Chiefs soar, Highlanders poor, Jaguares surprise
try, a beaut, to Shaun Stevenson.
The happiest story of Super Rugby lies in Buenos Aires, where the Jaguares have already won three matches, their latest a 41-14 rout against the Cheetahs, just one short of their overall total of victories for the whole of last year.
Because they sit at the head of their ‘‘African’’ conference, the Jaguares, with 14 points, are placed second overall behind the Chiefs.
A couple of red cards got an airing during the weekend, with Reds playmaker Quade Cooper getting marched for a high tackle, minutes after halfback Nick Frisby was sin-binned, during the 44-14 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.
Flanker Renaldo Bothma was sent off for a high tackle during the Bulls’ 34-21 win over the Sunwolves in Pretoria, and the Sharks needed teenage No 10 Curwin Bosch to kick a 52m penalty with eight minutes remaining to earn them a 19-17 win over the Kings in Port Elizabeth.
There is trouble in Sydney, with the Waratahs suffering their third loss.
This time it was a 28-12 defeat to the Brumbies, who confirmed the triumph when wing Henry Speight scored his second try with five minutes left.
For Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson, a former All Black, it must be frustrating to the extreme. Like Brown, he must make things happen fast.