Welcome to Round 9 of FOREIGN EXCHANGES, the place to go for a run down on what happened in this week’s non-Aussie Super Rugby matches.
Round 9 at a glance
- The Sharks claimed an important away win over a disappointing Highlanders with all points coming from the boot of Garth April.
- The Sunwolves recorded their first Super Rugby win, knocking off fellow cellar dwellars the Jaguares in Tokyo.
- The Chiefs beat the error riddled but expansive Hurricanes in an entertaining match.
- The Lions smashed the Kings and now sit only one point behind the Stormers on the South African group ladder.
Sharks 15 – 14 Highlanders
by Jack Colley
The defending champions, the Highlanders, suffered a rare home loss under the dome, at the expense of the boot of Garth April (Sharks 10).
Lima Sopoaga put the Landers on the board with an easy penalty within the first minute, before the Sharks got two back and a 6 – 3 lead.
The main talking point of the game occurred in the 13th minute, when Jason Emery (Landers 12 and Captain) was correctly shown red by the referee after carelessly taking Willie le Roux (15) out in the air, who landed in the most awkward of positions on his neck.
There was no maliciousness in the incident. The pair later traded pleasantries on twitter and le Roux, luckily, was uninjured and played on.
Even a man down, the Landers continued to push the envelope and definitely played the more expansive rugby of the two sides. Ben Smith (15), in particular, was excellent with ball in hand.
Unfortunately for both the Landers and anyone trying to watch the game, their passes weren’t sticking and they were unable to convert anything into points, despite having the lion’s share of territory and an excellent attacking opportunity close to half-time.
Credit to the Sharks for building their score in South African multiples (3) and eeking out a win on the road, despite having two players binned.
ESPN match details here
Sunwolves 36 – 28 Jaguares
by Marcelo Cardozo
The Sunwolves recorded their first win in Super Rugby, while the Jaguares return to Argentina without a victory on the road, following three losses in New Zealand.
Despite an optimistic start, with tries by Agustin Creevy (2) and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (11), the Jaguares failed to keep up the momentum, while the Sunwolves improved thanks to Tusi Pisi (10).
Still, the Argies went into the break leading 18 – 13, thanks to a try by replacement fullback, Emiliano Boffelli and a penalty kick by fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez, against a try by Sunwolves replacement winger Yasutaka Sasakura and a conversion, plus two penalties, from the boot of Pisi.
In the second half, Facundo Isa (8) scored a try for the Jaguares. But from that moment, the Sunwolves took control of the game through a penalty kick by Riaan Viljoen (15), two conversions and two penalty kicks by Pisi, a tries to Derek Carpenter (13) and Harumichi Tatekawa (12).
The Jaguares return to Buenos Aires empty-handed and must get to work. This Saturday, they play a must-win match against the Kings at Velez stadium.
ESPN match details here
Chiefs 28 – 27 Hurricanes
by Trevor Robertson
The Hurricanes started strongly, with winger Corey Jane scoring after three minutes. The Chiefs responded with a try to centre Seta Tamanivalu. Then Hurricanes flyhalf, Beauden Barrett, kicked a field goal to put the Canes up 8 – 7.
Soon after Barrett missed a penalty. Then he missed another. As the game wore on, the Canes errors piled up, while the Chiefs did enough to stay out in front.
There was plenty of good football. Both sides got over the stripe at regular intervals. But the Canes left countless opportunities on the park with dropped balls, forward passes, duffed lineouts and poor kicks – for goal, touch and territory.
The Canes got tries through skipper Dane Coles and half TJ Perenara, while the Chiefs tries came from a second to Tamanivalu, number 8 Michael Leitch and lock Teleni Seu.
In a fitting end to the game, Barrett split the defence to send Jason Woodward on a clear run for the winner, but the pass was dropped, and the game lost.
Chiefs fullback Damien McKenzie continues to impress. He set up a try with an offload, ran strongly and kicked two from the sideline in a tough breeze.
ESPN match details here
Lions 45 – 10 Kings
by ‘redstragic’
An apt metaphor for this game can be found in the enormous Biltong bowls prominently featured in the cut-aways to the coaches boxes.
The Lions coaches eagerly consumed all the Biltong early in the game, while the Kings coaches tentatively picked at theirs throughout the match.
Once consumed and obviously not satisfied with the salty, spicy and chewy deliciousness, the Lions went in for the kill in the 21st minute, scoring a scintillating try to number 8 and captain Warren Whitley.
The Kings did manage to strike back with a well worked try to winger, Luzuko Vulindlu, before the Lions closed out the half with tries to winger, Courtnall Skosan and hooker, Armand van der Merwe.
Closing in on half-time, stand out performer for the Kings, Thembelani Bholi (flanker) was sin-binned after trying the referee’s patience once too often at the breakdown.
At half-time the Lions led 21 – 5.
They then hungrily scored four more tries in the second half through winger, Ruan Combrinck (2), vd Merwe and reserve, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, while flanker Chris Cloete crossed for the Kings.
Elton Jantjies was solid for the Lions with 5 from 7 conversions.
ESPN match details here
Round 10 matches
Chiefs v Sharks: Friday 29 April, 5.35pm (AEST)
Lions v Hurricanes: Saturday 30 April, 1.05am (AEST)
Jaguares v Kings: Sunday 1 May, 7.40am (AEST)
