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VIDEO: Cheetahs score historic first Pro14 try

Clayton Blommetjies

While the Cheetahs were treated to a baptism of fire of sorts against Ulster in their Pro14 debut, they did play some properly good rugby.

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In fact it was the South African franchise that opened the scoring on the night, and it was, as you might expect, all about pace and good handling.

CREDIT: Pro14

The Cheetahs – joining from Super Rugby this term alongside compatriots Southern Kings – twice led in the first half through tries from Clayton Blommetjies and Makazole Mapimpi.

But, after Tommy Bowe had responded to Cheetahs’ first score, Alan O’Connor, Stuart McCloskey and Charles Piutau all touched down while Henco Venter was in the sin-bin for Cheetahs as Ulster accelerated clear at Kingspan Stadium.

Louis Ludik and Peter Nelson added further tries in the second half with Sergeal Petersen scoring for Cheetahs – who also had Aranos Coetzee yellow carded – between those five pointers.

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Nickers 28 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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