The Cell C Sharks returned from their Australasian tour at the top of the Vodacom Super Rugby Log while the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers continued their good home form this weekend.
The Durbanites beat the Blues for the 10th consecutive time, by 29-23, in Albany on Friday morning. They won 3 from 4 on tour Down Under, which is equal to their best tour ever in 2009, and bagged 13 Log points in Australasia, firming their grip of the top spot on the standings after 4 tough games abroad.
Later on Friday, the Vodacom Bulls were at their brutal best as they probably recorded their best win of the season when they dismantled the 2013 runners up, the Brumbies, by 44-23 at Loftus Versfeld. The score probably flattered the visitors as the side from Pretoria remained unbeaten at home this season.
On Saturday morning in Perth, the Lions fought very hard to win their final tour match, but ultimately came up short as they were beaten by 29-19 by the Force.
Round 15 came to an exciting end in Cape Town on Saturday evening when the DHL Stormers beat the Toyota Cheetahs by 33-0 in a rather one-sided match.
It was only the 3rd time ever a team managed a clean sheet in a South African derby – the 1st time was in 1999 when the Cell C Sharks beat the Vodacom Bulls by 29-0, while the team from Pretoria beat the Southern Kings by 34-0 last year.
In total, it was the 5th time ever that a SA franchise failed to score a point in a Vodacom Super Rugby match. The Vodacom Bulls lost 27-0 to the Crusaders in Timaru in 2011 and the DHL Stormers lost 22-0 to the Crusaders in Cape Town in 2008.
Unfortunately Toyota Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss has also been cited for alleged foul play during their match against the DHL Stormers. He is alleged to have contravened Law 10.4 (j) Lifting Tackle when he tackled Stormers player, Kobus van Wyk. The incident occurred in the 23rd minute of the match.
The referee for the match, Stuart Berry, reviewed the incident with the television match official and issued a Yellow Card for the incident. Upon further review of the match footage, the Citing Commissioner deemed in his opinion the incident had met the Red Card threshold for foul play
The citing is to be considered in the 1st instance by SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Adam Casselden. All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the 1st instance referred to a Duty Judicial Officer hearing to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the DJO.
Blues (6) 23 / 29 (16) Cell C Sharks:
The Cell C Sharks’ Australasian tour ended on an outstanding note and they have returned unbeaten from New Zealand after beating the Blues by 29-23 in Albany on Friday morning.
It was the KwaZulu-Natalians’ 10th consecutive win over the team from Auckland and one where they won thanks to superb defence. It was the first SA clean sweep of New Zealand since 2010.
The visitors controlled the game very well in the first half and took the points whenever they were available. Their defence was yet again superb and they competed very well on the ground, but the basis was laid by a strong set piece.
Frans Steyn contributed 16 points via the boot, which included a drop goal, as he moved past 100 competition points at the North Harbour Stadium.
Bismarck du Plessis crashed over for the only try in the first half and Cobus Reinach rounded off after a loose ball was hacked through, which gave the Cell C Sharks a nice cushion with 25 minutes left in the game.
Scorers:
Blues:
- Tries: Luke Braid (1), Tevita Li (1)
- Conversions: Simon Hickey (1), Ihaia West (1)
- Penalty goals: Simon Hickey (2), Ihaia West (1)
Cell C Sharks:
- Tries: Bismarck du Plessis (1), Cobus Reinach (1)
- Conversions: Frans Steyn (2)
- Penalty goals: Frans Steyn (3), SP Marais (1)
- Drop goal: Francois Steyn (1)
Vodacom Bulls (23) 44 / 23 (6) Brumbies:
The Vodacom Bulls were at their brutal best as they dismantled the Brumbies and won a repeat of last year’s Vodacom Super Rugby semi-final rather comfortably by 44-23 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening.
The home team displayed a lot of patience on the attack and gradually broke down the Brumbies’ defence. They took their chances well and scored some great tries, while never looking to force anything.
Despite hunting the bonus point, which they got in the end, the Vodacom Bulls took every opportunity to kick for points, which ensured they kept the scoreboard ticking over regularly. And even when they comfortably ahead, they still kicked their goals.
