Welcome to Round 2 of FOREIGN EXCHANGES, the place to go for a run down on what happened in the non-Aussie Super Rugby matches.
Round 2 at a glance
- Crusaders bounced back with a good win over Blues, but have plenty of room for improvement.
- Lions created history with first away win over Chiefs in Hamilton.
- Highlanders beat Hurricanes by 1 point in 2015 Grand Final rematch.
- Stormers too good for Cheetahs and join Lions, Sharks and Brumbies as undefeated teams.
- Sharks beat Jaquares at home, but only just, with poor discipline hurting the Argie team again.
Crusaders 28 – Blues 13
by Brent Craig aka ‘waiopehu oldboy’
The Crusaders won comfortably enough. But the Blues were in touch for most of the game and it took two tries in the final quarter to secure the win.
Umaga will cop stick for changing a winning team, but this was more about the Crusaders being angry with themselves for the loss last week, and determined to make amends.
A series of scrum penalties earned a penalty try but other than that the Crusaders had just two penalties to show for their first-half dominance and the Blues wouldn’t have been too despondent at oranges.
Half time: Crusaders 13 – Blues 3
After penalties were traded came the game-breaker: Nadolo fielded a bomb, spectacularly bumped off a defender and set up a ruck. Quick hands and a Samu offload put Read over for an ultimately decisive 21 – 6 lead.
A Blues try closed the gap, but Mo’unga sealed the win with an intercept try off a no-look pass from the base of a ruck.
Blackadder will be happy with the performance of the forwards and Mo’unga who looked more accomplished than last week, but the midfield was again poor: Crotty and Fruean cannot return soon enough.
ESPN match details here
Lions 36 – Chiefs 32
by Richard Edwards
The Lions created history for the franchise by chalking up their first ever win on the road against the Chiefs.
While the Lion’s set piece dominated, particularly in the scrum, the Chiefs were on top in every other aspect in the opening exchanges.
At first, it looked like the Chiefs were going to be too fresh for the Lions who had arrived in Hamilton via a Round 1 match against the Sunwolves in Tokyo.
The Chiefs made easy yards early, especially Tamanivalu (13), who set up the game’s first try for Sanders (6).
But what unfolded was a very entertaining and see-sawing match, where 4 tries a piece were scored.
The Lions kicked more penalties off the back of ill-discipline from the Chiefs at critical stages, particularly later in the first half.
What really stood out was how the Lions were able to mix the traditional South African power game with impressive ball movement and width.
The Chiefs were in it right until the final play.
Only 4 points behind, they had 2 consecutive attempts at scoring off the back of kicks to the corner from penalties.
But a knock-on seconds before the 80 minute mark sealed their fate.
ESPN match details here
Highlanders 17 – Hurricanes 16
by mst
In a rematch of last year’s final, with both teams coming off losses last week, the teams started the game at a frenetic pace showing their usual attacking intent.
A mistake 4 minutes into the game from a 22 metre restart by Landers scrummie, Aaron Smith, led to the first points of the match, with Barrett slotting a penalty for the Canes.
At the 10 minute mark the game opened up with Fekitoa (Landers 13) breaking the line, then scoring a try in the next phase.
Both 10s converted penalties to take the score to 11-6 at half time.
Sopoaga (Landers 10) opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty.
The momentum of the game shifted to the Canes who were applying pressure on attack rewarding them with points in the 55th minute when Perenara went over for a try.
In the 69th minute, a controversial call from the TMO denied a try to Fekitoa, who appeared to place the ball against the base of the post. A minute later, Landers replacement Squires went over the line, only for it to be called back for a forward pass.
A penalty to Barrett made it a 2 point game to the Canes.
Parker slotted a penalty to retake the lead for the Highlanders with 5 minutes to play. The Canes had a final chance with the ball but Woodward kicked it away with 30 seconds left on the clock.
ESPN match details here
Stormers 20 – Cheetahs 10
by Dru Spork
It was a hot and sweltering day with conditions otherwise perfect for rugby.
Both teams started with convincing set play. The Stormers, while less convincing at unstructured breakdowns such as the kick return, used a tactical kicking game well. The Cheetahs had more time with ball in hand.
Following a powerful Stormers forward attack and aggressive breakdown defence by Jager (Cheetahs lock), the Stormers sent the ball wide through simple hands and Zas ran undefended to score the first Stormer’s try. Conversion successful. Stormers up 7-0.
The Cheetahs responded shortly after with a try to Venter, which was converted. The score was 7 all and it remained that way at half-time.
The Cheetahs returned from the break with a scintillating display of enthusiastic 15 man rugby. Unfortunately this was flattened by a yellow card to Jager (high tackle).
Eventually the Cheetah man down was telling, with Notshe crossing for a try due to a lack of cover defence. With the extras added, the Stormers lead 14 – 7.
Four Cheetahs bench players returned with Jager. But the Stormers responded with mass replacements at the next opportunity, which countered the resurgent Cheetah energy.
A series of penalties led to a kick each. 17-10 Stormers way.
The Stormers set piece then gained ascendency and dominance was achieved.
Coleman managed a final penalty kick for the Stormers, who finished convincing winners 20 – 10. But the Cheetahs will wonder what might have happened without the yellow card.
ESPN match details here
Sharks 19 – Jaguares 15
by Marcelo Cardozo
It was a deserved win for the Sharks. The Jaquares didn’t play a good game, but managed to come away with a bonus point.
Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares 11) scored the first try of the game. Seconds later came the only Sharks try (by Cornelius Coetzee), after a rolling maul from a line-out.
A period of confusion followed when the Jaquarees lost two players to yellow cards (Rodrigo Baez and Pablo Matera) for the second time in two weeks. However, the Sharks failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
In fact, it was the Jaquares who struck during this period when Santiago Cordero (15) incredibly managed to chase down a good kick from Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias (12) to score the Jaguares second try.
At half-time, the Jaguares lead 15-13.
In the second half, the physical Sharks game started to wear down the Jaguares and they looked like they had run out of options.
The Sharks ended up narrow victors, 19 – 15, through two Joe Pietersen penalty kicks.
The Jaquares will need to improve their discipline if they want to make a fist of this tournament. They will benefit from a week’s rest and now look forward to playing their first home game (against the Chiefs), in Buenos Aires in Round 4.
ESPN match details here
Round 3 – crucial matches
Blues v Hurricanes – Friday 11 March: A Canes loss would make it 3 from 3 and ensure a tough road ahead for last year’s finalist.
Highlanders v Lions – Saturday12 March: It will take a herculean effort for the Lions to knock off the Highlanders, but will prove they are the ‘real deal’ if they do.
