Wallabies
A decision by the South African officials which was later proved to be incorrect may have helped the Waratahs to a 23-17 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria but the Waratahs left Pretoria with their pride in tact.
The Brumbies shocked the Reds 14-22 in Brisbane for a result which has little impact on the Brumbies but opens up the Super Rugby finals charge.
Stephen Donald kicked a late penalty to seal an 11-16 Super Rugby victory over an unconvincing Blues team that has now lost three matches in a row.
The Stormers scored five tries and collected a valuable bonus point in their final tour match, as they downed the hapless Rebels 40-3 in Melbourne on Friday.
Springbok loose forward Juan Smith says he’s nearing a return to light training after a torn Achilles’ tendon in February threatened his chances of playing at the Rugby World Cup.
Brumbies number eight Ita Vaea has been suspended for one week after being found guilty of foul play by a SANZAR Judicial Hearing.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey may be forced to turn to Sydney club rugby again to shore-up his depleted stocks as five players are in doubt for their crunch Super Rugby game with the Highlanders on Saturday.
Brumbies and Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm has been ruled out for the rest of the season including the Rugby World Cup with a knee injury he sustained in Super rugby.
The Reds brutal 14-22 loss to the Brumbies could have a bigger impact than initially thought as half of their backline is in doubt for their match against the Force.
Cheetahs (11) 18 / Sharks (6) 23 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs hosted the Sharks at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
It was frenetic, it was hard, it was brutal… and the Sharks finished with 2 players in the sin-bin but they won, by 5 points. 4 Log points for them, mission accomplished, against a game and determined Cheetahs side.
Reds (11) 14 / Brumbies (19) 22 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The lowly Brumbies toppled the Log-leading Reds, at home… with an 8 point win, denying the Reds even a single Log point.
Blues (6) 11 / Chiefs (7) 16 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Chiefs at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Blues stumbled for the 3rd time in 4 weeks, the Chiefs finally coming to some kind of form, late in the competition.
Ideal result for the South African challenge on the competition as a whole!
Hurricanes (15) 38 / Lions (20) 27 (Final Score)
The Hurricanes hosted the MTN Lions at Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 07:30 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Hurricanes managed their 5 Log points win to nothing over the MTN Lions.
Bulls (13) 23 / Waratahs (6) 17 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time. This was the match Thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Waratahs made quite a game of it and worried the Bulls throughout the match but in the end the Bulls won by 23 / 17, a slender 6-point margin.
Mission accomplished, 4 points in the bag for the Bulls, pity about the one point for the Waratahs.
Rebels (3) 3 / Stormers (16) 40 (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels hosted the DHL Stormers at AAMI Stadium, Melbourne at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Mission accomplished for the Stormers, leaving the 4th try very late, but importantly getting it when it mattered.
Highlanders (14) 14 / Force (3) 21 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the Western Force at Carisbrook Stadium, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ local time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Highlanders were simply blown off the field in the second half by a very gutsy Western Force side. Ideal result for the sides from South Africa with aspirations for the play-off’s.
Herewith ALL the Super Rugby team sheets as they were announced for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
Retention, recruitment, and team culture. This is what success in rugby is built on.
The Sharks have named their team to face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein with new signing Frederic Michalak being named on the bench.
Springbok and Stormers scrumhalf Ricky Januarie is reportedly considering a move to French Top 14 Rugby club Lyon.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made two changes to the team that lost to the Bulls last weekend for their match against the Sharks.
Allister Coetzee, head coach of the DHL Stormers, today named his team to take on the Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday 3 June.
The MTN Lions have released their team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend.
Sharks have confirmed the Signing of mercurial french star Freddy Michalak Who is already in Durban and available for selection with immediate effect.
SANZAR has announced the referees for week 16 of Super Rugby 2011.
Sharks flank Jean Deysel has been suspended for two weeks after being found guilty of foul play by a SANZAR Judicial Hearing held in Durban on Tuesday.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke added close to 200 Super Caps to his side in making two changes for Friday night’s Super Rugby clash against the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld.
Lions Flanker Michael Rhodes has been banned for 6 weeks by a SANZAR judiciary for a dangerous tackle on Highlanders winger Siale Piutau.
New Zealand media have been reporting over the weekend that Dunedin Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault case involving one of the touring Lions players.
Reds (7) 17 / Crusaders (10) 16 (Final Score)
The Reds hosted the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 08:10 SA Time, Sunday morning. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Reds flyhalf, Quade Cooper, slotted a penalty in the 80th minute to secure a 1-point lead and eventual win. It was a hard and brutal match but the relatively low scores both sides just do not do justice to the open and flowing game presented by these tow sides on the day.
Bulls (11) 32 / Cheetahs (0) 21 (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Toyota Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. The Bulls won in spectacular fashion but took a great risk at the end to go for the 4 try bonus point at all costs, leading with only 4 points at the time. In the 84th minute Francios Hougaart crashed over for the 4th try. The final score gives one the impression that it was an easy win, the fact are that if it went wrong the Cheetahs would have won this well contested match.
The Bulls have now moved to No 7 on the Combined Log, playing the Waratahs next, who is in No 6th spot, one point ahead of the Bulls.
Sharks (13) 26 / Waratahs (11) 21 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Waratahs at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Sharks left it late but ground out the necessary win, moving them to No 5 on the Combined Log.
Brumbies (3) 3 / Stormers (6) 16 (Final Score)
The Brumbies hosted the DHL Stormers at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 11:40 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
In the ugliest game of the whole season, the DHL Stormers ground out a win, only one try scored in the whole match.
The DHL Stormers road to the play-off’s is still safe.
Highlanders (16) 22 / Lions (9) 26 (Final Score)
The Highlanders hosted the MTN Lions at Carisbrook, Dunedin at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The embattled MTN Lions pulled off a miracle win right at the death, doing the Bulls and Sharks a huge favour in the process… and causing the Highlanders to only get 1 Log point from this game.
After advice from a specialist on his ankle strain, Peter Grant has been withdrawn from the game to play the Brumbies and will return to South Africa. The injury requires 2-3weeks of immobilisation, rest and rehabilitation.