Jooste Nel announced himself in style for the Toyota Cheetahs on Friday night, producing a Player of the Match performance as the Free Staters opened their Toyota Challenge campaign with a convincing 54-24 victory over Portugal's Lusitanos at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The midfielder crossed for two tries and played a key role in another as the hosts overwhelmed the visitors with an eight-try display. By half-time, the Cheetahs had already built a commanding 40-10 lead and never looked in danger of surrendering their advantage.

Jaco van der Walt managed to score the Cheetahs last of eight tries. Photo: Morgan Piek

Despite difficult underfoot conditions, the home side played with plenty of ambition and regularly found space out wide. At times, they were guilty of forcing the issue and leaving points behind, but the Lusitanos’ defence struggled to contain the speed and power of the Cheetahs’ attack.

The opening half bore similarities to the Springboks' dominant performance against Portugal at the same venue in 2024, with the Cheetahs running riot despite spending periods of the match a man down.

Yellow cards to prop Tielman Nieuwoudt and flyhalf Jaco van der Walt reduced the hosts to 13 players for a brief spell, yet it did little to halt their momentum. Flanker Ramon Uys crossed twice while the Cheetahs were short-handed, including one try that followed a superb rolling maul that showcased the pack’s power.

Rewan Kruger scoring after quick thinking close to the line. Photo: Morgan Piek

The visitors’ only reward during that period came through a penalty try after Van der Walt was yellow-carded for slapping the ball down during a pass, and apart from ten minutes in the bin, the Lusitanos also got a penalty try. However, the Free Staters absorbed the setback with ease and soon found themselves 33-10 ahead while Lusitanos prop Eduard Matei was also serving time in the sin bin.

Nel added his second try shortly before the interval after another sharp attacking movement, while wing Michael Annies asked questions of the Lusitanos defence, but failed to score.

Lusitanos wing Alfredo Almeida, one of the visitors’ most dangerous runners throughout the contest, scored early in the second half to register his side’s first conventional try of the evening.

The Portuguese outfit enjoyed a stronger spell after the break and managed to repel several Cheetahs driving mauls, but scrumhalf Rewan Kruger restored control when he took a quick tap and scored next the uprights.

Leading 47-24 with 20 minutes remaining, the Cheetahs introduced fresh legs from the bench and comfortably closed out the contest. Van der Walt added the final try while Lusitanos lock Duarte Nunes was in the sin bin.

The Cheetahs will continue their Toyota Challenge campaign on Wednesday when they take on Romania A in Bloemfontein.

Scorers:

Cheetahs: Tries – Jooste Nel 2, Ramon Uys 2, Chucky van der Westhuizen, Prince Nkabinde, Rewan Kruger, Jaco van der Walt Conv. – Van der Walt 6, Clayton Blommetjies

Lusitanos: Tries – Penalty Try, Alfredo Almeida, Tomas Marques Conv. – Aubry Hugo 2 Pen. – Hugo

Dillon Smith on debut for the Griquas. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Suzuki Griquas underlined the strength of their squad depth with a hard-fought 35-20 victory over Romania A in their opening match of the Toyota Challenge.

With several regular starters rested and a number of debutants handed opportunities, the defending Currie Cup champions delivered a composed performance to take a 21-13 lead into the half-time break before pulling away in the second half.

One of the standout performers was replacement flyhalf Liam Koen, who was thrust into action only minutes after kick-off when Zinedine Robinson left the field for a head injury assessment. Koen responded impressively, converting all five of Griquas’ tries and guiding the side around the park with confidence.

Sako Makata on one of his trademark powerful runs. Photo: Morgan Piek

Debutant centre Simon Liversage opened the scoring for the men from Kimberley, making an immediate impact in his first outing for the Peacock Blues.

Romania A remained in touch after right wing Tevita Manumua crossed late in the first half, while Griquas had to navigate a period with fullback Cameron Hufke in the sin bin for a deliberate knockdown.

The hosts regained their composure after the break and capitalised when Romanian flyhalf Hinckley Voavasa was shown a yellow card. Griquas struck twice during the numerical advantage to stretch their lead to 35-13 and effectively put the result beyond doubt.

Although Romania A managed a late response, Griquas had already done enough to secure a deserved opening-round victory.

Scorers:

Griquas: Tries – Simon Liversage, Connor Mahoney, Jack Hart, Mheli Khuzwayo, Tom Nel Conv. – Liam Koen 5

Romania A: Tries – Tevita Manumua, Damian Bonaparte Conv. – Jondré Williams 2 Pen. – Jondré Williams 2

Black Lion stunned the back-to-back SA Cup champions with a ten-point victory. Photo: Morgan Piek

In the opening game of the Toyota Challenge, Georgia’s Black Lion beat the Pumas 46-36. The newly crowned SA Cup champions led 21-20 at half-time after tries by Darren Adonis, Simon Westraadt and Thomas Bursey. 

Black Lion struck early through fullback Luka Tsirekidze and continued to apply pressure through a dominant scrum, with scrumhalf Tengiz Peranidze also crossing the line.

Westraadt scored his second try shortly after the break, but momentum swung when Black Lion earned a penalty try, and Pumas lock JJ Scheepers was yellow-carded. Despite a Willie Engelbrecht try, the visitors regained the lead and finished strongly. Right wing Akaki Tabutsadze sealed the victory with Black Lion’s seventh try of an entertaining contest.

Former Shimlas captain Ruwald van der Merwe was one of the Pumas standout players. Photo: Morgan Piek

Scorers:

Black Lion: Tries – Otar Giorgadze, Luka Tsirekidze, Tengiz Peranidze, strafdrie, Tamaz Tchamiashvili, Irakli Kvatadze, Akaki Tabutsadze Conv. – Luka Tsirekidze, Merlynn Pieterse 2 Pen. – Pieterse

Pumas: Tries – Darren Adonis, Simon Westraadt 2, Thomas Bursey, Willie Engelbrecht Conv. – Fleurs 4 Pen. – Clinton Swart

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg