Shaun Goosen looks back at what was a pulsating weekend of Round Two Super Rugby action!
The Sharks beat the Blues 26-7 in Durban to maintain their lead at the summit of Super Rugby, while there were also big wins for the Stormers, Jaguares and Crusaders in Round Two.
Replacement Curwin Bosch scored a bonus-point try in the 78th-minute as the men from Durban produced a clinical display to see off the Aucklanders at home. Lukhanyo Am was again superb in the midfield, creating plenty of opportunities on attack and generally keeping the Blues guessing throughout the contest. The victory means the three-time runners-up sit pretty at the top of the overall standings, having picked up maximum points (10) so far this season.
Elsewhere in the South Africa conference, the Stormers put their woeful performance against the Bulls in Round One behind them as scrumhalf replacement Herschel Jantjies scored after the hooter to ensure his side claimed a valuable 19-17 win over the Lions at Newlands.
The Bulls, who looked so good in their 40-3 dismantling of the Stormers in the first round, missed 24 tackles as they fell to the Jaguares 27-12 in Buenos Aires. The manner of that defeat will serve as a big step backwards for Pote Human’s men, who next gear up for a tricky trip south to face a hurting Lions outfit at Emirates Ellis Park.
Devastating All Black flank Shannon Frizell dotted down twice as the Highlanders overcame the Reds 36-31 in a nine-try thriller in Dunedin, while a Beauden Barrett-less Hurricanes outfit was put to the sword by the Crusaders who came out on top by 38-22 in Christchurch. The result sees the defending champions continue to top the New Zealand conference, albeit on points-difference over the ‘Landers.
The Waratahs were lucky to escape with a 31-30 win over a brave Sunwolves side in Tokyo. They occupy second position on the Australia conference behind the Brumbies, who completely outclassed a poor Chiefs team 54-17 in Canberra on Saturday.
The Melbourne Rebels, who looked so good in their first-round win over the Brumbies, will be back next week after their bye in Round Two.
Results:
Jaguares 27 – 12 Bulls
Stormers 19 – 17 Lions
Sharks 26 – 7 Blues
Brumbies 54 – 17 Chiefs
Crusaders 38 – 22 Hurricanes
Sunwolves 30 – 31 Waratahs
Highlanders 36 – 31 Reds
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets.
