Author: Jeremy Cox
The Lions have stormed into the Super Rugby final with a dominant forwards display in Johannesburg. The home side came from an early 0-14 deficit with a dominant display by the forwards and superior attacking prowess to claim a 44-26 victory and earning the right to take on the Crusaders in the final at Christchurch next Saturday. The Match 1st Half: The Waratahs flew off the blocks and showed they had turned up to play, winning the first two lineouts and through some impressive attacking rugby putting Ned Hanigan over in the corner to take a 7-0 lead. This was followed moment…
The Waratahs have guaranteed themselves top position on the Super Rugby Australian conference with a record breaking 77-25 win over the Sunwolves in Sydney in front of a season best crowd of 18,059. The 77 points scored by the home team surpassed their previous record of 73 points, set against the Lions in 2010. Regardless of what happens in next week’s final round match against the Brumbies, the Waratahs will finish top of the Australian conference, however a win in that match will assure them second spot on the overall ladder. The Match 1st Half: The Sunwolves opened the scoring in the…
The Waratahs hosted Highlanders at Allianz in Sydney, the home side looking to break a nine game losing streak against New Zealand opposition. It was just shy of two years since the Waratahs last beat a side from across the Tasman when they downed the Chiefs in Sydney, and they were coming off a couple of near losses against the Blues and Crusaders. As it turned out, the Tahs ran on to Allianz ready to play and came away with an emphatic 41-12 victory, showing they are the real deal when they play what’s in front of them, to go…
The Waratahs hosted the Reds for the Bob Templeton Cup at the SCG for the first time in 35 years, which was also the first ever Super Rugby match at that venue. The Waratahs put together a polished but not perfect performance to win convincingly, the final scoreline being 37-16, their 8th win in a row against the Reds. The win put the Waratahs on top of the Australian conference and 3rd on the overall ladder, having now beaten all teams in the conference and are the only team in the competition along with the Hurricanes to have lost just…
The Clan snuffed out the Waratahs’ season at Forsyth Barr Stadium but dropped their guard late in the game and failed to earn a crucial bonus point. First half The Highlanders dominated possession at the beginning, but were unable to capitalise because of determined defence from the visitors. It wasn’t until the 13th minute that they opened their account with a 43-metre penalty goal from in front. Only a minute later Highlander Buckman scored the first try in controversial circumstances . Firstly, the referee was in the way of a clearing pass from Phipps, and secondly, a replay seemed to…
The Waratahs travel to Dunedin on somewhat of a high after a solid but incomplete thumping of the Rebels in Melbourne last weekend. They haven’t won in Dunedin since 2008 and will be looking to build on last week’s performance to become the first Australian side to beat the Kiwis this season, and most importantly to keep their finals hopes alive. The Form Highlanders The Clan are in impressive form, having won their last eight matches in a row, a club record. Importantly, their last three outings yielded three wins on the road—a miracle finish in Bloemfontein, a scrappy mud…
This week’s Un-Australian Activities produced a cracking local derby in each of South Africa and New Zealand, with the latter locking the Crusaders in firmly as title favourites. Other matches saw the Highlanders score an away win over the Bulls and the Blues too strong for the Cheetahs in NZ. Blues 50 d. Cheetahs 32, Eden Park, Auckland The Blues notched up a third win on the trot in this high scoring and entertaining encounter in Auckland, defeating the Cheetahs eight tries to four and securing an important bonus point in the process. The Blues look a markedly different team…
This week’s Un-Australian Activities reviews four close games comprising three entertaining games of rugby and one fairly dull one. If you haven’t already seen it, make sure you track down a replay of the Stormers v Chiefs game, it was an absolute beauty. Sunwolves 21 – Bulls 20, Prince Chichubu, Tokyo A good crowd turned out to Price Chichibu Stadium in Tokyo to watch the cellar dwellers in the ‘Africa 1’ conference derby. The Bulls were the raging favourites however the locals opened the scoring with a Warren-Vosayaco try in the 6th minute. Odendaal scored for the Bulls in the 12th…