Super Rugby Review – Round 4

The Vodacom Bulls completed a clean sweep of local derby wins with their comprehensive 37-14 triumph over the Cell C Sharks in their Vodacom Super Rugby clash on Saturday evening in Pretoria. In the earlier match played in Johannesburg, a very youth Emirates Lions outfit produced a try-fest to defeat the Jaguares 47-39 in their entertaining round four-encounter.

Emirates Lions too good for Jaguares in thrilling Joburg try-fest

#LIOvJAG

Fifty minutes of some of the best rugby seen in years at Emirates Airline Park were enough for the Emirates Lions, playing with a relatively inexperienced team, to get their Vodacom Super Rugby campaign back on track.

The men from Johannesburg let in a few tries towards the end of their match against the visiting Jaguares from Argentina, but they still did enough in the opening 50 minutes of the match to win comfortably by 47-39.

Unfortunately for the Emirates Lions, the flurry of late tries by the visitors cost them a try-scoring bonus point. The Jaguares scored six tries – four of them in the last 15 minutes – compared to the seven by the Vodacom Super Rugby runners up from the last three seasons.

The result was effectively in the bag for the Emirates Lions at the break. The home team scored four tries in the first half to lead by 26-13. They added three more shortly after the break to put the match away, but slipped up on defence at the end.

Rhyno Herbst, Elton Jantjies, Kwagga Smith and former Junior Bok star Wandisile Simelane crossed the chalk in the first half, while Marnus Schoeman and Courtnall Skosan (two) added to the tally shortly after the break.

A full-house of five points might have been better received in Johannesburg, but a good victory (after two defeats) and with seven tries to boot, is not to be sniggered at.

Elton Jantjies contributed 17 points to the Highvelders’ victory to became only the fifth player in tournament history to surpass the 1 000 points mark.

Emirates Lions 47 (26), Jaguares 39 (13)

Scorers:

Emirates Lions 47 (26) – Tries: Rhyno Herbst, Elton Jantjies, Kwagga Smith and former Junior Bok star Wandisile Simelane, Marnus Schoeman, Courtnall Skosan (2). Conversions: Jantjies (6).

Jaguares 39 (13) – Tries: Ramiro Moyano, Julian Montoya (2), Gaspar Baldunciel, Matias Moroni, Joaquín Tuculet. Conversions: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Juan Cruz Mallia (2). Penalty goal: Diaz Bonilla.

Loftus triumph gives Vodacom Bulls clean sweep of SA derbies

#BULvSHA

The Vodacom Bulls produced a clinical and disciplined performance to outplay the Cell C Sharks 37-14 in their South African Conference match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday evening.

This victory also enabled the Vodacom Bulls (13 points) to overtake their opponents at the top of the South African Conference table and they are now second overall on the combined log behind the unbeaten defending champions, the Crusaders.

The home side, playing in their Captain America #SuperHeroes outfit, enjoyed a comfortable 19-0 lead at halftime.

It was the Vodacom Bulls forwards, with Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Brits and Lizo Gqoboka all in outstanding form, who provided the home side with a solid attacking platform.

Skipper and pivot Handre Pollard was again the general in the home backline and he scored a tally of 22 points with the boot, while Rosko Specman (2) and Jesse Kriel were the try scorers for the winning team.

Unfortunately, it was not a day to remember for Cell C Sharks captain and former DHL Stormers No 9 Louis Schreuder, who made his 100th Vodacom Super Rugby appearance.

Two early second half tries through Jeremy Ward (centre) and Dan du Preez (No 8) gave the Durban side hope after the restart, however, the Pretoria outfit continued to keep the scoreboard ticking mainly via the accurate boot of Pollard.

Vodacom Bulls 37 (19), Cell C Sharks 14 (0)

Scorers:

Vodacom Bulls 37 (19) – Tries: Jesse Kriel, Rosko Specman (2); Conversions: Handre Pollard (2); Penalties: Pollard (5); Drop goal: Pollard.

Cell C Sharks 14 (0) – Tries: Jeremy Ward, Dan du Preez; Conversions: Rob du Preez (2)

Other Round Four results of the weekend:

Friday, 8 March

Hurricanes 25, Highlanders 22

Rebels 29, Brumbies 26

Saturday, 9 March

Crusaders 57, Chiefs 28

Blues 28, Sunwolves 20

Waratahs 28, Reds 17

The conference logs after this weekend’s Round 4 action (SA, NZ, AUS):