Welcome to Round 13 of FOREIGN EXCHANGES, the place to go for a run down on what happened in this week’s non-Aussie Super Rugby matches.
Lions 52 – 24 Jaguares
by Jack Colley
The Jaguares dismal first season in Super Rugby has continued, with the Lions running in eight tries in a rout that could have been much worse.
The visitors were without regular internationals, missing No. 8 Leonardo Senatore (10 weeks for biting) and dynamic rake Augustin Creevy (one week for a lifting tackle). The lack of leadership showed in the second half, where they failed to show any fight, conceding five tries.
The Lions scored the first six tries of the match, including a brilliant team effort launched well within their 22 that included seven sets of hands and a brilliant finish by outside centre Lionel Mapo.
The Argentine’s defence was continuously tested, as it has been on numerous occasions this season, and was found to be wanting on both edges by a Lions team willing to throw the ball around.
A brilliant individual effort by Ruan Combrinck was the pick of the second half try-fest, with the winger stepping into first receiver with aplomb and splitting the defence with a dummy before finishing with a powerful fend on Puma flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez.
It was a complete performance by the Lions. They dominated possession (59%), territory (64%) and offloads (13 to 2) and notched up almost double the run metres of the Jags. A whopping 32 missed tackles by the Jaguares is telling of their effort in this one.
ESPN match details here
Sharks 53 – 0 Kings
by ‘Rich_E’
The Sharks scored eight tries in a 53 – 0 mauling of the Kings in Durban. The Kings will be extremely disappointed with their defence and handling. But it was the Sharks intent to play an expansive game from the outset that secured the victory.
The Sharks, to a man, played one of their better matches this season. But best on field was their 5/8th, Pat Lambie, who scored two tries, kicked five conversions and a penalty, and was involved in just about everything.
Seven of the eight Sharks tries were scored by the backs, with many of them full field efforts.
The highlight for mine came in the 48th minute when the Sharks spun the ball five metres out from their tryline to J P Pietersen (14), who chipped over the top. He then set off in fast pursuit, but an awkward bounce saw the ball fly over his head into the hands of the ‘everywhere man’, Pat Lambie, who ran three-quarters of the field to score.
The bonus point win puts the Sharks two competition points behind the Lions in the Africa 2 Conference standings, while the hapless Kings would now be short-priced favourites to take the spoon in this year’s tournament.
ESPN match details here
Bulls 17 – 13 Stormers
by ‘thebigdog’
In a tight game, the Bulls managed to hold off the Stormers 17 – 13 in Pretoria.
The Bulls were dominated by the Stormers in nearly every statistical category, most notably giving up 61% of possession and territory. Yet stoic defence and a handful of Stormer errors ensured the Bulls held on to collect the win.
A try-less first half saw the score line tied at 6 – 6. Neither side looked like breaking the opposition defensive line.
That changed in the second half, as Petrus Erasmus van Zyl (9) was able to break through for the Bulls and score a try that was quickly followed up by another Francois Brummer (10) penalty. That gave the Bulls an eight point buffer coming into the final stage of the game.
Judging by the way the game was being played, it looked to be enough. However, Damian De Allande (12) gave the Stormers a sniff by crossing for a try in the 69th minute, which was also converted. This narrowed the gap to one point, setting up a grand stand finish in what had been a tight and bruising game.
But a well stuck drop goal from Tiaan Schoeman (replacement 5/8th) was enough to seal the win for the Bulls, in what could only be described as a tough and at times ‘dry’ encounter for the general rugby viewer.
ESPN match details here
Round 14 matches
Hurricanes v Highlanders: Friday 27 May, 5.35pm (AEST)
Kings v Jaguares: Saturday 28 May, 3.00am (AEST)
Blues v Crusaders: Saturday 28 May, 5.35pm (AEST)
Stormer v Cheetahs: Saturday 28 May, 11.00pm (AEST)
Bulls v Lions: Sunday 29 May, 1.10am (AEST)