Their attacking play, built on the foundation of a very solid set piece, was good as Jan Serfontein, Jono Ross (twice) and Bjorn Basson scored tries. Jacques-Louis Potgieter contributed 22 points with the boot.
If there is one blight on the Vodacom Bulls’ performance, it is perhaps the three soft tries they conceded, but with a full house of five log points in the bag, they will only worry about that when they start their preparations for their next game on Monday.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls:
- Tries: Jan Serfontein (1), Jono Ross (2), Bjorn Basson (1)
- Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2), Handré Pollard (1)
- Penalty goal: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (6)
Brumbies:
- Tries: Henry Speight (1), Ben Mowen (1), Tevita Kuridrani (1)
- Conversion: Christian Leali’ifano (1)
- Penalty goals: Christian Leali’ifano (2)
Force (15) 29 / 19 (9) Lions:
The Lions put up a very brave fight in their final Vodacom Super Rugby tour match, but two late tries by the Force meant they lost this encounter by 29-19 in Perth on Saturday.
The visitors from Johannesburg refused to give up against the high-flying Force. Unfortunately their defence leaked tries at crucial stages of the match and it was a five-pointer in the 79th minute by the home team’s captain, Matt Hodgson, which sealed the win for them.
The Force, back in Perth after their South African tour, managed to find holes in the Lions’ defence when they needed to and they exploited this well.
The Lions were still in control shortly before the break at 9-3, but two quick tries by the Force meant they started the second half leading by 15-9.
A fourth Marnitz Boshoff penalty goal saw the gap close to 15-12 and with six minutes to go, the Lions were still in with a sniff, but they again conceded a try which gave the Force some breathing space.
Still the visitors refused to give up and the hit back almost immediately when Elton Jantjies went over for a converted try to make it 22-19, but then Hodgson got his second and it was all over for the men from Ellis Park.
Scorers:
Force:
- Tries: Matt Hodgson (2), Jayden Hayward (1), Chris Tuatara-Morrison (1)
- Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (1), Jayden Hayward (2)
- Penalty goal: Sias Ebersohn (1)
Lions:
- Try: Elton Jantjies (1)
- Conversion: Elton Jantjies (1)
- Penalty goals: Marnitz Boshoff (4)
DHL Stormers (15) 33 / 0 (0) Toyota Cheetahs:
The DHL Stormers recorded only the third-ever clean sweep in a South African Vodacom Super Rugby derby when they beat the Toyota Cheetahs by 33-0 at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.
It was the Capetonians’ fourth consecutive home win of the season, which saw them move past the Toyota Cheetahs on the log as they scored a bonus-point for four tries in the process.
The match was played in tough conditions and the home team adapted better to the wind and rain. They attacked when the opportunity arose and scored some good tries, while their defence was also very good.
The DHL Stormers, who lost their captain Jean de Villiers before the match with an injury concern, were dominant from the start and never looked back as they kept the pressure on the Toyota Cheetahs, with especially Damian de Allende proving a handful on attack and defence.
Deon Fourie and Kobus van Wyk scored tries in the first half and although the spectators had to wait until the 70th minute for the home team’s third try, by Siya Kolisi, the end of the match was an exciting affair as Sailosi Tagicakibau got the fourth try with less than four minutes left on the clock.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers:
- Tries: Deon Fourie (1), Kobus van Wyk (1), Siya Kolisi (1), Sailosi Tagicakibau (1)
- Conversions: Kurt Coleman (1), Peter Grant (1)
- Penalty goals: Kurt Coleman (2), Peter Grant (1)
Toyota Cheetahs:
- 0
300 @ ryecatcher:
Sorry, I failed to see your Play on Words, missed it completely… I do see it now!
Blame it on me multitasking here… seems I also need a few pictures drawn for me tonight… hahaha
@ Stormersboy:
291 Hello My friend
OK, let me go make an early night… it is time for one!
@ ryecatcher:
Hey bud hope things are good!
Up to a month ago when all our teams, barring the Sharks, were regularly losing week in and week out, most supporters would have been jumping at the chance for HM to pick overseas based players.
And rightly so, hardly any of the local players were putting up their hands.
Now that we have gotten a few wins, especially by the Stormers and Bulls, local is lekker?
