SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ Pienaar’s boot helps Cheetahs outclass gutsy Griquas

Pienaar’s boot helps Cheetahs outclass gutsy Griquas

BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 21: Ruan Pienaar of the Toyota Cheetahs during the Carling Currie Cup match between Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Western Province at Toyota Stadium on July 21, 2021 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images)/BackpagePix
Published on January 15, 2022

The Cheetahs launched their 2022 Currie Cup campaign in style by overcoming a tenacious Griquas team at home as Ruan Pienaar scored 15 points to lead his side to victory.

READ: Van Graan steers Munster into European playoffs

After putting in a convincing display in the opening forty minutes, the Cheetahs did well to stave off a second-half fightback from Griquas and eventually emerge 30-20 winners.

A new-look Griquas side made the trip to Bloemfontein and would have been encouraged after putting the first points on the board against the home side courtesy of the boot of Zander du Plessis. The young flyhalf’s penalty would, however, be the only points scored by the visitors in the first half.

The Cheetahs looked to up the ante and Griquas’ consistent infringements under pressure allowed Ruan Pienaar to first level the scores, and then give the Cheetahs a three point lead by the 16th minute. As the half progressed, the Cheetahs started to find their groove and eventually crossed for their first try through hooker Marnus van der Merwe with Pienaar adding the extras.

The home side were not done though and piled on the misery by scoring another try just before the break through centre Dawid Brits. Another successful conversion by Pienaar meant the scores read 23-3 at half time and Griquas were left with a mountain to summit.

The visitors came out with intent in the second stanza and looked as though they might threaten a fightback when their captain Ruan Steenkamp crossed the whitewash shortly after the restart. A conversion and a penalty goal by Du Plessis promptly followed and looked to spark Griquas.

The Cheetahs for their part did well to weather the storm at the start of the second half and gradually built their way back into a game that threatened to become loose. They showed good control and started to shift the pressure back onto the visitors – eventually reaping their rewards when replacement hooker Louis van der Westhuizen crashed over for his side’s third try.

Griquas went down fighting and looked to keep play alive deep into the final ten minutes. They were rewarded for their endeavour after Luther Obi crossed in the final three minutes to bring them within ten points. Despite a late surge with the clock deep into the red, Griquas could add no more to their tally with the final score reading 30-20.

Posted in Currie Cup, Top headlines, Top story Tagged Cheetahs, Currie Cup, Griquas, Ruan Pienaar

Post by Andre-Pierre Cronje

Andre-Pierre Cronje

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER