Super Rugby Round 3 may have reshuffled the pecking order for the South African Franchises, with the Sharks making a huge statement by beating the Stormers in Cape Town.
Highlanders 34 Emirates Lions 15
Highlanders – Tries: Matt Faddes (2), Ben Smith Conversions: Lima Sopoaga (8) Penalty: Sopoaga Drop goal: Sopoaga
Lions – Tries: Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, Ruan Ackermann Conversion: Elton Jantjies Penalty: Jantjies
The Lions were brought back to earth with a bump when they took the Highlanders on in the defending champions own back yard. The Highanders dished out a lesson in attacking from deep that the Lions simply could not repel.
The Highlanders had 30% of possession as well as territory, but still managed to score four tries. If we take a look at the overall match stats, the most telling is one is the tackle count. The Highlanders made 150 tackles as opposed to the 59 of the Lions — the Highlanders were simply that much more effective in using what little possesion they had. Elton Jantjies and Faf de Klerk were not able to boss the game as well as they did against the Chiefs and the Lions attacking play lacked the pace we have become accustomed to, with the Highlanders rush defence often catching them behind the advantage line.
This game was a lesson for the Lions in varying their attacking play if they are going to make big inroads in Super Rugby 2016. Johan Ackerman is an astute coach and we look forward to the variations he introduces in the Lions game against the Cheetahs at Emirates Park next Saturday.
Sunwolves 31 Toyota Cheetahs 32
Sunwolves – Tries: Akihito Yamada (3), Shota Hori Conversions: Tusi Pisi (4) Penalty: Pisi
Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: Neil Marais (2), Uzair Cassiem, Boom Prinsloo Conversions: Marais (3) Penalties: Marais (2)
In an historic first ever Super Rugby game in Singapore, the Cheetahs had to dig deep to to come back from being 31 to 13 down to win against one of the tournament newcomers. It would have been distressing time for Cheetahs fans as they saw their team being cut to pieces in the first half by some superb attacking play. Was it coaching genuis by Cheetahs Head Coach Franco Smith that he added a number of his quality players to the mix off the bench when everyone was tiring in the trying conditions in Singapore? We may never know, but the Cheetahs bench was decisive in this game.
Starting the game with 7 changes from the team that took the Stormers on last week, the Cheetahs looked listless for most of the first half. The Sunwolves punished them for this and build up a handsome lead which they should have been able to defend. Despite the entertainment of the Sunwolves building up a big lead and the Cheetahs fighting back to win, both teams will have to take a long and hard look at themselves. Most of the other teams in the competition would have been able to put both of them away quite easily.
Southern Kings 24 Chiefs 58
Southern Kings 24 – Tries: Edgar Marutlulle 2 Conversion: Louis Fouche Penalties: Louis Fouche 4
Chiefs 58 – Tries: Sam Cane 2, Damian McKenzie, Taleni Seu, Charlie Ngatai, Aaron Cruden, Glen Fisiaahi Conversions: Damian McKenzie 7 Penalties: Damian McKenzie 3
This game ended up pretty much with the result that was expected, an easy Chiefs win. What many may not have expected was the improvement in the Kings set pieces and defence. Their own possession in the tight phases was secure and they were also able to put some pressure on the Chiefs at scrum time. For the second game in a row, the Kings let themselves down either side of halftime, leaking far too many points around the break. Head Coach Deon Davids has acknowledged this and admits that he has a lot of work to do to get his charges to concentrate for the entire 80 minutes. They now face a daunting trip to New Zealand, where they face the Crusaders and the Highlanders, before returning to face the Sunwolves in Port Elizabeth.
Edgar Marutlulle played a blinder for the Kings this weekend, with flyhalf Louis Fouche also put in a solid performance, especially considering he his coming off injury. Young Malcolm Jaer spent his afternoon chasing down and catching Chiefs breakouts and we really look forward to him eventually being given the ball with some space to work with.
DHL Stormers 13 Cell C Sharks 18
Sharks – Tries: Joe Pietersen; Penalty try Conversion: Joe Pietersen Penalties: Joe Pietersen 2
Stormers – Try: Leolin Zas Conversion: Kurt Coleman Penalties: Joe Pietersen 2
In what was a tight affair at Newlands in Cape Town, it took a moment of massive controversy to change the entire complexion of the game. The Stormers were slowly grinding the Sharks down, albeit not building up a significant lead. Sharks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach had the tryline at his mercy and was reaching out to score. Stormers flanker Siya Kolisi stepped in from the side to get himself between Reinach and the tryline. In stepping in from the side, Kolisi’s boot made contact with the ball and it was dislodged from Reinach’s grasp.
Having watched that incident a number of times, I cannot see any intent from Kolisi to deliberately kick the ball out of Reinach’s hand. It was an accident that this happened, but in the same vein a high tackle can also be an accident. The try would have been scored without the untimely arrival of Kolisi’s boot so awarding a penalty try was the correct call, but under the circumstances the yellow card was a little harsh.
The momentum of the game changed after the penalty try, with the Stormers having to chase the game. Winger JP Pietersen found a massive hole in the Sharks defence in the 78th minute, putting namesake Joe Pietersen in for the try.
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