The Airlink Pumas’ 2025 11-match winning streak came to an end when the Toyota Cheetahs defeated them 42-25 in a Carling Currie Cup match at Toyota Stadium on Friday night, August 1.

Despite their strong performances in 10 SA Cup and one Currie Cup match, the Pumas were poor on Friday night.

The Cheetahs played well. They were slick in the execution of their game plan while the Pumas lacked cohesion and fighting spirit. The hungrier team won.

The Pumas scored first in the 14th minute. A neat offload from Eduan Swart to Sango Xamlashe resulted in the centre jigging over for the five points. Danrich Visagie failed with the conversion attempt.

Three minutes later Juandré Nel scored the first of his four tries for the Cheetahs. He broke through two tacklers to dot down and Tiaan Swanepoel added the two extra points.

A Visagie penalty goal regained the lead for the Pumas in the 20th minute before Nel intercepted the ball and sprinted 80m to score his second try. Swanepoel converted.

Nel was not finished yet and capitalised on some poor defending by the visitors to score his third try in the 31st minute. Swanepoel slotted the conversion between the uprights.

Three minutes later Ross Braude took a quick penalty and went over for a try. Visagie’s conversion kick went wide.

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On the hooter, the Cheetahs’ Neels Volschenk scored from a 5m scrum and Swanepoel converted. The home team held a 28-13 half-time lead. As the first 40 minutes progressed, the Cheetahs seemed to grow stronger.

It took the home team just six minutes to score in the second half. Carel-Jan Coetzee claimed the five points and Swanepoel added the two.

In the 53rd minute Braude collected an off-load from Tino Swanepoel and scored a try. Visagie missed the conversion attempt.

Wian van Niekerk scored next for the Pumas and Visagie converted to close the score gap to 10 points.

But the Cheetahs had the last laugh with Nel getting his fourth try in the 78th minute. Cohen Jasper nailed the conversion over the crossbar.

The Cheetahs secured a well-deserved victory. Throughout the match they dominated, forcing the Pumas to play at their pace. When needed, they could go up a gear.

The Pumas were disorganised on defence and lacked firepower up front.

Pumas
Tries: Ross Braude (2), Sango Xamlashe, Wian van Niekerk
Conversions: Danrich Visagie
Penalty goal: Visagie.