It was a big weekend of international action as players got their final chance to impress ahead of World Cup selection while the Toyota Cheetahs booked their place in the Currie Cup final. Ireland and Scotland enjoyed successes in their World Cup warm-up matches on Saturday but the standout game was in South Africa. CHEETAHS BITE BACK The Toyota Cheetahs welcomed the Cell C Sharks to Bloemfontein with a place in the final of the Currie Cup the prize on offer. As has been commonplace in Cheetahs home matches in the Guinness PRO14, it was an absorbing encounter with both teams enjoying dominant periods. The Sharks looked in control at half-time, with a 20-11 advantage, but the Cheetahs came roaring back in the second half to run out 51-20 victors. Junior Pokomela was the star of the show, with a try in each half, while William Small-Smith, Ruan Pienaar, Joseph Dweba, Ox Nche and Jasper Wiese also got in on the act. The Cheetahs will now welcome the Golden Lions to Toyota Stadium in next Saturday’s final as they look to win a first Currie Cup title since 2016. STOCKDALE DOUBLES UP Elsewhere on Saturday in Cardiff, Ireland bounced back from defeat to England with a 22-17 victory over Wales as Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale helped himself to a double. While the Ulster flyer was as clinical as ever, there were plenty of others who caught the eye, notably prop duo Dave Kilcoyne of Munster and Andrew Porter of Leinster, the latter succeeding the former at loosehead and both causing the home side huge problems.
