Cheetahs and Perpignan in dramatic Amsterdam stalemate

12/08/2024 10:49 AM

MATCH REPORT: The Cheetahs and Perpignan played to a dramatic 20-all draw in their Challenge Cup opening round match at the National Rugby Centre in Amsterdam on Sunday.

The teams matched each other in the scoring chart - three tries, one conversion and one penalty.

The draw was decided by two late penalties from Ethan Wentzel (Cheetahs) and Antoine Aucagne (Perpignan).

In blustery conditions, with the Cheetahs having the advantage of the sun and strong wind at their backs in the first half.

However, a more clinical French team held a 17-10 lead at the half-time break.

While the line-outs did not always go according to plan, the Cheetahs won a string of scrum penalties - the one aspect they dominated.

They used the set pieces to get the edge in the second half.

* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

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It was a frantic start, especially for the 'home team' - the Cheetahs. The blustery conditions and lack of discipline allowed Perpignan easy access to their half.

A stray pass, hacked through by the French team, saw flyhalf Antoine Aucagne score the opening points. He failed with his conversion attempt, but Perpignan had the lead - 5-0.

The Cheetahs now enjoyed a substantial territorial advantage with the wind at their backs.

It allowed the Cheetahs, after a line-out and maul, to free up space for No.8 Jeandre Rudolph to sprint over in the right corner for the South African franchise's first try. Flyhalf Ethan Wentzel was wide of the mark with his conversion attempt - 5-all after 10 minutes.

A scrum penalty allowed the Cheetahs to set a five-metre line-out. And it gave hooker Louis van der Westhuizen an armchair ride over the line with a powerful maul. Wentzel continued to struggle to find his target in the wind - 10-5 after 18 minutes.

From the restart, the Cheetahs were penalised twice in quick succession, but the throw at a five-metre line-out was skewed - gifting the Cheetahs an easy exit.

However, a penalty - kicked dead instead of into touch - allowed Perpignan a scrum inside the Cheetahs half. Left wing Seta Toganiyadrava ran a brilliant inside line and went over untouched. Flyhalf Antoine Aucagne added the conversion - the French team reclaimed the lead, 12-10 just past the half-hour mark.

On the stroke of half-time, the Perpignan flyhalf, Aucagne, produced a sublime chip-kick that allowed centre Job Poulet to sprint over for a third try. Aucagne failed with the conversion attempt, but the French team held a seven-point (17-10) lead at the break.

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The Cheetahs were again guilty of naive play early in the second half, Carel-Jan Coetzee lucky to get away with just a penalty for a 'lifting' tackle.

With the wind at their backs, Perpignan now enjoyed the territorial advantage.

The Cheetahs had to rely on their powerful scrum to win them penalties and get in favourable territory.

On the hour mark, Cheetahs centre Ali Mgijima - one of his team's most prolific defenders - was yellow-carded for a swinging arm to an opponent's head.

It was replacement Daniel Maartens who broke the second-half stalemate - coming on a sharp angle and running onto a pass from flyhalf Ethan Wentzel to score the South African team's third try. Wentzel's conversion levelled the scores at 17-all after 65 minutes.

The Cheetahs now reverted to their set pieces to get territory and penalties.

Ethan Wentzel (a scrum penalty) and Antoine Aucagne (holding on from the restart) exchanged three-pointers in the last two minutes for a dramatic draw.

The scorers

For the Cheetahs
Tries: Rudolph, Van der Westhuizen, Maartens
Con: Wentzel
Pen:  Wentzel

For Perpignan
Tries: Aucagne, Toganiyadrava, Poulet
Con: Aucagne
Pen: Aucagne

Yellow card: Ali Mgijima (Cheetahs, 6`1 - foul play, swinging arm to the head)

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 George Lourens.

Perpignan: 15 Louis Dupichot, 14 Jefferson Joseph, 13 Job Poulet, 12 Apisai Naqalevu, 11 Seta Toganiyadrava, 10 Antoine Aucagne, 9 Sadek Deghmache, 8 So'otala Fa'aso'o, 7 Alessandro Ortombina, 6 Noe Della Schiava, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 Bastien Chinarro, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Victor Montgaillard (captain), 1 Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo.
Replacements: 16 Vakhtang Jincharadze, 17 Johan Barcenilla D'Onghia, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Max Hicks, 20 Lucas Velarte, 21 James Hall, 22 Gabin Kretchmann, 23 Riko Buliruarua.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli
Assistant referees: Alberto Favaro, Manuel Bottino
TMO: Stefano Penne

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