Welcome to Round 6 of FOREIGN EXCHANGES, the place to go for a run down on what happened in this week’s non-Aussie Super Rugby matches.
Round 6 at a glance
- The Lions lost narrowly to the Crusaders in a try-fest.
- The Blues made more of their opportunities to account for a willing Jaquares.
- The Kings recorded their first victory for the season over the Sunwolves who are still winless.
- The Bulls grinded out a win over a more dynamic Cheetahs.
Crusaders 43 – 37 Lions
by Brent Craig aka ‘waiopehu oldboy’
The Crusaders beat the Lions in an entertaining display of running rugby from both sides that saw ten tries scored, six of them by the visitors.
Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty’s first-minute try set the tone for a free-flowing first half in which Lions centre Lionel Mapoe, Crusaders winger Johnny McNicoll and prop Wyatt Crockett, and Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies also bagged tries.
Half-time: Crusaders 22-20 Lions.
A Crotty double-strike pushed the lead out to 36-20 and coach Todd Blackadder went to his bench to close the game out.
The Lions made changes of their own. Replacement hooker Armand van der Merwe then scored twice, either side of one to replacement Crusaders halfback Mitchell Drummond, to set up a tense finish.
The Lions spent most of the last ten minutes inside the Crusader’s 22, but resolute defence and Lions handling errors allowed the visitors to secure the win, but not a bonus point.
This was a quality match and it’s hoped the Lions persist with their attacking mindset, and that it catches on with some of the other South African franchises (I’m looking at you, Shawks fans!).
ESPN match details here
Blues 24 – 16 Jaguares
by Trevor Robertson
This match was by no means fluent, but it was willing. Patches of enterprise were mixed with some basic skill errors to produce an ebb and flow contest.
The Jaguares dominated early and were awarded multiple penalties. They repeatedly ignored the posts, looked for tries and they should have scored a couple.
But the Blues weathered the storm and only conceded a solitary penalty before the tide turned their way.
First up, skipper James Parsons (2) scooped a pass from his shoe laces to send Steven Luatua (8) over. Then Rene Ranger (13) produced a great pop from the ground to put Ihaia West (10) in.
The Jaguares kicked a penalty early in the second half, but the Blues responded with two of their own.
When a Nicholas Sanchez (10) kick produced a Jaguares try to replacement half Gonzolo Bertranou, it was 21 – 16 to the Blues with 18 minutes left, and the games was there to win. But West slotted a final penalty and the Blues hung on.
Ranger was the difference for mine. He produced three turnovers, created a try and almost another one with a judicious grubber. West bagged 19 points.
Jaguares flanker Tomas Lezana and scrumhalf Martin Landajo were their best, but not finishing opportunities killed them.
ESPN match details here
Kings 33 – 28 Sunwolves
by Jack Colley
Both teams entered this match looking to break their Super Rugby duck for the year.
The Kings started the game on the front foot, creating two line breaks before Steven Sykes (4) broke through to score the opening try. A conversion and penalty pushed the hosts out to an early 10 – 0 lead.
A nice inside ball from Shane Gates (12) put Malcolm Jaer (11) through the Sunwolves line for the Kings second and a 15 – 3 lead.
Sunwolves skipper Shota Horie (2) capitalised on pressure built by the Sunwolves forwards to score under the posts, and the visitors again piled on the pressure a few minutes later for Tusi Pisi (10) to break the line and score.
Gates was the beneficiary of a loose Sunwolves ruck for a runaway try, before the Sunwolves were able to build pressure from inside their own half resulting in a try to Kiwi lock Tim Bond.
Half-time: 23 – 20 to the hosts.
The second half failed to live up to the drama of the first, with the teams trading penalties before Elgar Watts crossed for the Kings in the 79th minute to put the game out of reach.
ESPN match details here
Bulls 23 – 18 Cheetahs
by Dru Spork
While the stats show the Bulls dominated, the two teams were actually well matched.
The Bulls were better, but were flattered by a deserved yellow card to Tiaan Schoeman (Cheetahs 8) after only 12 minutes. The Bulls scored twice shortly thereafter, with a try going to each of their locks, RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins.
The Cheetahs forwards look comfortable playing in the backs and showed good passing skills, while the Bulls forwards passed tighter through the middle.
Sergeal Petersen (14) scored next for the Cheetahs, followed only minutes later by Bulls wing Jamba Ulengo, with a pick and go and powerful surge over the line, like the best hookers can.
At half-time, the Bulls lead the Cheetahs 20 – 10.
In the second stanza, the Bulls were more controlled, played more phases and dominated the rucks. The Cheetahs, on the other hand, played with more risk and looked quite dynamic at times.
A try in the 49th minute to Torsten van Jaarsveld (Cheetahs 2) from a line out maul took the score to 20 – 18 but that’s where the comeback ended.
For the rest of the game, play went from end-to-end and side-to-side and they traded penalty kicks (and misses).
In the end, the dynamic but risky Cheetahs could not overcome a Bulls side that dominated the tackle and gain line, and made fewer errors.
ESPN match details here
Round 7 – crucial matches
Chiefs v Blues – Friday 8 April 5.35pm AEST: The inconsistent Blues could be just the team to challenge an on-fire Chiefs.
Sharks v Lions – Sunday 10 April 1.05am AEST: Should be a classic SA derby, where the attacking Lions face the often dour Sharks.
