Johan Goosen stars as Cheetahs finally post a Super Rugby win over Bulls

JOHAN Goosen was the star as the Cheetahs overcame the Bulls for the first time in Super Rugby with a win in the wet.

Cheetahs finally overcame their run of outs against Bulls.

JOHAN Goosen was the star as Central Cheetahs overcame Northern Bulls for the first time in Super Rugby with a 15-9 victory in wet Bloemfontein Friday.

It was an ‘ugly’ win in a kick-dominated game at the Free State Stadium in the central city, but that did not dampen the Cheetahs celebrations.

After 11 consecutive losses to fellow South Africans the Bulls in the southern hemisphere inter-provincial championship, the Cheetahs finally got one over their greatest bogey team.

Fly-half Goosen, viewed by many as the long-term successor to Springboks No. 10 Morne Steyn, was the 15-point match-winner.

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He kicked four penalties from five attempts — and the one that failed was a long-range effort that rebounded off the crossbar.

Goosen opened the scoring just 80 seconds into the first half with a long-distance drop-goal that sailed between the posts.

Goosen was the star for the Cheetahs.

Former champions Bulls owed many past victories to Steyn, and the Pretoria outfit are finding it hard to replace the goal-kicking skills of the now Paris-based fly-half.

Louis Fouche succeeded with only one of three kickable first-half attempts and replacement Handre Pollard fared only marginally better with two penalties from three shots.

While the lively Cheetahs put a shock home loss to the Golden Lions behind them, the Bulls are in trouble with this dismal display following a heavy loss at the Coastal Sharks.

The rain, which varied between light and torrential, did not help, but the conditions cannot excuse some of the basic handling and field-kicking errors.

When it comes to the end of the season and the DVD highlights package, the producers can safely give this match a miss.

Veteran lock Victor Matfield made his customary second-half appearance to become the most capped South African in Super Rugby with 126 appearances.

The 36-year-old, who ended a two-year retirement this month, nudged ahead of two retired Springboks, hooker John Smit and loose forward AJ Venter.

After his monster drop goal, Goosen exchanged penalties with Fouche before the Cheetahs playmaker landed two more kicks at goal for a 12-3 half-time advantage.

Pollard and Goosen slotted second-half kicks before the Bulls replacement slotted his second penalty one minute from time to earn the visitors a losing bonus point.