The Cheetahs led that match at the Toyota Stadium from start to finish in front of some 34 000 spectators and the only way to describe is as a sea of orange.

Ruan Pienaar opened the scoring with a penalty, but the Pumas levelled matters in the 18th minute through penalty by Tinis de Beer.

Pienaar regained the lead, but De Beer once again slotted a penalty minutes later.

The swing came ten minutes before half time when the inside centre, Reinhardt Fortuin, scored a try in the corner. The Pumas centre, Ali Mgijima, who is heading to the Cheetahs then scored in the corner for the visitors.

Two minutes before the interval the Cheetahs left wing, Cohen Jasper, scored a converted try to hand the hosts a 18-11 lead at the break.

De Beer narrowed the deficit with two more penalties earlier in the second half and this turned out to be their last scores of the final.

The young Cheetahs scrumhalf, Rewan Kruger, sealed the deal for the Cheetahs with a try in the 52nd minute and Pienaar made no mistake in adding the extra two points.

The win sees the Cheetahs winning the coveted Currie Cup for the first time since 2019 and for the third time since 2016.

The Cheetahs will assemble against at the end of July after break and then they will started working towards facing the Australian Super Rugby team, the Western Force in two matches in Bloemfontein, while they will also head down-under for two games in Perth. These matches are set to be played in August.

Scorers:

Cheetahs: Tries – Reinhardt Fortuin, Cohen Jasper, Rewan Kruger Conv. – Ruan Pienaar 2 Pen. – Pienaar 2

Pumas: Tries – Ali Mgijima Pen. – Tinus de Beer 4