Vodafone Super Rugby wrap: Round 11

Sun, May 7, 2017, 5:00 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Stormers put up one hell of a fight against the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium but the home side eventually ran out winners 41-22. Here's the best of the action.

Defending Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes held off a gritty fightback from the Stormers to extend their winning home run to 11 matches on Friday.

The Hurricanes scored seven tries to one in the 41-22 victory, including two apiece for Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape, to inflict the Stormers'  fourth straight loss.

Stormers captain Siya Kolisi admitted it was a disappointing end to their three-match New Zealand tour but took heart from a much-improved performance.

"We were playing really good rugby, then we make one mistake and they're going for 80-metre tries," he said.

RESULT

Hurricanes 41

Tries: Cory Jane, Jordie Barrett 2, Julian Savea, Ngani Laumape 2, Beauden Barrett

Cons: Jordie Barrett 3

Pens: 0

Stormers 21

Tries: Ramone Samuels

Cons: Robert du Preez

Pens: Du Preez, SP Marais 4

Cheetahs vs Highlanders


An incredible comeback gave the Highlanders a 45-41 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein early on Saturday.

Trailing by 17 points in the 76th minute, the visitors scored three tries to stretch a winning streak to six matches, a feat they last achieved in 2005.

It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Cheetahs after winning two of their first three matches this season. 

RESULT

Cheetahs 41

Tries: Tian Meyer 2, Sergeal Petersen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Oupa Mohoje, Ox Nche.

Cons: Fred Zeilinga 4

Pens: Zelinga 1

Highlanders 45

Tries: Marty Banks, Rob Thompson, Waisake Naholo 2, Tevita Li, Matt Faddes

Cons: Banks 6

Pens: Banks 1

Rebels vs Lions


A depleted Rebels side was no match for the Lions, going down to the 2016 finalists 47-10.

Tom English scored the only try for the Rebels as the home side tried to get themselves off the bottom of the Australian conference, but a day where they had just 33 per cent of possession, the challenge was simply too much to overcome.

The Rebels were forced to defend in the opening stages, starved of possession as the Lions heaped on the pressure, but it seemed they might be able to stave off the rampant South Africans, or at least quell their elusiveness.

RESULT

Rebels 10

Tries:
English

Cons: Hodge

Pens: Hodge

Lions 47

Tries:
Smith, Cronje, Mahuza, penalty, Volmink, Whiteley

Cons: Jantjies 4

Chiefs vs Reds


A fatal 14 minutes has exposed the Reds' soft underbelly, as they feebly rolled over to fall 46-17 to the Chiefs.

A 19-point blitz from the Chiefs in the 14 minutes after halftime was all it took for the Reds to roll over after they hung tough in the opening 40 minutes.

The three tries - two to stalwart Stephen Donald - were soft and though the Reds settled to claw some of the margin back, it was more of the same for the underperforming Queenslanders.

RESULT

Chiefs 46

Tries:
Hames, Ngatai, Bird, Donald 2, Lowe

Cons: McKenzie 5

Pens: McKenzie 2

Reds 17

Tries:
Moore, Nabuli, Magnay

Cons: Cooper

Pens: 0

Waratahs vs Blues


The Waratahs will head to their second 2017 bye back at square one after a 40-33 loss to the Blues on Saturday night.

Down by 26 points at halftime, the Waratahs outscored the Blues 33-14 in the second 40 minutes, but another Jekyll and Hyde showing saw them fall short..

Superstar Blues brothers Rieko and Akira Ioane put the nails in the Waratahs’ coffin, the former with a double and the latter with the match-sealer, but the Waratahs had their own second-half stars, with an Israel Folau double and a super cameo from Will Skelton.

RESULT

Waratahs 33

Tries:
Folau 2, Latu, Foley, Ryan

Cons: Foley 2

Blues 40

Tries:
R. Ioane 2, Scrafton, A Ioane,

Cons: Francis 2

Pens: Francis 4

Sharks vs Western Force


An overseas win remains elusive for the Western Force in 2017 after a 37-12 loss to the Sharks.

Despite staying with the Durban side for most of the match, two quick tries just before half-time ultimately proved the major difference between the teams.

Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch slotted a penalty in the fourth minute, continuing to add to his 2017 tally, and a second five minutes later made it 6-0.

RESULT

Sharks 37

Tries:
Ward, Du Preez, Bosch, Am

Cons:
Bosch 3, Lambie

Pens: Bosch 3

Force 12

Tries:
Verity-Amm, Brache

Cons: Prior

Yellow card: Curtis Rona (37’)

Bulls vs Crusaders


Former Springbok star Naas Botha called for Bulls coach Nollis Marais to be sacked after a humiliating 62-24 loss to the Crusaders in Pretoria early on Sunday.

"In the real world someone would get fired," the SuperSport TV analyst said, clearly referring to Marais. "However, I doubt that it will happen.  

"I say with sadness that the Bulls looked like a team that had not been coached," added the dominant South African flyhalf of the 1980s and early 1990s.

RESULT

Bulls 24

Tries: Jesse Kriel, Jamba Ulengo, Jan Serfontein

Cons: Francois Brummer 3

Pens: Tian Schoeman

Crusaders 62

Tries: Peter Samu, Tim Bateman, Scott Barrett, Jack Goodhue 2, Seta Tamanivalu, David Havili, Richie Mo'unga, Andrew Makalio, Mitchell Hunt

Cons: Mo'unga 5, Hunt

Pens: 0

Jaguares vs Sunwolves

The Jaguares snapped a four-match losing streak with a come-from-behind 46-39 victory over Sunwolves on Sunday in a Super Rugby try fest. 

The hosts turned a 39-27 deficit 14 minutes from time into a seven-point victory thanks to tries from Matias Alemanno, Agustin Creevy and Matias Moroni.

Jaguares scored seven tries and Sunwolves five at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in a lively conclusion to round 11 of the regular season.

RESULT

Jaguares 46

Tries: Leonardo Senatore, Emiliano Boffelli, penalty try*, Agustin Creevy 2, Matias Alemanno, Matias Moroni

Cons: Juan Martin Hernandez 2, Joaquin Diaz Bonelli

Pens: Hernandez 1

* penalty try worth seven points in Super Rugby

Sunwolves 39

Tries: Will Tupou, Shota Emi, Yu Tamura 2, Sam Wykes

Cons: Tamura 4

Pens: Tamura 2

STANDINGS

Australia Conference

Brumbies 18
Waratahs 14
Reds 11
Force 9
Rebels 7
   
New Zealand Conference

Crusaders 46
Chiefs 42
Hurricanes 38
Highlanders 32
Blues 26
   
Africa 1 Conference

Stormers 26
Bulls 14
Cheetahs 11 
Sunwolves 7
   
Africa 2 Conference

Lions 42
Sharks 32
Jaguares 24
Kings 15
   
Note: conference winners qualify for quarter-finals with next three highest-ranked Australasian teams and next highest-ranked Africa side

NEXT WEEK

Friday May 12

Blues v Cheetahs, Brumbies v Lions

Saturday May 13

Crusaders v Hurricanes, Rebels v Reds, Bulls v Highlanders, Kings v Sharks, Jaguares v Force

Byes: Chiefs, Stormers, Sunwolves, Waratahs

 

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