Fikou breaks Cheetahs' hearts

A try at the death from French international Gael Fikou broke the Toyota Cheetahs' hearts and gave Racing 92 a narrow 31-28 win over the Bloemfontein side in their EPCR Challenge Cup pool match in Paris on Sunday night.

Both sides had already not qualified for the Round of 16, making the match a dead rubber, but it was as entertaining as it could get with the lead changing hands several times, and the Cheetahs putting up a solid fight against the French side.

It has been tough going for the Cheetahs in the competition, especially after the weather made them forfeit last weekend’s “home” game against Ulster in Amsterdam and they were hoping to cap off their brief cameo in Europe with a win in Paris.

For large parts of the game it seemed they could do so, as their forward pack stood up to the Racing pack and made inroads, while out wide they matched the stars of the French side with relative ease.

But they never could plant a knockout blow and a string of penalties in the last movement of the game got them onto the back foot and opened the door for Racing to steal the match.

Given that Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn has a long history with Racing, having played there for several seasons, it was a double blow for the Bloemfontein franchise.

The Cheetahs opened the scoring in the first minute as flanker Daniel Maartens read a Racing attacking play with ease and intercepted, running 45 metres to touch down and give his side an early lead.

Racing hit back seven minutes later, creating enough pressure for Auguste Albuisson to go over from close range.

Things got worse when Aranos Coetzee was yellow carded for a bad 'coathanger' tackle on Racing scrumhalf Cleo Labarbe.

RACING STEAL IT AT THE DEATH

The Cheetahs' defence was woefully exposed by a long range try a few minutes later, as Racing surged upfield and ended with former Stormers and Lions flanker Hacjivah Dayimani beating four defenders to score a superb individual try.

But then Racing got a yellow card of their own as the Cheetahs attacked the line relentlessly, only to see Racing captain Romain Taofifenua knock the ball out of Sisonke Vumazonke’s hands as he was going over the line.

Taofifenua received his marching orders and the Cheetahs received a penalty try for their efforts.

They went further ahead just after Zander du Plessis lost the ball over the line for a disallowed try when the resulting penalty led to Prince Nkabinde scoring in the corner.

That left the Cheetahs 21-14 up at the break, and looking set to power on to a win.

But Racing scored a superb try out wide in the first minute of the second half as winger Nolann Donguy went over to get them level again.

English lock Jonny Hill then went over in the 51st minute from close range to put his side ahead, and it looked as if they were cruising until Du Plessis ran a beauty of a line to scythe through the defence and give the Cheetahs the lead with eleven minutes to go.

The Cheetahs had control of the ball, but then gave away a penalty with two minutes to go, and then another that saw them on their line. The pressure was relentless and Fikou saw an opening and took it.

The try wasn’t celebrated by Racing, who looked more relieved than anything else, but broke the Cheetahs' hearts as their time in the Challenge Cup came to an end for another year.

RACING 92 - tries: Auguste Albuisson, Hacjivah Dayimani, Nolann Donguy, Jonny Hill, Gael Fikou. Conversions: Antoine Gilbert (3).

TOYOTA CHEETAHS - tries: Daniel Maartens, Penalty try, Prince Nkabinde, Zander du Plessis. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3).