Rugby
Brüssow breaks arm as Reds edge the Cheetahs─── 23:50 Sat, 18 Apr 2015
The Queensland Reds recorded just their second win of the Super Rugby season after beating the Toyota Cheetahs 18-17 in Bloemfontein.
The side from Brisbane came back from being 10-3 down at the half-time break to edge the Cheetahs, however had Joe Pietersens’ penalty attempt on goal in the 79th minute of the match not hit the uprights, the Reds would have returned home with their 8th loss.
Tries in by replacement flank Adam Korczyk in the 43rd minute and big centre Samu Kerevi in the 53rd saw the Queenslanders take the lead.
However, Boom Prinsloo handed the home side the lead three minutes later when he went over the for the teams’ second try. Reds flyhalf, Nick Frisby sent a drop goal sailing through the posts in the 73rd minute for the defining score of the match.
While the Cheetahs were far from convincing tonight, the visitors made most of their chances of offer, and their coach Richard Graham is delighted to take a win into their game against the table leading Hurricanes at the Suncorp Stadium next week.
“As a group we’re really proud of the effort tonight. In terms of Pietersen, you feel for him somewhat, but we’re really pleased with the win. It’s been a good tour us as a group, we’ve obviously enjoyed the two weeks, really settled preparation in Joburg and really pleased to take the four points home,” Graham said.
Before the match the battle betweem Coenie Oosthuizen of the Cheetahs and Wallabies loosehead James Slipper was billed to be a great front row battle, but the contest was won hands down by the Reds captain.
Slipper said their scrum is one of their major positives from their indifferent season.
“We’re very confident in our setpiece and tonight we were allowed to showcase it. A lot of hard work has gone into this trip and this whole year and a lot of things haven’t come off, but the one thing that I feel has been very consistent is the scrums, so that is something we can take away from this game being very proud off,” the front-rower said on their performance.
The loss came at a heavy price for the Cheetahs with Springbok flank, Heinrich Brüssow breaking his arm in the 13th minute of the match. However, it did not end there with fullback, Coenie van Wyk injuring his ankle 12 minutes later with what is also a suspected fracture.
While the injury is a massive blow for the remainder of the Cheetahs campaign coach Naka Drotské said the two big injuries isn’t the reason they lost.
“I think the injury to Brüssow and Coenie van Wyk was a little disruptive, but definitely not why we lost the game. The first half we created a lot of opportunities, at this level you only get five-six opportunities, if it is that many to get points and we couldn’t finish one of those today and that put a lot of pressure on us. In the second half I thought our intensity wasn’t good and in the end we were unlucky with our last kick. That’s the way it is at this level, you need to use your opportunities,” Drotské said.
Springbok fullback Willie le Roux should be back for next weeks’ match again the in-form Lions in Johannesburg, but the sides depth will be tested in the loose forwards department due to the injury which will see Brüssow miss the rest of the season.
Scorers –
Cheetahs – Tries: Rayno Benjamin (32nd), Boom Prinsloo (56th) Conv: Joe Pietersen 2 Pen: Joe Pietersen 1.
Reds – Tries: Adam Korczyk (43rd), Samu Kerevi (53rd) Conv: James O’Connor 1, Pen: James O’Connor 1, Drop Goal: Nick Frisby 1.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
