Jantjies Sinks Cheetahs in Challenge Cup 2026

Herschel Jantjies needed just one sprint to break South African hearts. The Springbok scrumhalf, playing for Aviron Bayonnais, gathered possession deep in his own half in the 68th minute and covered more than 50 metres to score the try that sealed a 29-27 EPCR Challenge Cup opening-round victory for the French side at the Stade Jean-Dauger on Sunday.

For the Cheetahs, it was a gut-punch result. Frans Steyn's men had clawed their way back from 22-13 down at the break to lead — only to be undone by a moment of individual brilliance from a man who knows South African rugby inside out. They leave France with a losing bonus point and the memory of what might have been.

Cheetahs Start Strong Before Bayonne Fights Back

The Cheetahs actually started the sharper of the two sides. Flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel slotted an early penalty before winger Michael Annies finished a slick move in the corner, with Swanepoel's conversion making it 10-0. The platform looked promising. But Bayonne found their footing through hooker Facundo Bosch, who bulldozed over off a rolling maul in the 15th minute. Centre Federico Mori crossed five minutes later, with South African flyhalf Rob du Preez adding the conversion to put the hosts ahead.

Swanepoel kept the Cheetahs in touch with his second penalty, but Bayonne's rolling maul was becoming a weapon. Fullback Yohan Orabe extended the lead in the 28th minute — conversion missed — before Bosch crossed for his second try from another powerful drive after a Cheetahs error. The Cheetahs had grown increasingly frustrated with referee Sara Cox over what they felt were unpunished off-the-ball incidents, though their forwards did begin to assert themselves at the scrum as the half wore on.

Second Half Comeback Falls Short for Cheetahs

The second half was a different story. Centre Carel-Jan Coetzee and hooker Louis van der Westhuizen both crossed, with Swanepoel converting each to swing the scoreboard in the Cheetahs' favour. But a few uncharacteristic misses from Swanepoel kept Bayonne within range — and that margin was precisely what Jantjies exploited. Having replaced Baptiste Tilloles in the third quarter, the former Stormers and Springbok halfback latched onto a Bayonne break and showed a clean pair of heels, with Du Preez converting to give the hosts a nervy two-point cushion they held to the final whistle.

The result stings particularly given that the Cheetahs lost all four of their pool matches in last season's Challenge Cup. Steyn's squad will have wanted a statement win to open their campaign. Instead, they face an immediate recovery mission. Their next assignment is a home clash — at their adopted ground of St Helen's in Swansea — against the Dragons on 13 December. The Dragons arrive in decent form after beating USA Perpignan 29-14 in their own opening-round fixture, so there is no easy reset on the horizon.

One positive: the Cheetahs showed real character to come from behind and lead in the second half. Swanepoel was dangerous all afternoon when his boot was on, and the forward pack grew into the game. But in European rugby, moments like Jantjies' 50-metre burst are the difference between winning and losing — and right now, the Cheetahs are still searching for their first Challenge Cup pool victory.