The Airlink Pumas failed to qualify for the Carling Currie Cup semi-finals for the first time in three years after losing 41-14 to the Toyota Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, September 7.
The visitors were by far the better team on the day and played with a precision and pace that the Pumas could not match.
The match was a straightforward knock-out fixture, with the last semi-final spot on offer for the winner. The defending champions from Bloemfontein scored six tries to one, racing away in the second half after they held a 14-9 lead at the break.
The Pumas held an early 6-0 lead after Clinton Swart slotted two penalty goals. But the Cheetahs made better use of their opportunities, which resulted in tries for Daniel Kasende and Jandré Nel. Ethan Wentzel converted twice. The Pumas’ only other first-half points came from another penalty goal from Swart.
The home team’s Ross Braude was injured early in the second half and left the field, and with no scrum half cover on the bench, Darren Adonis and Tino Swanepoel had to deputise in the position. Without a specialist number nine, the Pumas were not the same team.
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The Pumas did level the score early in the second half (14-14) with Ntsika Fisanti scoring a try. But then the Cheetahs opened the floodgates. Kasende, Munier Hartzenburg, Aidon Davis and Gideon van der Merwe all crossed the try line as the Pumas’ defence fell apart.
The Pumas were simply not in the match as the Cheetahs took full advantage of the home team’s reshuffled backline. The Cheetahs played with extreme hunger and deserved the win.
The Pumas found themselves in a place where they needed to stand up and be counted. Try as hard as they did, it was a bridge too far. They finished sixth on the log, dropping two places due to the Suzuki Griquas victory over DHL Western Province on Friday. The Pumas and Griquas are both on 24 points, but the Kimberley team have a points difference of -46 to the Mpumalanga team’s -60.
In their 10 matches, the Pumas scored 46 tries and conceded 57, the first time in three Currie Cup seasons they have conceded more tries than they scored. Only the NovaVit Griffons conceded more tries (88) than the Pumas in the 2024 competition.
• The Airlink Pumas will play the DHL Stormers at Nelspruit Rugby Club next Wednesday, September 18. The fixture will be a preparation match for the Stormers for the United Rugby Championship. Kick-off is at 15:30.
Airlink Pumas point scorers:
Try: Ntsika Fisanti
Penalty goals: Clinton Swart (3).
