Shaun Goosen takes a look at what transpired in the third round of Super Rugby unlocked.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports.
Late fightback earns Stormers’ victory
Two tries in the final 10-minutes earned the Stormers a narrow 42-37 win over the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday. The hosts led 37-28 with less than seven-minutes to go, but late tries to Leolin Zas and Warrick Gelant sealed an unlikely second victory for the men from Cape Town. The Pumas are looking a formidable force once more under Jimmy Stonehouse and will expect to cause more than a few upsets by the time the domestic season draws to a close.
John Dobson’s men will look to keep their perfect record intact against the Bulls at Loftus this weekend, though they will be without injured skipper Siya Kolisi. The Pumas welcome the Sharks to Nelspruit and will be eager to stage an ambush.
Bulls punish lacklustre Sharks
The Bulls recorded a comprehensive 41-14 win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The hosts enjoyed 70% possession and 78% territory in the first-half on their way to scoring six tries in the contest to totally blow the Sharks out of the water. The Durbanites look a different side that took Super Rugby by storm earlier this year and were found wanting in a few departments on the weekend.
They will look to rectify them as they prepare for an almighty clash with the Pumas at the Mbombela this Saturday in a fixture that could have a massive impact on their title aspirations this season. The Bulls host the Stormers in Round Four another cracker.
Covid threatens to derail competition
With the Lions/ Cheetahs match called off on the weekend and local Covid cases on the rise, there is every possibility that Super Rugby Unlocked itself could be in the firing line. John Dobson highlighted concerns regarding the “integrity” of the tournament if games continue to be cancelled and/ or postponed. The Lions’ visit to Kimberley to take on the Griquas this Friday has already come into question, with the Johannesburg-based side battling a number of positive cases.
If games continue to be affected, the fate of the competition will hang in the balance.
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets.
