Emerging Ireland complete South Africa clean sweep with comeback win against Cheetahs

Late tries by Matthew Devine and Danny Sheahan sealed the win for Ireland.

Wed, 09 Oct, 2024 - 20:40

Simon Lewis

CHEETAHS 24 EMERGING IRELAND 33

Emerging Ireland completed a clean sweep of their opponents with a spirited fightback to beat the Cheetahs on their home patch at altitude in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night.

With three wins from three inside eight days, Simon Easterby’s young touring side repeated the unbeaten run of their 2022 predecessors, overcoming the Cheetahs thanks two tries in the final 10 minutes to turn a five-point deficit into a nine-point victory having also trailed 17-12 at half-time against vastly experienced opposition.

The Cheetahs took an early lead, stemming from an Irish knock-on in midfield which finished with prop Robin Hunt scoring from short range on six minutes.

The Cheetahs had a Friedle Oliver try disallowed soon after when the TMO spotted a neck roll on an Ireland player at the preceding ruck, which allowed Simon Easterby’s side to finally get some go-forward. Skipper 8 James Culhane powered into the home 22, scrum-half Cormac Foley got quick ball from the ruck and sent a short pass to lock Evan O’Connell who crashed over for the tourists’ opening score on 18 minutes.

The momentum was with Ireland and when man of the match Hugh Gavin broke from halfway, Foley offered support, taking the ball inside the five-metre line but was found guilty of a double movement to get the ball over the line in contact.

The South Africans scored two quick tries through full-back Michael Anniees and Corne Fourie to open up a 17-7 lead but Ireland responded on 36 minutes, the ball coming out of a left-corner lineout maul and moving edge to edge along the backline, impressive full-back Ben O’Connor delivering the long pass for Andrew Osborne to run in unopposed on the opposite wing.

Trailing by five at the break, Ireland capitalised on gathering momentum in the 54th minute, their offloading game working to great effect as replacement back-rower Alex Soroka was put in for a try under the posts. Prendergast added the conversion from in front to give the tourists a 19-17 lead.

Despite a yellow card for Cheetahs lock Carl Wegner after a high hit on replacement back Charlie Tector, it was the South Africans who struck next, Anniees scoring his second of the game, Wenzel adding the extras to give his side a 24-17 lead.

Ireland once again responded and it came through their bench, fly-half Jack Murphy taking the ball after a strong carry from starting centre Gavin and making effective yards himself to put the ball on a plate for replacement half-back partner Matthew Devine to find a gap to score under the posts. Murphy’s conversion pushed Ireland back in front at 26-24 in the 71st minute.

Another Soroka carry put Ireland back inside the Cheetahs 22 with the tiring home defence conceding a penalty soon after and offering little resistance from five metres out from Danny Sheahan’s tap penalty, Jack Murphy’s conversion giving this Emerging Ireland tour a perfect ending.

TOYOTA CHEETAHS: M Annies; P Nkabinde, M Hartzenberg, C-J Coetzee, A Kunene; E Wentzel, R Kruger; S Ferreira, C Fourie, R Hunt; C Wegner, V Sekekete - captain; G van der Merwe, S Vumazonke, F Olivier.

Replacements: M Janse van Rensburg, H van Wyk, L Victor, U Stander, N Volschenk, J Nel, G Lourens, C Jasper.

Yellow card: C Wegner 62-72

EMERGING IRELAND: B O'Connor; A Osborne, H Cooney, H Gavin, Z Ward; S Prendergast, C Foley; A Usanov, S Smyth, J Aungier; E O'Connell, D Murray; H Sheridan, S Edogbo, J Culhane – captain.

Replacements: D Sheahan, G Hadden, S Wilson, C O'Tighearnaigh, A Soroka, M Devine, J Murphy, C Tector.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)