Cheetahs’ fightback falls two points short

The Toyota Cheetahs left Bayonne with a losing bonus point after a spirited second-half recovery ended in a narrow 29–27 defeat in their EPCR Challenge Cup opener on Sunday, 18 October.

A decisive try by Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies helped the French hosts overturn the visitors’ advantage at Stade Jean-Dauger.

The Cheetahs began brightly, with a Tiaan Swanepoel penalty and a converted Michael Annies try establishing an early lead.

Bayonne responded through Facundo Bosch, Federico Mori and Yohan Orabe before Bosch’s second try secured the hosts’ four-try bonus point and a 22–13 half-time advantage.

The Bloemfontein side then turned the contest around. Carel-Jan Coetzee and Louis van der Westhuizen crossed after the interval, with Swanepoel converting both tries to put the Cheetahs 27–22 ahead.

Their hopes of an away victory were undone when Jantjies broke clear in the 68th minute and ran more than 50 metres to score. Rob du Preez added the conversion, restoring Bayonne’s lead.

The home side protected that two-point margin to the final whistle, leaving the Cheetahs with tangible reward for their resistance but disappointment at an opportunity missed. Swanepoel finished with 12 points from three conversions and two penalties.

Sources: SA Rugby magazine, republished by The Citizen, 18 October 2026; EPCR Challenge Cup match summary, & SuperSport.