I’m still not convinced, there is a reason why we only have 1 team in the top 6, and if key positions must be filled by overseas players, then so be it. The local guys had 15 rounds of SR to stake their claims, and if they didn’t manage to do it in all that time, then they are maybe just not up to it.
@ nortierd:
I agree, we have been lured into a false sense of security, I am still not convinced by the Bulls and Stompies, but if Jono Ross can play like he did on Friday the Bulls will already be much improved, if the Bulls do not make the play offs it will be only the third time in ten years they could not qualify and at 9th it is our worst position since 2008.
I really wish we did not pick overseas players, but the jest of it is that we have to, but the problem is we can say ah but Schalk Britz and Craig Burden are great players, but who has followed their whole season? If you started watching our competition and how well Reinach went overseas you would be forgiven for thinking he has been awesome this year, but that’s just not the case, it had been ery up and down for him.
I remember hearing the commentators say that Schalk Brits had his best game of the season in the semi because he had been criticized for disappearing when their team had been confronted by a huge pack of forwards and he shined in open games against “lesser” teams. Something he will not encounter in the Rugby Championship.
So picking overseas players really leaves us in the dark, but it comforts us.
Last year we had many “overseas” players play for us during the RC, but it was justifiable, because they played in South Africa all year… picking those guys now is a completely different scenario.
Heyneke has a difficult task, whatever he does will be criticized when and if we lose, but as long as he does not send weakened teams to Aus and NZ to “prepare for the world cup” he still has my backing.
@MB
We are lacking in key positions.
Fly half is a huge problem. Lambie’s injury came at a poor time, he was playing well at that stage and so were the Shark’s backline. He was destined to play 10 all season, but injury curtailed that.
No other 10 playing in a SA franchise convinced when given the opportunity, yet, by all accounts, Morne also didn’t convince while playing in France and couldn’t hold down a starting spot.
Losing both Eben and PSdT messes up our lock pairing of the future, so HM will have to go back to the past with Victor and Bakkies.
Duane, up to the last 2 rounds, wasn’t convincing at nr 8 at all.
Scrumhalf is another problem area, and surely FdP is the front runner, based on years of performing, not one or two games of doing something spectacular.
Midfield is looking ok, even with Jean and Fourie injured, JdJ, Jan, De Allende all have been in good form and consistently so.
Jake moving Mvovo to full back was a masterstroke, at least it gives HM another option except for Willie. I thought Mvovo has been excellent from the back and would have no qualms if he gets a run there for the Boks
@ nortierd:
Yep, our problem areas are at hooker and flyhalf, I really liked the Morne&willie combination for us last year, it really gae a unique flavour, I would probably have Fdp and Goosen as my 9 and 10, but Goosen needs to gie an indication soon of where he wants to go, hopefully he has communicated with someone.
Geez how difficult is this, manage a players form as well as his ego.
The problem is still, Alberts, Beast, Jaanie, Bismarc, vermeulen, Fransie, de Allende and even Matfield have a lot of gametime on their shoulders this year, would be something astounding if they can keep the intensity right through the RC.
Not at all convinced with Goosen. If he doesn’t get injured, then he doesn’t convince on the field. One good game against the Force isn’t enough to convince me that he is the answer.
If promise of something good is the only criteria, then Pollard stands just as good a chance as Goosen.
Willie at 10 might be a very interesting experiment though, well worth a thought……
310
Meant Brumbies, not Force.
Sias was more convincing at 10 in that game
@ nortierd:
If our forwards are dominating and we hae someone at 12 or 15 that can give us territory then it would be awesome to have Willie at 10, though when things dont go as planned he starts trying these suicide tricks… Jake already tried this experiment with Jaco vd Westhuizen, it worked well for a year, but when the pressure came on…
Goosen has not had a good year, we can all agree, the Force and Brumbies were atrocious, but its hard to say that Morne will do much better, maybe fdp can be a catalyst, but yes injuries are his problem, he just got pushed too early. Pollard will be in contention at the EOYT, and if the baby boks win the WC, Pollard will definitely be there.
