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24 Jun 2023
The Cheetahs claimed their seventh Currie Cup title with a relatively comfortable 25-17 victory over a game but ultimately disappointing Pumas outfit.
Hawies Fourie's troops employed their great strength of the season yet again, being able to rely on their try-scoring ability to get ahead.
Indeed, the hosts scored three to one as they showed remarkable adaptation, two of those visits over the whitewash coming from close range while Cohen Jasper's was a triumph of initiative.
The Pumas lost the breakdown battle and struggled to play their famed attacking brand as the home side's defence held out well.
Point scorers:
Cheetahs 25 (18)
Tries: Reinhardt Fortuin, Cohen Jasper, Rewan Kruger
Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2)
Penalties: Pienaar (2)
Pumas 17 (11)
Try: Ali Mgijima
Penalties: Tinus de Beer (4
24 Jun 2023
Oh dear.
George Cronje goes off his feet (and from the side too) in contesting the ruck, handing the Pumas a lifeline, who gamble with a kick to posts to ensure a try wins it for them.
But Tinus de Beer pushes his kick to the right.
It's probably over the Pumas now.
Still 25-17.
24 Jun 2023
It's been all a bit inaccurate from both teams as the game drifts into the final quarter.
The Cheetahs do look relatively comfortable though.
24 Jun 2023
The Cheetahs wake up from a snoozy start to the half by keeping the Pumas pinned in their half.
The visitors go off-side, allowing the Cheetahs to go for touch.
Predictably, a maul ensues but what the Pumas don't bank on is the ball popping out at the back, allowing Marnus van der Merwe to speedily feed Rewan Kruger on the blind-side ... and the try.
Perhaps a bit lucky, but they all count.
24 Jun 2023
The Pumas now have the Cheetahs under pressure.
They've been solid and calm with building their phases and the hosts' defence again errs.
It's a one-point game.
24 Jun 2023
The Cheetahs botch the first kick-off of the second half, overrunning the receipt and allowing the Pumas possession and field position.
They go off-side at a phase and the Pumas go for posts.
Nice strike.
24 Jun 2023
The Cheetahs do the ballsy thing and go expansive immediately from a line-out on half-way.
Some superb, speedy passing between the centres allows Mafura to glide into half a gap.
The Pumas manage to take the ball into touch, but don't bank on a powerful maul that leaves them fragmented on defence.
Jasper, predictably, exploits the gaps on the outside to go over.
24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023
Mox Mxoli showcases his proficiency by drilling Simon Raw to the ground at scrum-time. Pienaar goes for touch and the Cheetahs launch a maul.
The Pumas will feel aggrieved that they probably weren't rewarded for good defence, but the hosts make it count with close range drives that sees Fortuin go over
24 Jun 2023
Gideon van der Merwe making a nuisance of himself, twice carrying with vigour.
The second one puts the Pumas defence in real trouble, with Kota's desperate tug at him allowing him to be bundled into touch and letting the off-load go forward.
24 Jun 2023
Tight call.
Mafura carries strongly from about half-way before isolating himself to an extent.
Francois Kleinhans goes in to contest the ruck, but finds the Cheetahs support is actually a bit slow, meaning he comes across as tackling an opponent without the ball.
50/50.
24 Jun 2023
Pumas launched a solid maul and make steady progress before Chriswill September's compromised pass from pressure on the fringe of the ruck allows Marnus van der Merwe to get his arms over the ball.
The Cheetahs hit back with a fluent move of their own, characterised by a litany of weird decisions from ref Jadezewni - a missed high tackle on Jasper and an off-load that goes forward - before PJ Jacobs makes a steal of his own.
24 Jun 2023
Pumas are steadily gaining a foothold in this contest.
Andrew Kota brilliantly runs a kick back, which is promptly turned into a sound counterattacking move by Mgijima, who makes a superb off-load behind his head.
But the next pass to Corne Fourie goes forward.
Vital missed opportunity that.
24 Jun 2023
Belatedly, the Pumas find a way into the Cheetahs' half after Devon Williams takes a kick to touch with his left foot. But the tactics don't really pay off until Mafura tries to run a ball out of the red zone, eludes one tackler but then hacks a poor kick forward.
Pienaar has to mop up but that kick also doesn't go into touch.
Dimaza revels in the open space though a crucial pass to Ali Mgijima goes awry as Cohen Jasper put pressure on the pass.
24 Jun 2023
The Cheetahs are all over the Pumas, narrowly missing out on a score from a smart Tapiwa Mafura nudge forward.
Kwanda Dimaza is pinged for a side entry at the ruck, though the decision is contested.
Cheetahs launch a solid set-piece and they hammer away before Pienaar is eventually asked to go for posts.
24 Jun 2023
Nice deep kick-off from Ruan Pienaar pins Pumas in their own half. Tinus de Beer tries to take a short-arm penalty to touch quickly, but it's rushed and the Cheetahs hit back.
De Beer is put under huge pressure as the visitors try to mop up, but Gideon van der Merwe lurks and just knocks on a free ball that would've had the Pumas in all sorts of trouble.
24 Jun 2023
Here we go!
Both teams are out on the field.
Cwengile Jadezweni will take charge of his first Currie Cup final.
24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023
Once considered a potential prodigy at the Sharks, Kwanda Dimaza make the trek to the Lowveld ... and made a name for himself.
Here's his story.
24 Jun 2023
It's precisely an hour before kick-off.
Check out what Cheetahs skipper Victor Sekekete, a well travelled former Junior Bok before settling in Bloemfontein, had to say this week...
24 Jun 2023
Mike Kiriakos & Billy Ferreira hope the Cheetahs will win.
Kiriakos is wearing the 2005 Final jersey that Ferreira's mom got for him a couple of years back.
"I think it was one of the reserves, but I think the Cheetahs will win."
24 Jun 2023
24 Jun 2023
