Super Rugby Round 12: Jaguares notch fourth-straight win, Sharks smash Highlanders
There were some more interesting results thrown up in round 12.
Missed any of the matches? We’ve got you covered.
Chiefs vs Jaguares
The red-hot Jaguares lodged one of the great moments in their short Super Rugby history by stunning the Chiefs 23-19 in Rotorua on Friday night.
In a display of power and efficiency, the South Americans strangled the life out of the disappointing Chiefs to record a fourth successive win for the first time since their introduction to the competition in 2016.
All four have come on the road in Australia and New Zealand, suggesting they are emerging as a force to be reckoned with.
After losing four of their first five games this season, the Jaguares have unearthed a formula based on stifling defence and forward muscle which frustrated the hosts.
RESULT
Chiefs 19
Tries: Parete
Cons: McKenzie
Pens: McKenzie 4
Jaguares 23
Tries: Moyano, Penalty
Cons: Sanchez
Pens: Sanchez 2, Boffelli
Rebels vs Crusaders
The Rebels’ season has hit its lowest point, flogged 55-10 by the Crusaders in front of their home fans.
Put simply, the scoreline flattered the Rebels.
There was a bit of a men against boys feel at AAMI Park, which says as much about the Crusaders as it does Melbourne.
It is testament to the intensity and accuracy with which the competition favourites play but it also speaks volumes of how far Melbourne have to go before being considered a top line outfit.
Read the full match report here.
RESULT
Rebels 10
Tries: Hodge
Cons: Debreczeni
Pens: Debreczeni
Crusaders 55
Tries:, Makalio 2, Tamanivalu,, Goodhue, Samu, Hall, Crockett
Cons: Hunt 4, Mo’unga 2
Pens: Mo’unga
Hurricanes vs Lions
A Ben Lam hat-trick has set up the Hurricanes for their eighth win of the Super Rugby season as they dispatched the Lions 28-19 in Wellington.
The 26-year-old winger brought his season’s tally to 12, adding two second-half tries to his seventh-minute opener.
Lam’s first try gave the Hurricanes an up-tempo start to the game in blustery, swirling conditions at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
RESULT
Hurricanes 28
Tries: Lam 3, A Savea
Cons: Barrett 4
Lions 19
Tries: Groom, Schoeman, Mahuza
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Cons: Jantjies 2
Waratahs vs Blues
Another winless weekend is over for Australian rugby, with the Waratahs unable to break the trans-Tasman duck, losing to the Blues 24-21.
NSW never bought into the ‘struggling Blues’ talk that dominated the lead-up, and the Auckland visitors will go home with their tails up, after just their third win of the season.
The Waratahs had the early attacking possession but it was deja vu as their own mistakes proved their greatest obstacles to scoring.
Read the full match report here.
RESULT
Waratahs 21
Tries: Fitzpatrick, Kepu, Hooper
Cons: Foley 3
Blues 24
Tries: R. Ioane, Manu
Cons: Perofeta
Pens: Perofeta 4
Yellow Cards: Papalii (24’)
Stormers vs Bulls
An early try from teenage flyhalf Damian Willemse has laid the platform for the Stormers’ pulsating 29-17 victory over the Bulls in their South African Super Rugby derby.
The victory on Saturday maintained the Stormers’ 100 per cent home record this season and kept alive their play-off hopes as they scored four tries to two against the improving Bulls.
Prop Wilco Louw, fullback SP Marais and hooker Ramone Samuels also crossed the line for the home side while lock Lood de Jager and flanker Jason Jenkins scored tries for the visitors.
RESULT
Stormers 29
Tries: Willemse, Louw, Marais, Samuels
Cons: Willemse 3
Pens: Marais
Bulls 17
Tries: De Jager, Jenkins
Cons: Pollard 2
Pens: Pollard
Sharks vs Highlanders
The Highlanders have been handed a Super Rugby lesson by the Sharks in Durban, suffering a record 38-12 defeat.
The hosts scored five tries to two in a dominant performance, notching the biggest win in their rivalry and the second-largest over any Kiwi side.
Fullback Curwin Bosch and second five-eighth Andre Esterhuizen led a compelling display on attack for the Sharks, who also strangled the Highlanders at the breakdown.
RESULT
Sharks 38
Tries: du Preez 2, van der Merwe, Mapimpi, Nikosi
Cons: du Preez 5
Pens: du Preez
Highlanders
Tries: Hunt, Walden
Cons: Sopoaga