Sharks: Stefan Terblanche (captain), Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Riaan Swanepoel, JP Pietersen, Juan Hernandez, Ruan Pienaar, Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes, John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira.
Reserves: Craig Burden, Jannie du Plessis, Albert van den Berg, Keegan Daniel, Rory Kockott, Monty Dumond, Andries Strauss.

Free State Cheetahs: Hennie Danniller, Lionel Mapoe, Corne Uys, Meyer Bosman, Danwel Demas, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, JP Joubert, Ashley Johnson, Frans Viljoen, Heinrich Brussow, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt (captain), WP Nel, Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez.
Reserves: Coenie Oosthuizen, Izak van der Westhuizen, Hendro Scholtz, Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn, Louis Strydom, Fabian Juries

Disappointing crowd for a Semi-final. Is it a sign of the economic times?

2nd Min – The match has started amid great intensity. Almost like  test match. Going to be a great forward battle I suspect.

6th min – Jacques Louis Potgieter kicks an early penalty after the Sharks were offside at the ruck. Cheetahs ahead 3-0.

8th Min – Ashley Johnson dragged down inches short of the line! All started from a turnover inside Cheetahs territory and they spread the ball and ran straight and hard. Brilliant play.

10th Min – Brilliant counter attack from the Sharks. Hernandez almost lost the momentum, but Adi Jcobs ran straight and put Ndungane into space. Ndungane chipped ahead brilliantly and Terblanche adjudged to have scored even though I thought he lost it forward. So close at either end of the ground.

Hernandez misses a tough conversion. Sharks ahead 5-3.

18th Min – Ryan Kankowski offside at the lineout. Mapoe showed serious pace to get away from Pietersen but we go back for the penalty.

Potgieter misses. The score remains 5-3.

21st Min – Another penalty to the Cheetahs. A tough kick once again for Potgieter but these are the sort of kicks that either win or lose you a semi-final. Ndungane tackled and cries out in pain as he goes over on his ankle. Gets the strapping but not sure how long he’ll last.

Potgieter misses again. Same thing happened in their round robin game here.

26th Min – Great build up from the Cheetahs. Potgieter in the pocket but misses the drop kick.

Ndungane goes off and replaced by Monty Dumond.

35th Min – Sharks penalty after Terblanche blew a certain try. Just delayed his pass too long. JP Pietersen made the initial break and the vision and passing skills of John Smit came to the fore. The Sharks don’t use him enough.

Pienaar kicks the penalty against the run of play and the Sharks lead 8-3.

40th Min – Try to Ruan Pienaar. JP Pietersen makes the break and a clinical finish by the Sharks. Why isn’t Pienaar playing flyhalf?

Pienaar converts his own try.

Halftime Sharks 15 Free State Cheetahs 3

The Cheetahs have enjoyed the better of territory and possession, but haven’t been able to convert opportunities into points. The Sharks meanwhile have capitalised on their chances.

I suspect it’s a mountain too tough to climb back from for the Cheetahs, unless they can produce a couple of magic moments. Mapoe is capable, and I’d introduce Fabian Juries too.

43rd Min – The Sharks start the second half well, and Harnandez kicks a drop goal. Sharks ahead 18-3.

45th Min – Cheetahs get a penalty and the Sharks get a warning for repeated infringements. Potgieter kicks an easy one and the Sharks lead is reduced to 18-6.

48th Min – Another penalty for the Cheetahs at the ruck. Ref Marius Jonker didn’t get a number, else the repercussions may have been greater.

Cheetahs kick for the lineout.

52nd Min – The Chetahs go over the line and that’s a try! Marius Jonker almost awarded the scrum without using the TMO. However the right decision was made in the end. It’s now game on!

Potgieter kicks the conversion and the Sharks only lead by 18-13.

Johan Muller goes off and Albert van den Berg enters the game.

56th Min – Cheetahs in at the corner but Marius Jonker rules a foward pass. I thought it was a fair try. The ref is having to make some tough and crucial decisions here.

Now we have a brawl. Awesome. This is the way rugby use to be. A bit of emotion and passion comes into the fray. It’s good to see.

59th Min – Try! Pogieter picks up a stray pass and shows great pace to race all the way for the try. Under the poles.

With the conversion over the Cheetahs now lead 20-18!

62nd Min – Cheetahs lose a vital lineout and the Sharks get a penalty at the ruck. Pienaar converts it and the Sharks are narrowly ahead 21-20. 17 and a half minutes to go.

69th Min – Adi Jcobs through the gap but Brussow makes a vital steal metres from his goal-line. The Cheetahs are camped in their own half here.

75th Min – The Sharks get a penalty and Monty Dumond will attempt the kick from just inside his own half. The kick is wide.

4 Mins to go. The Cheetahs need possession and to get down the other end. A drop kick will do.

78th Min – The Cheetahs get a penalty and kick deep into the Sharks territory. It’s a cracker finish.

80th Min – Potgieter was in the pocket and makes the drop goal! Amazing. Cheetahs ahead 23-21. There’s still time left in this game.

It’s all over!

Full time Cheetahs 23 Sharks 21

What an amazing game. The Cheetahs dominated the first half and couldn’t score. In the second half it was all the Sharks and they couldn’t score.

The Sharks missed 6 drop goal attempts. Potgieter nailed his chance.

Brussow was awesome. He made some great tackles. Ashley Johnson was good with ball in hand, and the Cheetahs stuck to their game plan and just got home. Who will they play in the final?