Jaguares gore the Bulls in comfortable victory
Two tries in the last 20 minutes handed Argentina’s Jaguares their first win of the new Super Rugby season with a comfortable victory over South Africa’s Bulls after a scrappy contest played out in heavy rain.
The Bulls led 12-9 when flyhalf Handre Pollard converted his fourth penalty on the hour mark, but replacement Rodrigo Bruni went over off the catch-and-drive and winger Bautista Delguy scored on the overlap to secure the 27-12 victory.
● Replacement scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored a try in the 86th minute as the Stormers claimed a first Super Rugby season win of 19-17 in a scrappy South African derby at Newlands.
Loose-forward Kwagga Smith and eighthman Warren Whiteley scored tries for the Lions in the first half as they led 14-6 at the break, but they allowed the home team to stay in the contest, giving away a succession of penalties.
The Lions will be concerned about Whiteley, who had to leave the field in the first half with what looked like a pectoral problem.
● Three unanswered tries in the first half set the foundation for a second win of the season for the Sharks as they took full advantage of the hot conditions in Durban to beat their New Zealand visitors, the Auckland Blues 26-7.
A try on his home debut at King’s Park for fullback Aphelele Fassi in the seventh minute was followed by scores from Akker van der Merwe and Robert du Preez, for a 19-0 half-time lead.
It took the Blues just over an hour to get their try, as debutant Tanielu Tele’a went over with his first opportunity after coming on as a replacement.
But as the Auckland side looked to finish strongly, Sharks back Curwin Bosch picked up a loose ball to run almost the length of the field for the Sharks’ fourth and bonus-point try just before the final whistle.
● The ACT Brumbies ended Australian fears of another long losing streak to New Zealand sides with a stunning eight-try, 54-17 demolition of the Waikato Chiefs in Canberra on Saturday.
● The Canterbury Crusaders condemned the Wellington Hurricanes to another miserable trip to Christchurch on Saturday with a 38-22 thrashing.
Having survived a big scare away to the Auckland Blues in their season-opener, the defending champions were back to their marauding best at home.
● The New South Wales Waratahs survived a huge scare to claim their first win of the season in a scrappy match against the Sunwolves at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium. They won 31-30.
● Dillon Hunt scored a match-winning try with six minutes remaining as the Highlanders had to fight back for the second successive week before recording a 36-31 victory over the Reds in Dunedin. –