Hogs qualified for the final by beating BDF Cheetahs 26-11 in the first semi-final match setting up an opportunity to defend their title. The match between Rhinos and Jwaneng Wildebeests was physical from the first whistle, something that was expected when the two sides met because there was a lot at stake. Rhinos went in the game with a point to prove while Wildebeests had believed that they can pull a surprise although they were making their debut for the top flight league. Wildebeests also wanted to revenge for the loss they suffered at the hands of Rhinos in the first leg.
Wildebeests were the first to break the ice and score the first try by Admire Shonhiwa in the third minute after intercepting the ball while their opponents were still settling in the game. By end of the game, Shonhiwa had scored two tries with another try coming from Tumelo Fembo who came in from the bench. Wildebeests coveted through Tlotlo Seitlamo to take the lead. Chips fell apart for Wildebeests when Scotty Patson was red carded after a dangerous tackle on a Rhinos player during a point when the ball was already in motion. The two sides continued battling it out with tries being scored interchangeably by the two sides.
A few minutes before the end of first half, a Wildebeest player was sent to the sin bin after a foul, leaving the team with only 13 players. In the second half, Rhinos took control as Wildebeests players were out of steam. At one point, the Wildebeests players tackled each other. Rhinos went on to score two tries while their opponents were ball watching. Speaking to SportMonitor, Wildebeests coach, Mathews Porogo, said the tempo of the game was high and at one point he asked his players to bring it down. He also said the fact that they lost to Rhinos in the previous match, his players wanted revenge. “We wanted revenge but we needed to play it cool but once we went into that game everything changed. Our first try changed everything, it hyped the players. At one point, I thought our opponents will back down. We allowed them to play and they gained confidence, everything changed.
The referee was under pressure and gave out the red card. There was no punch thrown as alleged by the touch judge. I cannot fault the referee because it was a highly charged game and tempers were high,” Porogo said. Regarding the yellow card, he said it was a disciplinary issue as it was one of the issues that were discussed during pre-match talk, and players were warned against high tackle and off side in a rug. Porogo admitted that some of the decisions that he made had an effect, at one time they had one prop and two hookers in the field. “Sometimes when you try to fix, it does not work. Rhinos were more prepared, they did everything right and had a strong bench,” he said. Meanwhile, UB coach, Tshoganetso 'Shakes' Katse, said it was a tight game. "My boys were not clinical at all. We made it difficult for ourselves," he said
The teams
Wildebeests: Happias Zhou, Marlon Guwuriro (Fembo), Patson, Tsotlhe Maitlamo, Mogomotsi Kwafela, Shonhiwa, Eric Dikgafela, Obakeng Kokwe, Ngonizashe Madongorere, Seitlhamo, Mmoloki Molaletsi, Collen Gaonakala, Tumalano Gaonakala, Tumalano Bolelang, Motlhalefi Seloma and Alphious Mokotedi.
Rhinos: Katlego Mohutsiwa, Katlego Mangwai, Thato Maifala, Kutlo Batsile, Ntebogang Mathaka, Omphile Simon, Wabona Motingwa, Kaelo Mogotsi, Nchidzi Mogotsi, Popo Maswabi, Paul Motingwa, Gape Monei, Tafadzwa Montshiwa, Ishmael Gaopalelwe and Tonic Ndoda.
