Wing Prince Nkabinde scored a hat-trick of tries and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk a brace to propel the Toyota Free State Cheetahs to an emphatic 43-21 Carling Currie Cup win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein that puts them top of the log after two games.
Nkabinde’s pace and power was impressive while De Klerk’s experience and authority were the real difference between the two teams in an entertaining game that until beyond the hour mark was much closer than the final scoreline might indicate. De Klerk was a deserved winner of the official man of the match award for the way he controlled the game behind a scrum that was often under pressure.
Two wins from two ✅✅
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 24, 2026
The Toyota Cheetahs move clear at the top of the #CurrieCup standings 🟠🔝#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/tPWXVeCla9
It was certainly nip and tuck in the first half, with the Cheetahs twice taking the lead and the Sharks then coming back at them. Springbok double World Cup-winning De Klerk influenced both of the Cheetahs’ first half tries.
In the second minute of the game, it was De Klerk who ensured that the Cheetahs capitalised on their strong start from the kick-off, putting through a perfect little grubber that wing Nkabinde controlled well in the in-goal area before forcing it down to give the hosts a 7-0 lead after flyhalf Jaco van der Walt had slotted the conversion from the touchline.
But impressive though that early Cheetahs attack was, it did not outdo the Sharks’ counter, with the Durbanites looking impressive with their playing towards where the space was and the Cheetahs eventually just running out of numbers to leave centre Janco Purchase a free run for the line. Veteran flyhalf Tim Swiel kicked the conversion to bring the scores level at 7-7 after 10 minutes.
DE KLERK STRUCK BACK IMMEDIATELY
The Cheetahs hit back immediately, with De Klerk featuring in the buildup and then rounding off from the recycled ball near the Sharks’ posts to regain their seven-point lead. Then it was the turn of De Klerk’s opposite number Ross Braude to have influence, this time with a break that set up the momentum for a Sharks try that was rounded off by tighthead prop Simphiwe Ngobese forcing the ball down after taking a return pass from the touchline from wing Christie Grobbelaar. Swiel’s conversion tied the scores at 14-all after 26 minutes, and that was also the halftime score.
The Sharks at that point looked like they were starting to take control of the scrum ball as well as the battle for possession, but it was that man De Klerk who had the first say in the second half as his quick tap penalty sent in the Cheetahs blindside flank Juan Venter down the right touchline for a try that this time Van der Walt wasn’t able to convert.
The Cheetahs ensured they made their task more difficult for themselves by then losing a man, lock Curtly Thomas, to a yellow card for an illegal tackle. This was straight after the Sharks had been awarded a scrum penalty as the home team’s pack started to show signs of disintegration under the Sharks’ onslaught.
They could hardly afford to be a man down at the ensuing lineout, and although the Sharks forwards didn’t complete a mauling try, they created the momentum that led to centre Marnus Potgieter dotting down the visiting team’s third try, with Swiel’s conversion putting them into the lead for the first time in the match.
NKABINDE’S SECOND TRY REGAINED CHEETAHS LEAD
It wasn’t an advantage that lasted long, as minutes later the Sharks had a man come out of the defensive line to enable wing Nkabinde to go over in the left corner for his second try in the 52nd minute, which reclaimed the lead for his team even though Van der Walt was again off target with his conversion attempt.
The Sharks’ apparent dominance at forward began to wane a bit after that, with the visitors starting to get penalised in the scrums and after failing to take advantage of field position, the Sharks found themselves back in a defensive position at the hour mark as the Cheetahs began to rediscover some of their authority, much of it down to De Klerk’s assurance and calm assurance at the base.
Their fifth try started to look inevitable as they camped in Sharks territory and Nkabinde came through the forwards like a bullet to notch his hat-trick try, putting daylight between the teams for the first time (29-21).
The Sharks threw everything into a last-ditch attempt to wrestle their way back, but the Cheetahs defence held firm and then forced their way back into the Sharks’ half, where reserve hooker Bryce Calvert was rightly yellow carded for a cynical tap down under his own posts. The Cheetahs called a scrum from the resultant penalty and when Daniel Maartens dotted down, it was game set and match to the Cheetahs and their five log points were in the bag.
However, the game wasn’t completely done, and De Klerk popped up again to put his seal on his team’s fine performance by scoring an intercept try that secured a comfortable win for a Cheetahs team that looks likely to challenge strongly for the coveted golden trophy.
Scores
Toyota Cheetahs 43 - Tries: Prince Nkabinde 3, Faf de Klerk 2, Juan Venter and Daniel Maartens; Conversions: Jaco van der Walt 4.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 21 - Tries: Janco Purchase, Simphiwe Ngobese and Marnus Potgieter; Conversions: Tim Swiel 3.