Tom Marshall of the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images
Cheetahs 43
Chiefs 43
Aaron Cruden sounded like a captain who didn't know whether to laugh or cry after another staggering comeback draw in South Africa.
He should laugh. Staving off defeats on the Super 15 long haul is no mean task. This draw-draw is a win-win.
Rugby: Fast-finishing Chiefs earn another draw
Playing extreme catch-up isn't good for the coaches' nerves, but the Chiefs have held remarkable nerve on the field to level their games against the Bulls and now Cheetahs.
They might not have gained maximum points, but they gained points that many other teams won't get, and ones that have kept them ticking along nicely enough near the top of the table.
The Chiefs head home knowing they can play some of their best attacking rugby when the pressure is on.
And they are doing it with a side that for various reasons looks different enough from the champions of last year. In other words, the Chiefs' spirit and resilience is alive and well, even if Dave Rennie will feel there is plenty to tidy up.
As for the Cheetahs, they should just cry after playing terrific first half rugby featuring great short offloads.
Okay, so the Chiefs ran them down which wasn't good. The visiting team had better stamina.
But what will hurt most was their final play in possession. The Cheetahs were in a good position to shut the game down but conceded the ball in a simple pod situation. As a result, the sparkling work of Sarel Pretorius and co. went to waste.
He was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year last November.