Force's defence strangles Cheetahs

The Force served notice that they are serious play-off contenders with a clinical victory over the Cheetahs in a cool Bloemfontein yesterday.

It was the Force's first win in South Africa since 2011. Their victory was built on solid defence and the ability to capitalise on half-chances.

The Cheetahs, by contrast, simply didn't make their possession and territorial dominance count, slumping to their ninth loss this season.

The visitors also surprisingly had the edge in the scrum, but their lineout struggled in the face of some good contesting by the Cheetahs.

The Force have now moved into fourth on the standings with 31 points with a game in hand on the teams above them.

The Force have a distinct South African hue, from four players in the squad to the two senior assistant coaches - Dave Wessels and Kevin Foote.

They resemble a South African team in the way they relish their defensive duties, while using setpiece and contestable kicks for attack.

Yesterday their disciplined and unfussy approach frustrated the Cheetahs players. Defence won the day as they refused to become embroiled in a loose match that would have suited the home team.

The Cheetahs, though, have some issues. They remain the South African team most creative on attack, but some weak areas have to be addressed and improved.

Cheetahs tighthead Coenie Oosthuizen, making his first start after an early-season neck injury, showed why coaches love him but also why he is an enigma.

In the loose he was devastating, often running over players, making valuable metres on attack and putting in big hits on defence. But in the scrums, his primary role, Oosthuizen was worked over by the Force's Pek Cowan.

And that's the problem. Oosthuizen is still learning to be a tighthead, but injuries have slowed his development and it's debatable whether the experiment is still worth it - for both the Cheetahs' and the player's sake. On yesterday's evidence, the sooner he returns to loosehead the better.

Similarly, flyhalf Johan Goosen's form is a worry because he simply doesn't control a match with authority, while his option taking and goal kicking remain tentative.

Opposing Goosen was Sias Ebersohn, who left for Perth because of Goosen's emergence in 2012. Yesterday it was the former Free Stater who edged their personal duel with a composed display that gave a glimpse of the potential he never showed in Bloemfontein.

Evidence of the Force's ability to seize the advantage from scraps was displayed in their first two tries either side of half time. Fullback Jaden Hayward rounded off a move that started in the Force's own 22m area when Oosthuizen surged through two tacklers and looked set to score, but was cut down with a last-ditch tackle that left him isolated.

Force captain Matt Hodgson snaffled the turnover and sent Hayward on his way. The fullback linked with centre Marcel Brache before providing the finishing touch.

The Force's second try was the result of an interception deep in their own territory that ended in a sixth try of the season for left wing Nick Cummings.

The Cheetahs scored when No8 Boom Prinsloo went over from close range early in the second half, taking advantage of Hodgson's sin-binning for cynical play.

The home side virtually set up camp inside the Force's 22 in the last quarter and only heroic defence from the Force ensured that they kept their noses in front until the end.

SCORERS

Cheetahs 16 - Try: Boom Prinsloo.. Conversion: Johan Goosen. Penalties: Goosen (3).

Force 23 - Tries: Jaden Hayward, Nick Cummings. Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (2). Penalties: Sias Ebersohn (3).