Hurricanes swept away by Lions
JOHANNESBURG: A magnificent comeback swept Golden Lions of South Africa to the Super Rugby final with a 44-29 triumph over title-holders Wellington Hurricanes of New Zealand in Johannesburg Saturday.
The Lions host another New Zealand outfit, record seventime champions Canterbury Crusaders, in the final next Saturday, seeking a first success in the competition.
But some gloss was taken off the victory by the controversial yellow-carding of Hurricanes flyhalf and 2016 Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett at a key stage of the semi-final.
While All Blacks playmaker Barrett sat in the “sin bin”, the South Africans scored two tries and transformed a seven-point deficit into a 39-29 lead at Ellis Park stadium.
South African referee Jaco Peyper judged that after making a tackle, Barrett correctly rolled away, but illegally dragged the ball with him.
However, big-screen replays suggested Barrett accidentally pulled the ball away and was not guilty of a cynical foul.
A couple of SuperSport TV analysts believed expelling Barrett from the field for 10 minutes was a harsh call.
“It was a pretty tough decision against Beauden,” said former Springboks loose forward and coach Nick Mallett.
Former South Africa fly-half Naas Botha said: “It was a tough call against Beauden to show him a yellow card.”
The incident could heighten calls for neutral match officials in the closing stages of an annual competition involving Argentine, Australian, Japanese, New Zealand and South African SYDNEY: Test skipper Cameron Smith celebrated his 350th National Rugby League game with a starring role in Melbourne Storm’s crushing 40-6 win over the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday.
Smith was involved in four try assists, topped the tackle count and kicked six goals as the Storm preserved their two-point lead over the Sydney Roosters at the top of the standings.
The skilful hooker became only the third NRL player and first forward to join the 350-game club, along with Darren Lockyer (355) and Terry Lamb (350), and is now within sight of breaking the league record by the end of this season.
Yet again Smith and Test scrumhalf Cooper Cronk orchestrated Storm’s dismantling of the Sea Eagles, running away with the contest in the second half after leading 12-6 at half-time.
The Roosters kept the Storm in their sights with a come-frombehind 22-16 win over the North Queensland Cowboys at home on Saturday, after trailing 16-6 at the interval. - AFP franchises.
By the time Barrett returned, the defending champions were on the back foot and an intercept try by Lions flanker Kwagga Smith completed a particularly pleasing success.
Lions lost the 2016 final to Hurricanes in Wellington, their 10th defeat by the New Zealand outfit in 11 meetings, including a 50-17 drubbing at Ellis Park last season.
“I am the proud leader of a wise and fearless team,” boasted Lions skipper and flanker Jaco Kriel, deputising for injured Warren Whiteley, who will also miss the final.
“They displayed tremendous character to win after trailing by 19 points. We got a halftime rev from the coach (Johan Ackermann) and dug deep in the second half to succeed.”
Hurricanes skipper and hooker Dane Coles, making his 100th Super Rugby appearance, admitted that the Lions were impossible to stop in the second half.
“They developed momentum that blew us away and the better team won. The Lions have improved greatly since losing to us in the final last year,” said the All Black.
Hurricanes built the 22-10 half-time advantage through clinical punishment of wayward passes as the Lions committed unforced errors under pressure.
Tries just before and after half-time from prop Jacques van Rooyen and man-of-thematch award winner and scrum-half Ross Cronje turned the tide.
As the stamina-sapping effects of the 1,750-metre (5,750 feet) gradually told on the defending champions, defence gaps appeared and the Lions took full advantage.
Driving mauls proved an especially profitable tactic, leading to several tries, and lock Franco Mostert was outstanding for the Lions in the set-pieces and loose exchanges.
Van Rooyen, Cronje, hooker Malcolm Marx, centre Harold Vorster, fly-half Elton Jantjies and Smith were the Lions’ try scorers.
Jantjies, back in form after a disastrous goal-kicking display in a close quarter-final win over fellow South Africans Costal sharks, slotted four conversions and two penalties.
Scrum-half TJ Perenara, South Africa-born winger Wes Goosen, flanker Ardie Savea and centre Ngani Laumape scores tries for Hurricanes.
The Barrett brothers shared the goal-kicking with full-back Jordie kicking two conversions and a penalty and Beauden one conversion. - AFP
Smith celebrates 350th game with star role in big Storm win