Sunwolves sign off Super 18 season with victory in NZ
THE Sunwolves rounded off their second year in Super Rugby with a maiden win over New Zealand opposition, upsetting the Blues 48-21 in the final round of the season.
With two years to go until Japan hosts their first Rugby World Cup, the Tokyo-based franchise relied on Samoan centre Timothy Lafaele to kickstart a second-half comeback after the Blues took a 21-14 lead into the break.
A sin bin for flanker Jerome Kaino proved the turning point as his high tackle on Willy Tupou saw him sent to the sidelines.
Using the extra man to their advantage the hosts scored 12 unanswered points through a penalty try and Kaito Shigeno.
The All Black back-row returned to the field to find the balance of the game firmly in the hands of the Sunwolves, coached by former Osprey Filo Tiatia, who scored five tries in the second half.
Lafaele steered his team to only a second win of the season and claimed a hattrick in the process with two late scores to add to his first-half try.
Yoshitaka Tokunaga concluded proceedings by scoring the Sunwolves eighth try of the match, a dent to the egos of New Zealand’s ‘almost’ team who have lost as many games as they have won.
Blues coach Tana Umaga kept his players out of the firing line and took the blame upon himself, saying: “I’ve got to look at myself and the way I help prepare this team and whether we did that right coming over early and trying to motivate them for a one-off game after the break. I'll look at myself first before I look at the players and that performance.”
Tiatia said: “We were resilient and competitive for the full 80 minutes. It was a great spectacle and the way we defended allowed us to create pressure and score some enterprising tries.”
The top two sides in the New Zealand conference met at the Westpac Stadium, where the Hurricanes ended the Crusaders illustrious 14-match unbeaten run heading into the knockout stage of the competition.
Unfazed by the late withdrawals of Beauden Barrett and Vince Aso due to illness, the Hurricanes clinched a 31-22 win over the table toppers from Christchurch.
Tries from Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Goosen and Fifita prevented the Crusaders from repeating their 2002 feat of going the season unbeaten.
On the South Island, the
Highlanders punched through the Reds defensive frailties to record a 40-17 victory.
They quickly dashed the hopes of the Queenslanders by racing to a 21-0 lead through Waisake Naholo, James Lentjes and Kayne Hammington tries.
An Izack Rodda score gave Reds a glimmer of hope but the Highlanders cut them back down to size in the second half with Ash Dixon’s try from a maul typifying a dominant display by the home side’s pack.
The Chiefs likewise downed Australian opposition as they beat Australian Conference leaders
Brumbies 28-10. Edging their opponents 13-10 at the break, full-back Damian McKenzie added to his first-half try with 13 points from the boot to help the Chiefs finish strongly.
The Lions finished top of the Super Rugby standings with a 27-10 win over the
Sharks at Kings Park – a result which sees the two sides return to Ellis Park for a quarter-final.
Springbok magic provided the edge for last year’s losing finalists as Malcolm Marx, Andries Coetzee and Jaco Kriel all crossed to make Kobus van Wyk’s opening score a distant memory. In Port Elizabeth, the
Kings and Cheetahs bowed out of Super Rugby in a closely-fought match which ended 20-21.
The Kings looked like they would beat their counterparts but a late comeback powered by tries from Clinton Swart and Raymond Rhule clawed the Cheetahs back into the contest at 20-18.
A late penalty by Niel Marais ensured the away side were the ones left celebrating at full-time.
The Bulls and the Stormers thrashed out a derby match full of attacking intent with 7s speedster Seabelo Senatla landing a last-minute try to earn his side a 41-33 win.
Spectators at Loftus Versfeld witnessed eleven tries in all with Jesse Kriel’s try in the 69th minute setting up a tense finish at 33-34, but Senatla collected Dillyn Leyd’s chipped kick to cross.
The Jaguares followed up beating the Waratahs last week with victory over the Rebels at AAMI Park.
A brace from winger Santiago Cordero sent the Argentinians on their way to a 32-29 victory to remain unbeaten on tour in Australia.
The Force put their looming exit from Super Rugby to one side to bag a 40-11 victory to compound the Waratahs’ woes.
Force icon Matt Hodgson got himself on the scoresheet with a try and a first ever penalty kick as they await the axe to fall from the ARU.