Vodacom Super Rugby Review – Round Three
The Durban franchise secured their third win of the 2011 competition by running in five tries as they achieved their fi rst bonus point victory of the season. Winger Odwa Ndungane, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Steven Sykes, flanker Willem Alberts and flyhalf Patrick Lambie were the try scorers for the visitors. Lambie kicked four conversions and two penalties.
The Sharks dominated most periods of the game and played an attacking brand of rugby as they troubled the Western Force defence. The hosts’ only points came via four penalty kicks which were scored by flyhalf James O Connor.
The Vodacom Bulls conceded their first home defeat since April 2008 on Saturday when the Highlanders ended their 20-match “home” winning streak by securing a 35-28 win at Loftus Versfeld.
The Otago franchise ran in four tries in this match which saw the Pretoria team miss numerous first-time tackles. The Highlanders also dominated the breakdown while the defending champions were guilty of making numerous handling errors throughout the game.
The Vodacom Bulls ran in three five-pointers which were scored by lock Flip van der Merwe, scrumhalf Fourie Du Preez and winger Bjorn Basson. Flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked three penalties and two conversions.
The Highlanders’ tries were scored by winger Kade Poki (2), Man of the Match and flanker Adam Thomson and Josh Bekhuis. Veteran pivot Tony Brown kicked three conversions and a penalty while Robbie Robinson also kicked two penalties.
The DHL Stormers secured their second home victory of the Vodacom Super Rugby after they managed to grind out a 21-15 win over the Toyota Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.
The points scoring in this match were dominated by the boots of DHL Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant and Toyota Cheetahs pivot and captain Naas Olivier.
Neither the hosts nor their opponents threatened each other’s try line with very few try scoring opportunities being created in this match. Both teams failed to gain much rhythm due to the many handling and unforced errors conceded during the 80 minutes. Grant kicked seven penalties while Olivier added four. The Bloemfontein team’s fi fth penalty was kicked by substitute fullback Riaan Viljoen.
Meanwhile the Lions conceded their 17th consecutive defeat in Vodacom Super Rugby following their 41-32 loss against the Blues at Coca-Cola Park on Friday.
The Johannesburg team achieved their first bonus point victory for scoring four tries this season after scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, flanker Joshua Strauss, No 8 Warren Whitley and centre Doppies la Grange scored tries for the hosts. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked three conversions and two conversions.
The Blues winger Rene Ranger added a brace while Joe Rokocoko, centre Jared Payne and scrumhalf Alby Mathewson were the other try scorers for the visitors.
The Lions 32 Blues 41
Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg – Friday 4 March 2011
Man of the Match – Luke McAlister (Blues)
Lions: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (c), 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Patrick Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg.
Substitutes: Martin Bezuidenhout (61st min for Bandise Maku), Kevin Buys (54th min for Pat Cilliers), Dries van Schalkwyk, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar (64th min for Warren Whiteley), 20 Rory Kockott (54th min for Jano Vermaak), 21 Burton Francis (71st min for Elton Jantjies), 22 James Kamana (57th min for Jaco Taute).
Scorers – Tries: Jano Vermaak, Joshua Strauss, Warren Whitley, Doppies la Grange; Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3); Penalties: Jantjies (2).
Blues: 15. Isaia Toeava, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Sherwin Stowers, 10. Luke McAlister, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid, 6. Jerome Kaino (c), 5. Ali Williams, 4. Kurtis Haiu, 3. John Afoa, 2. Tom McCartney, 1. Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Charlie Faumuina, 18. Anthony Boric, 19. Daniel Braid, 20. Toby Morland, 21. Stephen Brett, 22. Rene Ranger.
Scorers – Tries: Rene Ranger (2), Joe Rokocoko, Jared Payne, Alby Mathewson; Conversions: Luke McAlister (4), Stephen Brett. Penalty: McAlister. Drop goal: McAlister
Western Force 12 The Sharks 39
nib Stadium, Perth – Saturday 5 March 2011
Man of the Match: Patrick Lambie (The Sharks)
Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Gene Fairbanks, 11 David Smith, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Ben McCalman, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Pek Cowan.
Substitutions: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Tevita Metuisela, 20 James Stannard, 21 Alfi e Mafi , 22 Rory Sidey.
Scorers – Penalties: James O Connor (4)
The Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Jacques Botes, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Beast Mtawarira.
Substitutes: 16. Craig Burden (72nd for Willem Alberts), 17. John Smit (77th min for Jannie du Plessis), 18. Anton Bresler (76th min for Steven Sykes), 19. Ryan Kankowski (53rd min for Jacques Botes), 20. Conrad Hoffmann (78th min for Charl McLeod, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter (52th min for JP Pietersen), 22. Lwazi Mvovo (18th min for Odwa Ndungane).
Scorers – Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Bismarck du Plessis, Steven Sykes, Willem Alberts, Patrick Lambie; Conversions: Pat Lambie (4); Penalties: Lambie (2).
DHL Stormers 21 Toyota Cheetahs 15
DHL Newlands, Cape Town – Saturday 5 March 2011
Man of the Match: Peter Grant (DHL Stormers)
DHL Stormers: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Substitutions: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe (69th min for Brok Harris), 18 De Kock Steenkamp (69th min for Rynhardt Elstadt), 19 Nick Koster (64th min for Pieter Louw), 20 Dewaldt Duvenage (43rd min for Ricky Januarie), 21 Gary van Aswegen (74th min for Conrad Jantjes), 22 Paul Bosch.
Scorers – Penalties: Peter Grant (7)
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Naas Olivier (c), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Waltie Vermeulen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Substitutions: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo (77th min for WP Nel), 18 Martin Muller (51min for Waltie Vermeulen), 19 Philip van der Walt (50min for Francois Uys), 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn (73rd min for Naas Olivier), 22 Riaan Viljoen (78th min for Hennie Daniller).
Scorers – Penalties: Naas Olivier (4), Riaan Viljoen.
Vodacom Bulls 28 Highlanders 35
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Saturday 5 March 2011
Man of the Match: Adam Thomson (Highlanders)
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfi eld, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Substitutions: 16 Derick Kuün (67th min for Deon Stegmann), 17 Rossouw de Klerk (72nd min for Werner Kruger), 18 Flip van der Merwe (50th min for Danie Rossouw), 19 Juandre Kruger, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar (61st min for Jaco Pretorius).
Scorers – Tries: Flip van der Merwe, Fourie Du Preez, Bjorn Basson; Conversions: Morne Steyn (2); Penalties: Morne Steyn (3).
Yellow Card – Deon Stegmann (Vodacom Bulls)
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Siale Piutau, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Substitutions: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 John Hardie, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Tony Brown, 22 Telusa Veainu.
Scorers – Tries: Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Kade Poki (2); Conversions: Tony Brown (3); Penalties: Tony Brown, Robbie Robinson (2).
