Stormers top Waratahs in Newlands tussle

AHEALTHY dash of spice was added to the South African Super Rugby Conference last night in Bloemfontein when the resplendent Sharks crept up on the Bulls on the rankings and sounded out a warning to the Stormers, their opponents in Durban this week, with a super-charged crushing of the Cheetahs.

The Sharks had to win this match to keep themselves in qualification territory for the play-offs, and in the process pass an acid test of how good they really are this season, and whether they are genuinely play-off contenders because SA derbies tend to show the true mettle of our teams.

The Sharks had been consistently inconsistent heading into this first of the five SA derbies they have ahead of the quarter-finals, having battled to string successive wins together since February and countered every victory with a setback the next week.

But after the disappointment of the Chiefs defeat in their first match back from tour, they have now strung together three wins in a row. The Stormers will know they are in for a clash of the titans on Saturday.

This match will be remembered for the personal battles between players such as hookers Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss, who hammered each other just about into submission, and it is a pity that the Grey College rivals can’t be included in the same Springbok starting line-up.

In fact, the Sharks’ opening try was as brutal as it was slickly effective when Du Plessis, making a strong statement against the pretender to the Springbok No 2 jersey vacated by John Smit, Strauss, by first knocking him senseless with a robust, head-on charge, and then twice being involved in the set-ups that eventually saw JP Pietersen casually saunter over unmarked.

But Strauss got up off the canvas to be heavily involved in his team’s play, culminating in him scoring a try of his own, while Du Plessis was harshly yellow-carded for an alleged armless tackle, yet still earned the man-of-the-match award.

But that early try by the Sharks was undone by two successive penalties by young Free State flyhalf, Riaan Smit, a teenager who had been preferred to 22-year-old Sias Ebersohn, who replaced the injured teenager Johan Goosen.

And the home side then took the lead when Strauss, making his own point against his combative adversary, stepped inside a tackle to finish off relentless pressure emanating from a Robert Ebersohn break that had taken his side into the Sharks’ 22, with the conversion giving the Cheetahs the lead.

Only for the Cheetahs to concede a try that was as soft as it was well taken. A nothing kick from Cheetahs fullback Hennie Daniller was returned with an equally meaningless deep kick by counterpart Riaan Viljoen, but the ball bounced badly for the Cheetahs’ defence and perfectly for the hard-chasing Michalak, who was rewarded for his honest endeavour.

The Sharks immediately gifted three points back to the Cheetahs when centre Paul Jordaan, who otherwise had a very good game, was penalised from the kick-off for obstruction, leaving the score at 14-14.

But a great Sharks try on half-time was born from a brave decision by Keegan Daniel to capitalise on the momentum of a build-up towards the line that ended with a Cheetahs infringement.

The captain scorned the kick at goal and ran it, with Jordaan making the offload for winger Lwazi Mvovo to score.

Michalak kicked a penalty just after half-time before two penalties by Sias Ebersohn threatened a Cheetahs comeback. But the home team’s bid for a record sixth win in a Super Rugby season was thwarted when replacement centre Meyer Bosman rounded off a superb team build-up to earn the Sharks a bonus-point try. THE DHL Stormers won 19-13 against the Waratahs during their Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Newlands in Cape Town last night.

The Stormers went into the half-time break leading 13-3 but only managed to add six points to their total in the second half in a battle of attrition.

Joe Pietersen and Tiaan Liebenberg scored the tries for the home side while Pietersen and Peter Grant (2) converted penalties.

The Waratahs’s only try was scored by Rob Horne and converted by Brendan Mckibben, who also kicked two penalties.

The Stormers return to the top of the overall standings and lead the SA conference despite not getting what seems to be an elusive bonus point for scoring four tries in a match.

The Waratahs earned a bonus point for losing within seven points. Next weekend the Stormers travel to Durban to take on the Sharks, while the Waratahs will be up against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Meanwhile in London, Leinster were crowned European club kings for the third time in four seasons as they proved themselves one of the finest club sides ever at Twickenham yesterday.

Flank Sean O’brien, props Cian Healy and Heinke van der Merwe and hooker Sean Cronin scored the tries as the champions from southern Ireland retained their title with a crushing 42-14 victory over fellow Irish outfit Ulster.

“After we won one we talked about not being content and trying to create some sort of dynasty and we are going in the direction for that,” captain Brian O’driscoll said.

“I know this team and they will be hungry for more.

“We played for each other today and the energy was great from the whole squad. Two replacements coming on and scoring tries says it all.”

A record European Cup final crowd of 81 774 watched the outstanding performance from the Dubliners – SAPA-AFP BRISBANE: Quade Cooper made his first match appearance in seven months to set up Queensland’s first try and 18-year-old wing Chris Feauai-sautia later added a try within minutes of making his Super 15 debut as the Reds beat the Lions 34-20.

Cooper was substituted at half-time but did not appear to have any further fitness concerns. – Sapa-ap

All Black sidelined

AUCKLAND: All Blacks winger Cory Jane will miss the Test series against Ireland in June after being ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle sprain.

The All Blacks host Declan Kidney’s team for Tests on June 9 in Auckland, June 16 in Christchurch and June 23 in Hamilton. Jane may not be available again until June 30.

Jane injured the ankle in the Hurricanes’ 37-25 loss to the Brumbies in Wellington on Friday. – Reuters

High five for Japan

TOKYO: Japan claimed their fifth straight Asian Five Nations title when they smashed Hong Kong 67-0 in Tokyo yesterday. UAE, Kazakhstan and South Korea are the other teams in the Five Nations. – SAPA-AFP

Bulls blow it

DUNEDIN: Otago lock Jarrad Hoeata had a try disallowed but immediately scored another to lead the Highlanders to a 16-11 win over the Bulls yesterday, ending the SA team’s brief reign atop the table.

Prop Dean Greyling cost the Bulls twice: first when he MELBOURNE: Australia flanker Scott Higginbotham will leave the Reds at the end of this season and play for the Melbourne Rebels in 2013.

Higginbotham, who has played 11 Tests for the Wallabies, had signed a twoyear contract. – Sapa-ap

Coach honoured

VETERAN coach Frans de Beer will be honoured for his services to the game in KZN at a lunch at Riverside Sports Club on Friday, June 8. Former Natal scrumhalf Doug Tweedie is MC and former Bok coach Dick Muir the guest speaker.

De Beer worked with Glenwood Old Boys, Maritzburg Varsity, Cedara, Maritzburg Collegians, the Duikers and Natal.

Contact Doug at 082 514 3929. Tickets R100 per person. – Own correspondent

Bladen cuts it

HUGH Bladen will host the first in a series called “Cutting it with Blades” at the College Rovers pub on the evening of June 8, where he will talk to James Small and Mark Andrews.

Book your seat to be part of this memorable occasion the night before SA host England at Kings Park. Tickets R225 from Andrew Borgen at 073 570 4722 or Ryan Hillary at 082 622 3848. – Own correspondent

Biarritz qualify

LONDON: Dimitri Yachvili kicked seven penalties to give Biarritz a 21-18 win over Toulon in Friday’s European Challenge Cup final at the Stoop. Biarritz qualified for next season’s European Cup. – SAPA-AFP