Toyota Cheetahs gifted Franco Smith the perfect swansong as they made it three wins from three in his final game in charge with a hard-fought triumph over Munster in Bloemfontein.

Tries from Ox Nche, Junior Pokomela, William Small-Smith, Joseph Dweba, Jasper Wiese and Rhyno Smith ensured the Cheetahs continued their 100 per cent start to the new season.

Munster had also won their first two games before arriving at Toyota Stadium but three Tyler Bleyendaal penalties and a late Dan Goggin try was not enough to avoid defeat.

It is Cheetahs’ first-ever win over Munster in the Guinness PRO14 and means Smith hands over the reins to Hawies Fourie with the South African outfit top of Conference B.

Key moments

With their tails up following a flawless start to the season, Cheetahs piled the pressure on their visitors from the off through their powerful pack and were soon rewarded.

Rhys Marshall was sent to the bin after multiple Munster infringements and Cheetahs bounced back immediately, with Nche powering over the line and Ruan Pienaar adding the extras.

Munster gradually fought their way back into the game and responded in the 20th minute after the hosts were penalised at the scrum, with Bleyendaal successfully converting the penalty.

The mistakes continued to mount up for Cheetahs and another Bleyendaal penalty closed the deficit to one point before the South African outfit bagged their second try through Pokomela.

But Munster ensured the gap would only be three points at the break after Bleyendaal added his third penalty of the game on the cusp of half-time when Cheetahs strayed offside.

Cheetahs restored their advantage soon after the break when Small-Smith capped off a fine move in the right corner after excellent hands from the backline, with Pienaar converting again.

With the hosts now sensing blood, they strengthened their grip on the game when Dweba picked up his fourth try of the season from the back of a driving lineout maul before the hour mark.

Wiese then capitalised on a tiring Munster to crash over for Cheetahs’ fifth try, before Munster grabbed a late consolation score through Dan Goggin, converted by JJ Hanrahan.

But it was Cheetahs who had the last laugh when Smith scored his fifth try of the season, racing under the posts after being put through the middle with the clock in the red.

Man of the match

The Cheetahs pack was impressive throughout but the standout performer was undoubtedly Dweba as the hooker crossed the whitewash yet again in another blockbuster showing.

Dweba was a nuisance from start to finish and after throwing a deadly accurate lineout, he was there to finish the move off to secure the bonus-point try.

Play of the day

Cheetahs’ second try just pipped their third to this prize. In-form Smith threatened for the first time with a strong run down the left before the ball was recycled and spread right.

The ball went through the hands of the backline, with Tian Schoeman, Pienaar and Small-Smith all playing a role in the build-up to give Pokomela the simple task of crossing the whitewash.

Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales!

General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.