Photo by Hansie Linde/Speedshots.co.za
It was a black weekend for the South African Super Rugby teams. Although Cell C Sharks won the Reds 33-23 on Saturday morning in Brisbane to end their four-game Vodacom Super Rugby tour of Australasia on a high note, they only managed to slay the dragon in the last 15 minutes of their game. The Emirates Lions, DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls all were disappointing in their fifth-round matches.
Despite their surprise loss, the Cape side still leads the South African Conference on 17 points, just one point ahead of the Cell C Sharks. The Jaguares are third on 15 points and they are followed by the Emirates Lions (5) and the Vodacom Bulls (1).
Emirates Lions 29-17 Waratahs
The Emirates Lions paid the price for a slow start against the Waratahs in Sydney and eventually went down by 29-17 in their Vodacom Super Rugby match played on Friday morning (SA time).
The Waratahs bagged an important bonus-point after outscoring the Emirates Lions by five tries to two. Hard-working flank Marnus Schoeman was the visitors’ standout player and he was rewarded with two tries.
Although the Joburg team played much better in the second half, they made far to many handling and defensive errors, which eventually allowed the Waratahs a comfortable first win of the season.
Cell C Sharks 33-23 Reds.
The Cell C Sharks made it three from four touring match wins when they outplayed the Reds 33-23 on Saturday morning (SA time) at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The visitors from Durban trailed the Reds 11-8 at halftime but turned things around and clinched the game thanks to a dominant final quarter performance.
With their forwards setting the tone, the visitors scored three tries after the break, while flyhalf Curwin Bosch hit the target with two long-range penalty goals to take the game away from the Reds.
DHL Stormers 14-33 Blues
The Blues inflicted the first loss on the DHL Stormers for this year when they defeated the Cape side 33-14 in their fifth-round Vodacom Super Rugby encounter on Saturday afternoon in Cape Town.
The Aucklanders made a superb start and led 27-14 at halftime, no doubt helped by a very lethargic first-half display that was characterised by poor options and missed tackles. They were 20-0 up inside 21 minutes in front of a stunned DHL Newlands faithful.
Jaguares 39-24 Vodacom Bulls
The Jaguares scored a 39-24 bonus-point win over the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday evening. The South Americans led 24-14 at the break and were in control for the majority of the match.
The result of this Vodacom Super Rugby round five encounter means the Pretoria side are still the only team in the competition without a win this season.
The Vodacom Bulls came into the match desperate for a win on their home turf, however, an erratic first-half display handed the advantage to the Jaguares. The visitors scored two tries in quick succession just before the halfway break to create a 10-point lead.
Three more tries in the second half by the Jaguares condemned the Vodacom Bulls to their fourth straight loss of the 2020 competition.
The weekend’s Round 5 results:
Friday, 28 February
Highlanders 22-28 Rebels
Waratahs 29-17 Emirates Lions
Saturday, 29 February
Hurricanes 62-15 Sunwolves
Reds 23-33 Cell C Sharks
DHL Stormers 14-33 Blues
Vodacom Bulls 24-39 Jaguares