Rhinos and pigs sail to rugby final

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday, July 30, 2024 8:59 AM

Hogs qualified for the finals by beating BDF Cheetahs 26-11 in the first semi-final, giving them a chance to defend their title. The match between Rhinos and Jwaneng Wildebeests was physical from the first whistle, something that was expected when the two teams met, as the stakes were high. Rhinos went into the match with a point to prove, while Wildebeests believed they could pull off an upset, despite making their debut for the top flight. Wildebeests were also looking to avenge the loss they suffered to Rhinos in the first match.

Wildebeests were the first to break the ice, scoring the first try through Admire Shonhiwa in the third minute after intercepting the ball while their opponents were still in the game. By the end of the game Shonhiwa had scored two tries with another try from Tumelo Fembo coming off the bench. Wildebeests were looking for Tlotlo Seitlamo to take the lead. Chips fell apart for Wildebeests when Scotty Patson was shown a red card after a dangerous tackle on a Rhinos player during a punt when the ball was already in motion. The two sides continued to battle with tries being scored alternately by the two sides.

A few minutes before the end of the first half, a Wildebeest player was sent to the sin bin for a foul, leaving the team with 13 players. In the second half, Rhinos took control as Wildebeests players were exhausted. At one point, Wildebeests players tackled each other. Rhinos then scored two tries while their opponents were watching the ball. Speaking to SportMonitor, Wildebeests coach Mathews Porogo said that the pace of the game was high and that at one point he asked his players to slow down a bit. He also said that the fact that they had lost to Rhinos in the previous game made his players want revenge. “We wanted revenge but we had to take it easy, but when we went into that game, everything changed. Our first try changed everything, it got the players excited. At one point I thought our opponents would back down. We let them play and they got confidence, everything changed.

The referee was under pressure and gave the red card. There was no hitting as the linesman claimed. I can’t blame the referee because it was a very charged game and tempers were high,” Porogo said. On the yellow card, he said it was a disciplinary issue as it was one of the issues discussed during the pre-match talk, and players were warned for high tackling and off side into a back. Porogo admitted that some of the decisions he made had an effect, at one point they had one prop and two hookers on the field. “Sometimes it doesn’t work when you try to fix it. Rhinos were better prepared, they did everything right and had a strong bench,” he said. Meanwhile, UB coach Tshoganetso ‘Shakes’ Katse said it was a close game. “My boys were not clinical at all. We made it difficult for ourselves,” he said

The teams

Wildebeests: Happias Zhou, Marlon Guwuriro (Fembo), Patson, Tsotlhe Maitlamo, Mogomotsi Kwafela, Shonhiwa, Eric Dikgafela, Obakeng Kokwe, Ngonizashe Madongorere, Seitlhamo, Mmoloki Molaletsi, Collen Gaonakala, Tumalano Gaonakala, Tumalano Bolelang, Motlhalefi Seloma and Alphious Mokotedi .

Rhinos: Katlego Mohutsiwa, Katlego Mangwai, Thato Maifala, Kutlo Batsile, Ntebogang Mathaka, Omphile Simon, Wabona Motingwa, Kaelo Mogotsi, Nchidzi Mogotsi, Popo Maswabi, Paul Motingwa, Gape Monei, Tafadzwa Montshiwa, Ishmael Gaopalelwe and Tonic Ndoda.