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Cheetahs and Kings sign off from Super Rugby in a thriller

Fred Zeilinga of Cheetahs

The Cheetahs scored two tries in as many minutes to claim a dramatic 21-20 victory over the Southern Kings in the final Super Rugby game for both teams.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar_vtl3OfdY

The two South African teams are to be removed from the competition as part of a restructure, with one Australia-based franchise – either theCheetahs  Melbourne Rebels or Western Force – set to follow them.

However, both are poised to be confirmed as members of the Pro12 next week, but they bowed out of Super Rugby with a thrilling finish in wet conditions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, on Friday.

The hosts appeared set to take the spoils when they led 20-6 midway through the second half, but Cheetahs Clinton Swart and Raymond Rhule crossed in short order before Niel Marais slotted over the decisive penalty five minutes from time.

The Kings led 12-3 at the break, Makazole Mapimpi and Wandile Mjekevu going over to give them a dominant lead, with Fred Zeilinga’s penalty all the Cheetahs could muster in response.

Giant Mtyanda increased their advantage four minutes after the restart before Zeilinga stopped the run of unanswered points at 17 with his second three-pointer.

But it was fly-half Zeilinga’s substitution in favour of Marais that tilted the game in the Cheetahs’ favour. Marais was more of a threat with ball in hand and 12 minutes from time the visitors had hope when Swart went over in the corner.

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Rhule then finished off a well-worked move involving captain Francois Venter, who produced an impressive display, before the boot of Marais ensured the Cheetahs exit Super Rugby on a high.

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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