Commentary: Cheetahs v Bulls

  CHEETAHS 25-30 BULLS 

21:30 -

Morne Steyn's boot again proved pivotal on Saturday night... (Gallo Images)

21:08 - HAVE YOUR SAY :

Trevor Nyakane with a possible try. How did we let him through though?? Okay Spies was defending -
@ThalaMsutu77

(Sic) maybe Trevor's try weren't legal but I make a double movement in my pant when a prop carry the ball with so much power - @Oom_Rugby

20:55 - GAME OVER. Time has just run out for the home side. Deserved win for the Bulls though.

20:54 - The TMO awards the TRY. Smit CONVERTS to make it a five-point ball-game with 30 seconds left.

20:51 - Trevor Nyakane goes over for the Cheetahs. The referee is going upstairs though. Jaftha asks TMO Gerrie Scheepers: "Can you give me a reason not to award the try?"

20:47 - The Cheetahs are looking dangerous inside the Bulls 22. Time is running out though with only three minutes left.

20:44 - There appears to be a little shift in momentum with the Cheetahs now launching attack after attack with seven minutes remaining.

20:41 - TWEET : Willie le Roux is pure class. A real footballer - herman_mostert

20:39 - Smit narrowly misses the tough conversion. 

20:38 - TRY to the Cheetahs as Smit dives over in the corner. Referee Jason Jaftha goes up to the TMO to rule on a possible forward pass, but the try is awarded. It was set up by a brilliant long-range break from Le Roux.

20:34 - Steyn kicks the CONVERSION for a 30-13 lead.

20:33 - TRY under the posts for the Bulls by reserve scrumhalf Jano Vermaak. The Cheetahs look a tired team now...

20:30 - TWEET : The Blue tide is rolling in - Cheetahs just can't get quality ball - @retiefdan

20:28 - PENALTY converted by Steyn. Ten-point lead for the visitors (23-13).

20:27 - Steyn hits the posts with a long-range drop attempt but the Bulls react quickly to snatch the ball. They receive a penalty right out in front after the Cheetahs go off-side.

20:24 - "A few poor kicks out of hand from both sides," says SuperSport commentator Robbie Kempson, before Hugh Bladen replies with: "It's a bit of an up-and-under competition at the moment."

20:19 - Steyn misses with his first penalty attempt of the night - a tough effort from 40m out.

20:16 - Easy PENALTY converted by Steyn to stretch the Bulls lead to seven (20-13).

20:14 - The Bulls get a penalty after a concerted period of attack close to the Cheetahs line. The Cheetahs' Ligtoring Landman is on for Francois Uys. Uys seems to have broken his arm.

20:12 - Bulls straight back on the attack after a break by centre Jan Serfontein.

20:11 - First blood to the Cheetahs in the second half as Smit kicks a penalty in the 44th minute (17-13).

20:17 - TWEET : #SuperRugby Dean Greyling struggling in the scrums and gets penalised then subbed - @EWNsport.

20:09 - Bulls substitutes: Flank Dewald Potgieter is on for Deon Stegmann, prop Dean Greyling also off with Frik Kirsten on.

20:08 - And we're underway in the second half...

20:07 - "We must get into more of an attacking mode," Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske said at the break.

20:01 - Seems like a SuperSport commentator made a bit of a blunder in his half-time interview with Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn...

TWEETS : Ha ha. Halftime player interview reaches a new low as Ebersohn asked about his wedding proposal. SuperSport #Bteam at the ground too - @followthebounce

Ebersohn has just caused Robbi Kempson to platz - silly question, but another reason to get rid of the halftime interview! - @retiefdan

Did I hear correctly #ssrugby commentator asking Ebersohn at half time a question about proposal to his wife That is just silly - @_MariusSchoeman

19:55 - PENALTY on the stroke of half-time by the deadly Steyn. 17-10 to the Bulls at the break.

19:51 - Bulls hot on the attack in the Cheetahs' 22m area but a handling error thwarts their effort. Three minutes before half-time.

19:47 - TWEET : Hougie's kicking game is about as good as Duvenage's - he really should quit it before he gets to Duvies' level - @RuggaWorld

19:43 -

Flank Arno Botha is having a massive game so far for the Bulls (Gallo Images).

19:40 - PENALTY to the Cheetahs converted by Smit. Bulls lead 14-10 after 28 minutes.

19:37 - Blow for the Bulls as Lionel Mapoe leaves the field. Looks like a serious shoulder injury. He is replaced by Zane Kirchner.

19:30 - CONVERSION by Steyn. 14-7 to the Bulls after 19 minutes.

19:30 - TRY to the Bulls. Flank Deon Stegmann dives over after a dominating lineout drive.

19:26 - TWEET : Willie le Roux was quite right to give himself a round of applause after that - @SimonBorchardt

19:25 - Riaan Smit slots the CONVERSION to level matters at 7-all after 13 minutes.

19:24 - The Cheetahs respond with a TRY by Willie le Roux under the posts. A brilliant piece of individual brilliance from Le Roux after he collected his own chip-kick over the Bulls defence.

19:22 - CONVERSION from the touchline by Morne Steyn.

19:20 - TRY to the Bulls as prop Werner Kruger bursts over in the corner. 5-0 

19:17 - Relief for the Cheetahs as they are awarded a penalty at the scrum.

19:14 - A close shave as Bulls wing Bjorn Basson knocks the ball on just before centre JJ Engelbrecht dives over the line for what he thought was a try. It was a brilliant break from the Bulls from within their own half though after they pinched a Cheetahs lineout.

19:11 - "This is the biggest crowd I've ever seen for a Super Rugby match in Bloemfontein," says SuperSport commentator Hugh Bladen.

19:10 - And we're underway here in Bloemfontein...

19:09 - TWEET : Botha vs Lappies mmmm Serfontein vs Ebersonh mmmm! - former Bok prop @OllieLeRoux

19:00 -  A late change to the Cheetahs team as Riaan Smit replaces Elgar Watts at flyhalf, with Watts moving down to the bench.

19:00 - TWEET : More than 32,000 Cheetahs and Bulls fans expected in Free State stadium tonight - @RugbyFifteen

18:40 - TEAMS

Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Elgar Watts, 22 Rayno Benjamin

Bulls:
15. Jürgen Visser, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies (captain), 7. Arno Botha, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Juandré Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16. Callie Visagie, 17. Frik Kirsten, 18. Grant Hattingh, 19. Dewald Potgieter, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Louis Fouché, 22. Zane Kirchner