SA teams show class in Super Rugby opening weekend, but Bulls bully Stormers at Loftus
THE EMIRATES Lions managed to break their away game hoodoo in Argentina, while the Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks both scored impressive victories on the opening weekend of 2019 Super Ruby action, which saw only one home win from seven fixtures.
Lions flanker Marnus Schoeman scored a hat-trick of tries for Lions to claim a 25-16 victory on Saturday evening against the Jaguares in what marked their first away win in four attempts in Buenos Aires.
Elton Jantjies added two conversions and two penalty goals to assist the side to a well-deserved win on the road.
The Highveld team produced a powerful display upfront against the physical Jaguares, while they were also solid on defence.
Apart from the try-scoring exploits of the scavenging Schoeman, debutant prop Carlu Sadie was also immense in defence and in the scrums, while he won a few turnovers as well. The positive result will give Warren Whiteley’s team a huge amount of confidence for next Saturday’s derby against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town
At Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria Rosko Specman scored a sizzling brace of tries on debut, while Handré Pollard delivered a masterclass kicking display for the Bulls in their sparkling 40-3 triumph over the Stormers on Saturday evening.
The start of the derby was delayed by 20 minutes because of an accident on the N1 motorway close to Pretoria, which resulted in the late arrival of the Stormers’ bus at Loftus.
Incredibly, Lood de Jager’s team secured the only home win, with all the other roundone results going the way of the visiting teams.
Springbok Sevens star, Specman, made a dream debut with two brilliant tries in the first half, while fellow wing Johnny Kotze also dotted down on the other side of the pitch.
Playmaker Pollard, meanwhile, slotted the conversions and a penalty goal to hand the home team a handy 24-3 lead at the break.
The Cape side struggled to match the intensity of the hosts and their troubles were made worse when skipper Siya Kolisi left the field in the 27th minute following a head injury assessment.
Springbok centre Jesse Kriel finished a sublime set move when he collected a beautifully-weighted chip kick from Pollard to race in under the poles.
100 percent record
Pollard finished the match with a 100 percent kicking record, slotting four conversions and four penalty goals to bag the Man of the Match award.
The Pretoria outfit will travel to Buenos Aires for their next game against the Jaguares.
And in Singapore, the Sharks produced a clinical display to defeat the Sunwolves 45-10 in their opening fixture in which Springbok midfielder Lukhanyo Am showed sublime form.
The Durbanites scored six tries to one after the Sunwolves opened the scoring early in the first half, when centre Shane Gates scooped up a chip kick to streak home.
However, the men from Durban quickly settled down and found their rhythm to stack up six converted tries through Akker van der Merwe (2), Makazole Mapimpi, Sibusiso Nkosi, Dan du Preez and replacement back Jeremy Ward.
They host the Blues at Jonsson Kings Park in their next match.