@ nortierd:
sorry i forgot they lost to the force with penalties
@ nortierd:
From a kiwi perspective this guy was being talked up so much last year on KEO it was ridiculous, he was going to do he was going to do that….he needs time in the seat to develop but sadly it looks like he’s going to be discarded. Does that mean the robot will play 10 for the Bokke this year?
@NZinC
Probably. Slim pickings from a fly half perspective for the Boks at the moment.
Ps. Welcome back, thought you would be missing till you beat us in the RC after the Sharks win against the Blues.
@ NZINCHINA:
a lot of hope gets placed on new flyhalves to finally be the perfect one, one that kicks well, is fast and an amazing distributer, needless to say we get desperate and tend to talk new players up quite a lot because of their reputation from school, Timo Swiel is another guy who seems to have been discarded.
If the robot can do well and at least be consistent, then there is no reason for him not to play.
@ nortierd:
ha we might not beat you this year
@ MacroBull:
Goosen needs time in the saddle and should be introduced slowly like Cruden and Barrett, if the Bokke forwards dominate Steyn is more than adequate.
314 @ NZINCHINA:
Asking whether “Robot” is going to play for the Springboks, I suppose is like asking which “Half Injured” oke is going to play for the All Blacks.
Will it be “Sicknote Over the Hill Carter” or “Overhyped Cruden”?
If I was Hansen I would play the real No 10 star at pesent in New Zealand, Beauden Barrett… he is better than both “Overhyped Cruden” and “Sicknote Over the Hill Carter”. Bloody good flyhalf!
That the Springboks are a bit thin at flyhalf, with Morné Steyn overseas, Pat Lambie injured, Johan Goosen not back up to complete form and injury prone is a given.
The interim answer would have been Frans Steyn at No 10, but it seems he’s been played into the ground by Jake White… hope not!
NZINCHINA wrote:
Yeah right…..
@ grootblousmile:
To be fair a half injured Carter is better than 95% of the current international first five 8’s, Barrett is indeed a superstar and will take over in due course. I like the Robot but he just isn’t capable of busting a game wide open like Carter/Cruden/Barrett and a host of others 10’s in NZ are.
@ NZINCHINA:
We all want our flyhalf to be the next Dan Carter, if DC played here he would only have been known for his kicking game more than anything else. our teams simply do not have the environment for the likes of Barret to thrive in, our support runners are more likely to be on the backfoot than on a players shoulder or great running lines, that’s also why Elton Jantjies has been a failure while he would likely thrive in NZ IMO. Jan Serfontein was running great lines this weekend and was a constant threat, suddenly JLP became a great distributor of the ball.
Goosen became popular because of his huge boot. he should stick to that part of his game.
@ nortierd:
ok we’ll beat you at least once at home LOL, you boys are due for a win though so you might sneak one this year at Ellis
321 @ NZINCHINA:
Personally I think the All Blacks are trying to cling too desperately on to Dan Carter.
He was majestic in his hey day, but I fear the younger okes have passed him by now.
Anyway, New Zealand is blessed with attacking flyhalfs and I think that enhances the attacking flair in the NZ Super Rugby sides.
I am looking forward to the International Windows now in June and thereafter The Rugby Championship… should be interesting times.
@ MacroBull:
Yes true that so many support runners for NZ 10’s to off load to, from what I read last year I thought the Goose had a great running game?
@ NZINCHINA:
He has a good attacking game, but does not compared to Willie le Roux. but he kicked like a mule, 60m penalty kicks was reasonably easy for him. He probably has an above average running game for a local flyhalf.
@ grootblousmile:
I agree his body has broken down and I think this will be his last shot, if his body goes this season he’ll be put out to pasture. Hansen is loyal though and so he should be, DC has won us so many tests on his own he deserves one more shot. The Bokke will clean up in the June window too much forward grunt, hopefully we skunk the Poms and go 17 straight!!
@ MacroBull:
Willie is class, needs other Bokke backs around him who can chuck it around and counter attack without thinking about it though.
NZINCHINA wrote:
Nah, you can have both this year, we will take the due win during the WC in England, when it really counts and really hurts
😆
@ NZINCHINA:
The funny thing is we always talk about our flyhalves having to “take the ball flat” and attack the advantage line. Willie attacks from very deep and mostly only goes “flat” when he tries to put over a chip kick to chase.
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