SA Teams Super Rugby Review: Round 15
The DHL Stormers, The Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls strengthened their aspirations for qualification in next month’s Vodacom Super Rugby playoffs after they each secured crucial victories this weekend.
And the MTN Lions made it four wins for South African franchises in round 15 after they recorded their fi rst win in Dunedin and ended a 23-match losing streak in New Zealand after they defeated the Highlanders 26-22 at Carisbrook on Saturday.
The Johannesburg team notched up their secured win on the road against Otago team after defeating the Brumbies 29-20 in round 13. The side captained by centre Doppies la Grange ran in two tries to the one scored by the hosts. Lock Wikus van Heerden and No.8 Joshua Strauss were the try-scorers for the visitors while centre Shaun Treeby added the only fi ve-pointer for the Highlanders. The rest of the points in this match were earned by the opposing flyhalves – the MTN Lions’ Elton Jantjies who kicked four penalties while also converting Van Heerden and Strauss’s tries. The Otago Highlanders pivot Lima Sopoaga converted Treeby’s fi ve-pointer and also kicked five penalties.
Schalk Burger’s DHL Stormers team recorded history on Saturday by becoming the fi rst Cape Vodacom Super Rugby franchise to secure a victory in Canberra after they defeated the Brumbies 16-3.
DHL Stormers flanker Francois Louw scored the game’s only try which was converted by flyhalf Kurt Coleman who also kicked two penalties for the visitors. Winger Gio Aplon also chipped in with a penalty kick during the final minutes of the match. The Brumbies points came via a penalty kick by pivot Christian Lealiifano.
The Sharks are back in the top six on the combined log and kept the pressure on the South African Conference log-leading DHL Stormers following their 26-21 win over the Waratahs at MR Price Kings Park on Saturday.
The Durban franchise, who conceded a 32-23 home defeat against the Vodacom Bulls in round 14, bounced back to winning ways and earned their eighth win of the season as they ended the weekend in fi fth position on the combined log. The Sharks flyhalf Patrick Lambie was the chief points’ scorer for the hosts after he scored a brilliant individual try; converted two tries and kicked four penalties. The host’s second try was scored by winger JP Pietersen.
The Waratahs also scored two tries which came thanks to the efforts of fl yhalf Daniel Halangahu and winger Lachlan Turner. Fullback Kurtley Beale kicked three penalties and converted Halangahu’s try.
Meanwhile the Vodacom Bulls kept their title defence alive thanks to a thrilling 32-21 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night. The Pretoria team achieved maximum points from this fixture after scoring four tries which were added following a brace from forward Danie Rossouw, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and winger Bjorn Basson.
Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked three conversions and two penalties. The Toyota Cheetahs scored three tries thanks to a brace by Ashley Johnson and flyhalf Sias Ebersohn who converted all three tries.
Highlanders 22 MTN Lions 26
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Highlanders – Try: Shaun Treeby; Conversion: Lima Sopoaga; Penalties: Sopoaga (5)
MTN Lions – Tries: Wikus van Heerden, Joshua Strauss; Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2); Penalties: Jantjies (4).
Brumbies 3 DHL Stormers 16
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Brumbies – Penalty: Christian Lealiifano
DHL Stormers – Try: Francois Louw; Conversion: Kurt Coleman; Penalties: Coleman (2), Gio Aplon
The Sharks 26 Waratahs 21
Mr Price Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Sharks –Tries: Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen; Conversions: Lambie (2); Penalties: Lambie (4).
Waratahs – Tries: Daniel Halangahu, Lachlan Turner; Conversion: Kurtley Beale; Penalties: Beale (3).
Vodacom Bulls 32 Toyota Cheetahs 21
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Danie Rossouw (2), Bjorn Basson, Francois Hougaard; Conversions: Morne Steyn (3); Penalties: Steyn (2).
Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: Ashley Johnson, Sias Ebersohn; Conversions: Ebersohn (3).
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