All the latest from the Currie Cup, Super Rugby Pacific and Top 14.
Currie Cup R13: Sharks, Cheetahs book home semi-finals
The Sharks’ 29-21 comeback win over the Golden Lions and the Free State Cheetahs’ 29-14 defeat of the Pumas ensured they will host this season’s Currie Cup semi-finals. The Durbanites went behind 14-0 inside the opening quarter but fought back at Hollywoodbets Kings Park to keep a hold of top spot on the log, two-points ahead of the Cheetahs who proved far too strong for the third-placed Pumas in Mbombela.
In other results, Griquas comfortably saw off Western Province 38-29 in Kimberley and the Blue Bulls (fourth) ran riot at Loftus, thumping the Griffons 64-33.
SR Pacific R14: Quarterfinal dates set
In the final round of regular season Super Rugby Pacific action, the Blues ended the Highlanders’ playoff hopes in a 16-9 result at Eden Park, the Brumbies beat the Rebels 33-17 at GIO Stadium, Fijian Drua saw off the Reds 41-17 at the ANZ, the Hurricanes edged the Crusaders 27-26 at the Wellington Regional, Moana Pasifika upset the Waratahs 33-24 at the Allianz to earn their first win and the Chiefs thumped the Force 43-19 at the nib.
The results ensured the following quarterfinals will take place this weekend: Chiefs vs Reds in Hamilton, Saders vs Drua in Christchurch, Blues vs Tahs in Auckland and Brumbies vs Canes in Canberra.
Top 14 Qualifiers: Away wins for Racing and Bordeaux
Both away outfits won their respective Top 14 qualifiers on a weekend that didn’t go according to plan. Stade Francais, who had finished fourth, welcomed Racing 92 to the Stade Jean-Bouin on Sunday but were shown up by their Parisian rivals, eventually falling 20-33. They weren’t done any favours by Argentine No 7 Marcos Kremer, who was shown his marching orders inside the opening five-minutes after an extremely dangerous clean out on Finn Russell.
On Sunday, Bordeaux-Begles beat Lyon 32-23 at the Stade Gerland.
The semi-finals get underway this weekend, with the Reale Arena hosting both matches. Toulouse and Racing clash on Friday while European champs La Rochelle face Bordeaux on Saturday.
Weekend highlights
Check out some of the weekend’s best moments.
Hooper bows out
The great Michael Hooper played his final match for his beloved Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Test match centurion, the Tahs were upset by a dogged Moana Pasifika side who ended their campaign by picking up their first win of the season.
One last run on at Allianz Stadium for Michael Hooper in the Tahs jersey 🙌
— Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) June 3, 2023
↳ Waratahs v Moana Pasifika, live from 7pm. Every Match. Ad-free. Live & On Demand on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport.#StanSportAU #SuperRugbyPacific #WARvMOA pic.twitter.com/1CiN21Jgfi
Mudbath in Stellies!
Take a look at the state of the pitch in this schools encounter between Paul Roos and SACS.
🤯 This pitch in Stellenbosch transformed into a battlefield!pic.twitter.com/Fi3Bd99Ot1
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) June 4, 2023
Battle of the old warhorses
Fellow World Cup-winning All Black hookers Codie Taylor and Dane Coles got into a proper scrap at the Wellington Regional on Saturday. After the game though there was nothing but respect.
You gotta love it!
On the field = fierce rivals 😤
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 4, 2023
Off the field = good mates 🤝
Welcome to the soap opera of Dane Coles and Codie Taylor 😂#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/LEaHv3XhhR
Chiefs continue to thrill
Clayton McMillan’s boys are gonna be difficult to stop come the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
Just @ChiefsRugby things 👏#SuperRugbyPacific #FORvCHI pic.twitter.com/ehkpVYDUbc
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 3, 2023
