Nkosi back with a bang as Cheetahs smash Griffons

Former Springbok winger Sbu Nkosi resumed his career with a bang as champions Toyota Cheetahs scored 12 tries to smash the Novavit Griffons 82-20 in their opening Carling Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Nkosi, who has had well-documented off-field problems, made an explosive debut for his new province and nearly scored with his first touch before diving over in the right corner after an exquisite cross-field kick from debutant flyhalf Ethan Wentzel.

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Toyota Cheetahs 82-20 NovaVit Griffons#CHEvGRI#TheCarlingCurrieCup @ToyotaSA pic.twitter.com/oEy9bbcFLO

— Toyota Cheetahs (@CheetahsRugby) July 6, 2024

Aside from his try, Nkosi looked dangerous every time he touched the ball, was excellent under the high ball, distributed brilliantly with “chicken wing” passes, and was stout in defence.

Wentzel, who had a stunning start for the home team, then scored the Cheetahs’ next try when he slipped through a gaping hole in the Griffons’ defence after an attacking scrum in the visitors' 22. Aside from his try, he kicked eight conversions for a bag of 21 points before being substituted by George Lourens deep into the second half who added a further three conversions.

The visitors were competitive in the first half, dominating possession and forcing the Cheetahs into making 66 tackles compared to their own 42, but mistakes curtailed a number of try-scoring opportunities.

They were awarded a penalty try midway through the first half, however, with Cheetahs’ skipper Victor Sekeketo being yellow-carded for infringing in a ruck. The home team were briefly down to 13 men soon afterwards when Jeandre Rudolph followed him into the sin-bin.

Despite their abbreviated numbers, Gideon van der Merwe crashed over from a lineout to extend the Cheetahs’ lead and then the player numbers were evened up just before the halftime whistle when Chadley Wenn tackled Wentzel without the ball as the flyhalf looked to run down his kick ahead. A penalty try was duly awarded to the Cheetahs who went into the break 28-13 ahead with a bonus point in the bag.

Compared to the relatively competitive first half, the second stanza was a breeze for the champions who scored a further eight tries with only a late score from Gurshwin Wehr nudging the visitors’ score forward.

The Purple People Eaters, having given their all in the first half, simply ran out of steam with substitute scrumhalf Jandre Nel scoring a brace of tries on debut while wing Daniel Kasende, lively throughout, also got on the scoreboard.

The gulf in class between the teams became ever more apparent as the Cheetahs attacked from everywhere and could have scored even more tries if passes had been held.

FINAL SCORE AND SCORERS

Cheetahs 82 -  Tries: Sbu Nkosi, Ethan Wentzel, Gideon van der Merwe (2), Penalty Try, Litha Nkula (2), Jeandre Rudolph, Jandre Nel (2), Neels Volschenk, Daniel Kasenda. Conversions: Wentzel (8), George Lourens (3)

Griffons 20 - Tries: Penalty try, Gurshwin Wehr. Conversions: Andrew Kota. Penalties: Kota (2)