Click HERE for Garrin's thoughts...

16:00 - WIN FOR THE CHEETAHS?

The Cheetahs will top the Super Rugby log after the first match of the season - if bookmakers are to be believed...

Click HERE to read what the bookies say...

16:00 - PICTURE

Another battle promises to be between the loose forwards... including Lappies Labuschagne and Derek Minnie (Gallo Images)

16:00 - PICTURE

One key match-up in today's match will certainly be in midfield between Johann Sadie and Lionel Mapoe (Gallo Images)

16:00 - OFFICIALS

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)

16:00 - RECENT RESULTS

2012: Cheetahs won 26-5, Welkom
2012: Lions won 27-25, Johannesburg
2011: Cheetahs won 53-19, Johannesburg
2011: Lions won 25-20, Bloemfontein
2010: Cheetahs won 59-10, Welkom

TEAMS

Cheetahs

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Coenraad Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Nicolaas van Dyk, 19 Rynhardt Landman, 20 Jean Cook, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Ryno Benjamin

Lions

15. Chrysander Botha, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Ruan Combrinck, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Willie Britz, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Faf de Klerk, 22. Coenie van Wyk, 23. Alwyn Hollenbach

Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super Rugby match between the Cheetahs and Lions from the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.