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Maartens double earns much-needed win for Cheetahs
By Christopher Devine
Daniel Maartens was the Cheetahs' hero with two late tries as the South African franchise edged out Benetton Treviso 31-25 in the Pro14.
The Cheetahs came into the contest with only one win from eight games all season, but managed to double that tally as Maartens' second score - from the back of a rolling maul in the 73rd minute - proved decisive.
Toyota Stadium was sparsely populated for Saturday's contest, but the spectators in attendance witnessed a topsy-turvy contest with multiple shifts in momentum.
Maartens' two second-half scores came either side of Ian McKinley rounding off phase after phase of Treviso attack with a try that put the Italian team ahead for a third time.
Marco Zanon and Dewaldt Duvenage were Treviso's other try-scorers, but the Cheetahs prevailed as Nico Lee and Shaun Venter went over prior to Maartens' brace.
Louis Fouche added a penalty after Maartens' second try, with Treviso unable to find a reply in the closing minutes.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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