Welcome to Round 12 of FOREIGN EXCHANGES, the place to go for a run down on what happened in this week’s non-Aussie Super Rugby matches.
Highlanders 34 – 26 Crusaders
by Brent Craig aka ‘waiopehu oldboy’
The defending champions have proven their repeat-title credentials with an emphatic bonus point victory under the dome in Dunedin.
After looking to be barely hanging on at 3 – 9 after 22 minutes, the Highlanders stormed back with a brace of tries to wing Waisake Naholo either side of one to centre Matt Faddes to lead 20 – 12 at the break. All the Crusaders first-half points came from 5/8th Richie Mo’unga from the tee, though they were twice denied tries on TMO review.
A second Faddes try after 52 minutes took the lead out to 27 – 12 and forced the Crusaders into catchup mode. A contentious yellow card to Highlanders lock Joseph Wheeler gave the Crusaders a sniff and a try to flanker Jordan Taufua got them back within striking distance to set up a cliffhanger final quarter.
The Highlanders put matters beyond doubt, however, when replacement loosie Liam Squire went over after a relentless series of phases to make it 31 – 19 with just seven minutes to play. An after-the-hooter try to Crusaders fullback Israel Dagg gave them some respectability, but this was the Highlanders night and the denizens of “the Zoo” made sure everyone knew it.
ESPN match details here
Sunwolves 17 – 17 Stormers
by Scott Rea
This was set to be a huge mismatch, with the Stormers second and Sunwolves second last in the overall standings.
Looking for their second win and their first at their Singaporean home, the Sunwolves displayed solid defence which was typified during the first half when they repelled the Stormers after 23 phases. The Stormers were ill-disciplined and conceded 12 penalties, with Tusi Pisi (10) converting four of these.
The only try in the first half was scored by Akihito Yamada (14) from the Sunwolves, his 8th for the season.
Half-time: Sunwolves 14 – 3 Stormers
After 46 minutes, Yamada appeared to score in the same manner and was initially awarded a try. But Pisi was unable to channel Brumby Christian Leali’ifano from Friday night with a quick conversion and the try was rightfully disallowed.
In the 59th minute, Pieter-Steph du Toit (5) scored for the Stormers after a driving maul. The Sunwolves looked set to hold on until Vincent Koch’s (18) try on the siren and Brandon Thomson’s (22) conversion snatched a draw.
ESPN match details here
Cheetahs 34 – 20 Kings
by Dru Spork
A particularly disappointing crowd saw a dominant Cheetahs win by four tries to two. It was generally a one-sided affair with entertaining but loose Cheetahs play getting the better of a less than effective Kings defence.
After some bustling work, a Cheetahs try to Raymond Rhule (11) was called back in the 20th minute, with a forward pass ruled. But the bustle continued and Rhule scored three minutes later from a play that started with a line out steal by Teboho Mahojie (7).
The Cheetahs dominant scrum provided a try to Uzair Cassiem (6) who peeled off as it disintegrated and, at half-time, the Cheetahs led 17 – 6.
Within five minutes of the restart, Francois Venter (13) made a break, Sergeal Petersen (14) took it forward and Michael van der Spuy (12) scored. The Cheetah centres were impressive.
The Kings scored next through an individual effort by JP du Plessis (13) who wheeled and twisted through traffic and poor Cheetahs defence. Then Petersen scored, untouched, for the Cheetahs, following more great work from Mahojie.
The Kings toughened up as the Cheetahs tired and, after camping on their line for most of the final stanza, were ultimately rewarded with a try to Lukhanyo Am (14).
ESPN match details here
Lions 43 – 5 Blues
by ‘redstragic’
This game could have been anything with two teams, at their best, who love to play with the ball in hand going at it. Come kick off, it was bucketing down and it was clear the mistake ridden Blues had shown up and the Lions would master the difficult conditions.
The Lions started like men possessed with a try off a lineout to flanker Warren Whitely inside the first minute.
Elton Jantjies then stepped up with superb attacking chip kicks that resulted in tries for winger Courtnall Skosan and centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg inside the first 10 minutes.
The Lions continued to try their hand, but there was no more scoring and it was 19 – 0 at half time.
The second half started much the same as the first, with the Lions scoring though centre Lionel Mapoe, who would go on to score two more tries in the half.
The Lions support play was outstanding. The angles they ran created easy metres and the attacking kicking was devastating.
The Blues were never allowed to get into the game until flanker Kara Pryor scored in the dying minutes.
ESPN match details here
Sharks 25 – 22 Jaguares
by Marcelo Cardozo
The Jaguares took the initiative and broke the Sharks defence on several occasions. But the boot of Patrick Lambie (10) and some Argie mistakes kept the Sharks in the game. The Sharks backrow and centres were also a nightmare for the Argies.
Looking for the few spaces produced the first try to Tomas Lavanini (5) and the second to Martin Landajo (9). After 25 minutes, the Argies were up 14 – 6.
But then the Sharks forwards began to win the battle of the breakdown and Daniel du Preez (8) scored the lone try for the visitors shortly after Argies flanker Pablo Matera received a yellow card.
At half-time, the Sharks led 19 – 17 and 10 minutes into the second stanza, a Lambie penalty kick extended the lead to 22 – 17.
With eight minutes to go, Santiago García Botta (1) scored a try for the Argies and the match was locked up at 22 – 22, after the conversion was missed.
Then in the final minutes, with replacement winger Sibusiso Shitole still in the bin, the Sharks got a penalty and Lambie landed the kick to break the deadlock.
ESPN match details here
Round 13 matches
Lions v Jaguares: Saturday 21 May, 11.00pm (AEST)
Sharks v Kings: Sunday 22 May, 1.10am (AEST)
Bulls v Stormers: Sunday 22 May, 3.20am (AEST)
