The winger, Malcolm Jaer, inspired the Toyota Cheetahs to a 53-31 victory over the Pumas on Saturday with a hat-trick of tries during the Super Rugby Unlocked round-one fixture in Bloemfontein.

Jaer who was in doubt for the match earlier in the week due to a knee injury opened the scoring at the Toyota Stadium in just the second minute of the match with the first of his three tries.

Some ten minutes later, Jaer, completed his brace, before Junior Pokomela scored. This Springbok Sevens stalwart, Rosko Specman, then scored two tries in the space of two minutes. Specman unselfishly gave away what would have been his hat-trick try, for the captain, Ruan Pienaar, to score to the home team lead 41-3 at the break.

The second stanza saw the Toyota Cheetahs make their changes very early, but the Pumas came out a lot better in the second half.

William Small-Smith opened the scoring the second forty for the Toyota Cheetahs, but Ginter Smuts scored the Pumas first try shortly afterwards.

Jaer then went over for his hat-trick try in the 57th minute, before Daniel Maartens, Le Roux Roets and Neil Maritz dotted down for the Pumas.

A slight knock saw Chris Massyn being denied a try for the Cheetahs on the stroke of full time.

Scorers:

Toyota Cheetahs: Tries – Malcolm Jaer 3, Junior Pokomela, Rosko Specman 2, Ruan Pienaar, William Small-Smith Conv. – Ruan Pienaar 5 Pen. -Pienaar 1

Pumas: Tries – Ginter Smuts, Daniel Maartens, Le Roux Roots, Neil Maritz Conv. – Eddie Fouche 4 Pen. – Fouche 

@MorganPiek OFM Sport