Cheetahs Survive Bulls Fightback in Currie Cup 2026

Michael Annies crossed inside three minutes and the Cheetahs never really looked back, even when they were down to 13 men in the final quarter. A breathtaking 62-52 bonus-point win at Loftus — the highest-scoring Currie Cup match of the 2026 season so far — lifts the Free Staters back to second on the Currie Cup log, separated from leaders Griquas only by points difference after five rounds.

Cheetahs Make Early Statement in First Half

The visitors turned the first half into a statement of intent. Annies opened the scoring with a finish in the corner before Jaco van der Walt added the extras. Riyaad Bam pulled one back for the Bulls in the eighth minute, but the Cheetahs answered immediately. Centre Zander du Plessis and flank Prince Nkabinde both crossed, with Van der Walt converting both to push the gap beyond a converted try. Hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele powered over for the Bulls in the 20th minute and Keagan Johannes converted, yet the visitors simply refused to slow down. Annies grabbed his second. Flank Kebotile Maake gave Loftus something to cheer about with the Bulls' third try, but the conversion was again missed and the momentum never shifted.

The final ten minutes of the half belonged entirely to the Cheetahs. Nkabinde crossed for his second, captain Neels Volschenk added another, and fullback Cohen Jasper finished off a remarkable opening 40 minutes to give the visitors a 47-17 lead at the break. Seven tries. Dominant. Clinical.

Cheetahs Build Commanding Lead After Halftime

Jasper opened the scoring after the restart with his second try, Van der Walt converting to stretch the margin, before lock Victor Sekekete made it 59-17 in the 53rd minute. At that point the contest looked over. The Bulls had other ideas. Debutant Marnus Rademeyer crossed and Johannes converted; replacement Brooklyn Newman added another and the scrumhalf converted again. Loftus began to believe.

Then came the chaos that made this a proper Currie Cup classic. Replacement hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg received a 20-minute red card and winger Annies was shown yellow, leaving the Cheetahs playing out the final ten minutes with 13 men. The Bulls capitalised ruthlessly — replacement loose forward Nizaam Carr, flyhalf Devon Williams and Rademeyer all crossed, with Johannes converting each time to bring the deficit down to ten. The roar at Loftus was real.

Late Chaos Cannot Derail Cheetahs Victory

But the cushion was too large to erase. Replacement fullback Tiaan Swanepoel kicked a penalty after the hooter to seal it at 62-52, and the Cheetahs held on for a win that will be talked about long after the final whistle. For the Bulls, it is five losses from five in the Currie Cup — and they remain rooted to the bottom of the log. That form, combined with a 19-50 hammering by the All Blacks earlier in the week, makes for grim reading at Loftus.

The Cheetahs host Boland Cavaliers at Toyota Stadium on Sunday 23 August (15:00 SAST) looking to consolidate second place, while the Bulls travel nowhere — they face Stormers XXIII at Loftus on Friday 21 August and desperately need their first win of the campaign.