Rewind four years and the Pumas were celebrating another dramatic victory in the City of Roses after scoring a try at the death to knock the Cheetahs out of the Currie Cup. History repeated itself this time, although there was no last-gasp try. 

Instead, Clinton Swart’s ice-cool boot proved decisive as the Pumas held their nerve in a gripping semi-final to earn another trip to Kimberley, where they will face defending champions Suzuki Griquas in the final.

Ramon Uys. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs had a golden opportunity to at least level the scores late in the contest but opted for the lineout rather than taking three points in front of the posts. The gamble backfired when the Pumas won back possession. It was a costly decision that could prove a valuable lesson – in knockout rugby, points on offer are often worth taking.

The match took some time to find its rhythm, with both sides guilty of early handling errors and ill-discipline. The Cheetahs eventually opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Jaco van der Walt calmly converted a penalty.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 34th minute after a series of scrum penalties against the Pumas allowed the Cheetahs to set up a powerful rolling maul. Ramon Uys was the man who eventually dotted down, with Van der Walt adding the conversion to make it 10–0.

Carel-Jan Coetzee. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Pumas were handed an opportunity to hit back shortly before half-time after a restart error by the Cheetahs. The visitors retained possession through several phases before earning a penalty for a no-arms tackle by try-scorer Uys.

They opted for the lineout but made a hash of it and allowed the Cheetahs to escape. Another penalty soon followed, this time just outside the Cheetahs’ 22, and the Pumas wisely opted for the posts. Swart duly obliged to get his side on the scoreboard.

The momentum swung dramatically after the break.

The Pumas drew first blood in the second half when they stole a Cheetahs lineout and worked the ball wide for Darren Adonis to score in the corner. Swart produced a superb conversion from the touchline to level the scores at 10–10 after 44 minutes.

The visitors then hit the front for the first time eight minutes later. After a sustained passage of pressure from outside the Cheetahs’ 22, André Goedhals found a way through for a try, with Swart adding the conversion to put the Pumas seven points clear.

The Cheetahs responded almost immediately through another devastating rolling maul. Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg finished off the drive in the 55th minute, and Van der Walt’s conversion restored parity at 17–17.

Neels Volschenk, Faf de Klerk and Victor Sekekete. Photo: Morgan Piek

The see-saw nature of the contest continued. In the 62nd minute, replacement hooker Gustav du Rand powered over from another rolling maul, and Swart maintained his perfect record from the tee to give the Pumas another seven-point cushion.

The Cheetahs were not done yet. A comedy of errors following another initially stolen lineout presented Carel-Jan Coetzee with a loose ball, and he needed no second invitation as he raced under the posts. Van der Walt’s conversion levelled the scores once more at 24–24 with 13 minutes remaining.

With the tension rising inside Toyota Stadium, the Pumas regained possession through a counter-ruck following the restart and soon earned another penalty for offside.

Michael Annies. Photo: Morgan Piek

Swart stepped up and showed nerves of steel, splitting the uprights to put the Pumas 27–24 ahead with just 10 minutes remaining.

Then came the moment that will be debated in the Cheetahs camp. The hosts won a penalty for holding on and, with three points almost begging to be taken in front of the posts, opted instead for the lineout in search of a match-winning try.

The decision did not pay off. The Pumas defended the ensuing maul legally, brought it crashing down and earned the defensive scrum feed.

Clinton Swart. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs launched one final desperate attack from deep, throwing everything they had at the visitors, but the Pumas stood firm. Sango Xamlashe won a crucial breakdown penalty to snuff out the final Cheetahs threat, and with that, the Pumas could finally celebrate.

The Pumas now travel to Kimberley for the final, and they will be hoping for more déjà vu, as four years ago they shocked the Griquas in the Diamond City to win the Currie Cup for the first time.

Saturday’s final at the Suzuki Stadium kicks off at 15:00.

Cheetahs: Tries – Ramon Uys, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Carel-Jan Coetzee Conv. – Jaco van der Walt 3 Pen – Van der Walt

Pumas: Tries – Darren Adonis, André Goedhals, Gustav du Rand Conv. – Clinton Swart 3 Pen. – Swart 3

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek sm