DAVID SHAPSHAK, Bloemfontein | Saturday 7.00pm.
THE Cats will face the Brumbies in their first Super 12 semi-final next weekend after finishing fourth with a seven tries to none, 53-3 thrashing over the Chiefs at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Cats had the game sown up ten minutes after the break, which they went into leading 20-3, by scoring the fourth try for the critical bonus point.
The Cats (32 points) will leave for Australia on Sunday to face the tournament’s form side and log leaders (45 points), while the second-placed defending champions, the Crusaders (39), will host the Highlanders, who finished third with 32 points.
The Cats’ five point haul edged out their countrymen, the Stormers, who earlier beat the Sharks 32-28 in a ill-disciplined, four tries to one match for a brief stay at fourth on the log with 31 points.
Although the Cats and Highlanders finished with equal points, the Johannesburg-based team had more points scored against them so the Otago side claim the higher placing in for all New Zealand semi-final next Saturday.
The Cats played superior running rugby, utilising their options better as their all Springbok loose trio linked with the backline. After a poor start to the tournament, including a record 64-0 drubbing by the Brumbies, they have given former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains his first semi-final in his Super 12 debut year.
The Cats made their playoff intentions clear early on, when winger Jannie van der Walt intercepted and scored in the third minute.
Then in the 15th minute Andre Venter rounded off a 75 metre run begun by Springbok veteran Japie Mulder. Flyhalf Louis Koen converted both, and added a penalty after each try for a 20-nil lead after 21 minutes.
A Glen Jackson penalty in the first half was the Chiefs’ only score of the game.
After the restart, Van der Walt ran 50 metres, taking a pass from his captain and man-of-the-match Rassie Erasmus, to cross the line again, also after three minutes.
Wing Chester Williams scored the fourth try when he coasted over as the ball moved through the hands in the fiftieth minute. Koen converted both.
Replacement flanker Walter Minnaar added a fifth try, which substitute Hennie le Roux converted, before scoring himself and converting again.
Venter barged over for a second try for the 53-3 final score.