The Toyota Cheetahs paid for their indiscipline and loss of focus at crucial times as they went down 33-20 to French side Pau in their EPCR Challenge Cup match in Amsterdam on Sunday.
Full Time:
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 14, 2024
🏆EPCR Challenge Cup
Toyota Cheetahs 20-33 @SectionPaloise
Not the results we hoped for but a HUGE thank you for your support! 🙌#CHEvPAU#EPCRChallengeCup@ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/aiF7Dg5M6w
While the game was a first for the Netherlands and it was hoped the expat crowd and the orange jerseys would give the Cheetahs an advantage, it worked out the other way as a focused Pau scored twice early and then put the hammer down later in the game to take away hopes of a losing bonus point for Hawies Fourie’s side.
But while the Cheetahs were not out of the game until the last 10 minutes, their momentum was consistently stunted by their own indiscipline and handling errors as they struggled more to come to terms with the wet conditions than the French side and paid for it in the end.
Luckily for them they still sit second on the log, although five of the six teams are still in contention for the four spots to get to the Round of 16. The Cheetahs have one game left next weekend against Oyannax, who have lost all three their games in the competition thus far.
Still, it was a disappointing performance that was stunted by too many promising moments and too few results. On more than a half dozen occasions the Cheetahs broke the line, only to drop a pass or be flummoxed by their own handling in the Pau 22 metre area.
The fact that the side last played on December 16, when they beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Bloemfontein may have had something to do with that as they started incredibly slowly and looked rusty for the first half hour.
In that time Pau went through to score twice, first through Jack Maddocks, who grubbered through a dropped pass to score under the posts and then a few minutes later through Emilien Gailleton, who scythed through the defence with ease to score almost untouched.
Suddenly playing against the wind and 14-0 down the Cheetahs looked stunned, but managed to slowly claw their way back into the game, and while Munier Hartzenberg was denied in the corner, he finally went over on the half hour mark to put his side on the board.
Pau flyhalf Axel Desperes put his side further ahead with a penalty, but the French team were down to 14 when hooker Romain Ruffenrach was given his marching orders late in the half, giving the Cheetahs an opportunity to strike.
And strike they did as Jeandre Rudolph eventually went over from close range after a number of forays at the line. Ruan Pienaar’s conversion made it 17-12 to the French side at the break.
Half Time:
— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) January 14, 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup
Toyota Cheetahs 12-17 Section Paloise#CHEvPAU#EPCRChallengeCup@ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/PwSe604x1W
Desperes extended the lead early in the second half before Pau were rocked by another yellow card, this time for Fijian winger Aminiasi Tuiamba, who was lucky not to see red for a head high clash with Tapiwa Mafura.
The Cheetahs capitalised again almost immediately, sending the ball to the corner, before Chucky van der Westhuizen went over at the back of a maul to bring them within three.
But then the penalties started racking up and Desperes’ boot was accurate enough to make a three point lead turn into nine very quickly, with the Cheetahs becoming more desperate to play catch-up rugby.
They forced a penalty for Ruan Pienaar to make it a six point deficit, but then conceded two penalties from the kickoff to be forced onto the defensive in their own half with time running out.
Scrumhalf Dan Robson eventually broke their hearts as he fielded a poor clearance kick and weaved his way through the defence with ease, not having a hand laid on him as he sprinted towards the tryline, ensuring the victory and taking away the Cheetahs’ bonus point.
There may be more action if the Cheetahs qualify, but the game in Amsterdam served as a rude awakening in how an indisciplined performance can be easily punished and the Cheetahs will know they need to be a lot better if they are to go further in the competition.
SCORERS
Toyota Cheetahs - tries: Munier Hartzenberg, Jeandre Rudolph, Louis van der Westhuizen. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty: Pienaar.
Section Paloise - tries: Jack Maddocks, Emilien Gailleton, Dan Robson. Conversions: Axel Desperes (2), Thibalt Debaes. Penalties: Desperes (4).