Super Rugby Round 14: Sunwolves and Jaguares on Super Rugby rolls
Some shock results in Super Rugby round 14.
We've got every game covered right here.
Hurricanes vs Reds
The Reds have fallen agonisingly short of an historic upset in Wellington with a 38-34 loss at the hands of the Hurricanes.
For the third straight week, the Reds team that fronted up was unrecognisable from the side that played a week prior.
While conceding 38 points may not lend you to believe it, the defensive attitude was markedly better and it told, forcing the Hurricanes into uncharacteristic errors which kept the Reds in the contest.
Read the full match report here.
RESULT
Hurricanes 38
Tries: Lam 2, B Barrett, Thompson, Lousi
Cons: B Barrett 5
Pens: B Barrett
Reds 34
Tries: Tupou, Daugunu, Petaia, Kerevi
Cons: Lance 4
Pens: Lance 2
Sunwolves vs Stormers
Hayden Parker coolly knocked over a drop-goal after full-time as Japan's Sunwolves edged a thriller against the Western Stormers 26-23 to seal their first ever back-to-back wins in Super Rugby on Saturday.
The Sunwolves had been headed for defeat just minutes earlier, after Sarel Marais's long-range penalty, but a Parker penalty levelled it before his sublime drop-goal brought the Hong Kong crowd to its feet.
The Tokyo-based team have endured some torrid defeats since entering the competition in 2016, but they have now won twice in a row for the first time after last week's 63-28 rout of the Queensland Reds.
RESULT
Sunwolves 26
Tries: Parker, Hattingh
Cons: Parker 2
Pens: Parker 3
Drop: Parker
Stormers 23
Tries: Leyds 2, Engelbrecht
Cons: Du Plessis
Pens: Marais 2
Blues vs Crusaders
The Blues' woeful record in Kiwi Super Rugby derbies has continued with a bruising 32-24 loss to the Crusaders in Auckland.
The visitors reclaimed top spot on the overall table with an eighth-successive win, scoring all four of their tries in Saturday's first half which they dominated.
The Blues roared back in the second spell, inspired by the brilliance of All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane, but couldn't prevent a 17th-straight New Zealand derby without success.
Both teams scored four tries in wet conditions, with five-eighth Richie Mo'unga's boot proving the difference.
The Crusaders improved their record to 10-2, heading into a table-topping showdown next week with the Hurricanes (10-1) in Christchurch.
RESULT
Blues 24
Tries: R. Ioane 2, Duffie, Collins
Cons: Perofeta 2
Crusaders 32
Tries: Bridge, Strange, Todd, Hall
Cons: Mounga 3
Pens: Mounga 2
Yellow Cards: Strange (45')
Waratahs vs Highlanders
One-nil.
The counter has finally reset for Australian Super Rugby teams, with the Waratahs breaking a 40-game drought against New Zealand teams with a 41-12 win over the Highlanders.
It took 722 days, and came just nine shy of the two-year anniversary of their last win, a 2016 victory over the Chiefs.
RESULT
Waratahs 41
Tries: Naiyaravoro 2, Folau 2, Foketi, Rona
Cons: Foley 4
Pens: Foley
Highlanders 12
Tries: E. Dixon, A. Dixon
Cons: Sopoaga
Yellow Cards: A. Smith (20’)
Red Cards: Nabura (17’)
Sharks vs Chiefs
Five-eighth Robert du Preez scored 18 points as South Africa's Sharks kept up their finals charge with a narrow 28-24 victory over an injury-hit Chiefs outfit at King's Park.
The Sharks had the majority of the possession and territory, and might have scored more tries but for some poor handling and excellent scrambling defence from the Chiefs.
RESULT
Sharks 28
Tries: du Preez, Mvovo, Wright
Cons: Du Preez 2
Pens: Du Preez 3
Chiefs 24
Tries: Ardron, Ngatai, Alaimalo
Cons: M McKenzie 3
Pens:M McKenzie
Lions vs Brumbies
A determined Brumbies side has fallen to the Lions, 42-24, in Johannesburg.
Leading by three points with 20 minutes to go, the Brumbies' numbers dwindled, with Rory Arnold red-carded over a swinging arm tackle on Elton Jantjies, before Sam Carter was sent to the bin for ruck infringements, leaving them with 13 men.
The Lions turned a three-point hole into an 18-point advantage in that final 20 minutes, ending the Brumbies' hopes of an upset win in South Africa.
Read the full match report here.
RESULT
Lions 42
Tries: Van Rensburg, Coetzee, Dreyer, Schoeman, Reynolds, Erasmus
Cons: Jantjies 6
Brumbies 24
Tries: Banks 2, Kuridrani
Cons: Lealiifano 2
Pens: Lealiifano
Yellow Cards: Rory Arnold (29’), Sam Carter (62')
Jaguares vs Bulls
The Jaguares made it five victories in a row with a dominant second-half display overwhelming Bulls, who trailed 20-10 at half-time.
Playmaker Nicolas Sanchez scored the first Argentine try and finished with 24 points as the hosts collected their first bonus point of the season.
Another star for the Buenos Aires outfit was young flanker Marcus Kremer, who capped his performance with a try.
RESULT
Jaguares 54
Tries: Delguy 2, Sanchez, Kremer, Orlando, Cancelliere, Boffelli
Cons: Sanchez 5
Pens: Sanchez 3
Bulls 24
Tries: Gelant, de Jager, Riaan Warner
Cons: Libbok 2, Pollard
Pens: Pollard
