Ebersohn inspires Cheetahs
Sias Ebersohn inspired the Cheetahs to a surprise 33-20 Super Rugby victory over the Crusaders in Bloemfontein.
Last Updated: 15/05/11 12:30am
Sias Ebersohn inspired the Cheetahs to a surprise 33-20 Super Rugby victory over the Crusaders in Bloemfontein.
He ran in a fantastic solo try and kicked four penalties and three conversions in the memorable victory over the fifth-placed New Zealanders.
But the shine was taken off the win somewhat by the loss of Heinrich Brussow to a serious looking hamstring injury during the first half.
Crusaders were missing a number of key players and two of the replacements - Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams - were both substituted as the hosts made them pay.
The South Africans impressed throughout and went ahead in the fourth minute thanks to a Sias Ebersohn penalty before Carter kicked wide when he had the chance to level the scores moments later.
The Crusaders then took control and it looked as though they would run away with the game when Zac Guildford scored a try after some good work by Robbie Fruean before a conversion and penalty from Carter put the visitors seven points ahead.
Level
But it took the home side only eight minutes to level the score as Riaan Smit's kick seemed to unhinge the Crusaders defence and Sarel Pretorius broke forward and the ball was worked to Robert Ebersohn whose try was converted by his brother Sias.
The Crusaders were penalised several times during the half and two of the penalties were in range for Sias Ebersohn and he converted both to give his side a six point lead.
Crusaders went in at half-time 17-16 ahead after Carter ran over a try which he converted himself after some great work by Williams and Richie McCaw, but they were hurt by the loss of Williams at the interval and the influential Carter who had to be replaced after 50 minutes.
Those disruptions seemed to galvanise the Cheetahs and Sias Ebersohn converted another penalty to give the South Africans an early second half lead.
A fantastic solo try from Sias Ebersohn then gave the Cheetahs the lead. The 22-year-old ran almost the full length of the field before dancing around the last defender to score before converting the try himself.
Crusaders hit back with a scrum penalty that was put over by Matt Berquist but the Cheetah's Ashley Johnson burst through the away defence with only six minutes to go to score the try that put the game beyond doubt.
