Free State Cheetahs keep top-tier status
Former Super Rugby quarter-finalists Free State Cheetahs preserved their top-tier status in South Africa on Tuesday by outplaying South Western Districts 36-5 in a Currie Cup play-off.
Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs had finished bottom of the Currie Cup standings and Districts from southern coastal town George won the second division championship.
Eagles prop Mzuvukile Sofisa and Cheetahs fly-half Louis Fouche played key roles in the outcome of the promotion/relegation play-off.
Sofisa was yellow carded on 12 minutes after repeated scrum infringements and Cheetahs scored their 19 unanswered first-half points during his time in the sin bin.
Eagles applied constant second-half pressure without success for 15 minutes before a Cheetahs breakaway saw Fouche score a try which he converted for a 26-0 lead.
As the second-tier side faded in the closing stages, centre William Small-Smith bagged two tries near the corner flag.
It was the second win in four days for the Cheetahs at the Free State Stadium in central South Africa having overcome Cardiff Blues in the PRO14 last weekend.
Before the victories it had been a disastrous season for Free State as they lost all six Currie Cup matches and five of six PRO14 matches, drawing the other.
Having to play simultaneously in the Currie Cup and against Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh sides in the PRO14 has put huge pressure on the South African side.
Traditionally a 'nursery' for richer South African rivals, the number of annual departees increased after they were one of three franchises dumped from Super Rugby two years ago.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus played for and coached the Cheetahs, whose most recent of five Currie Cup titles came in 2016.
Outstanding No. 8 Duane Vermeulen, a probable starter for the Springboks against England at Twickenham this Saturday, is another former Cheetah.