Super Lions roar to the top of the overall standings
THE Auckland Blues survived a second-half rally from the NSW Waratahs to win their Super Rugby match in Sydney 40-33 yesterday and continue the winning streak of New Zealand sides over their Australian counterparts this season.
Winger Rieko Ioane scored a brace while brother Akira and lock Scott Scrafton also crossed for the Blues, who were 26-0 up at halftime. Piers Francis scored 20 points with the boot as the Kiwi sides took their streak to 17-0 over Australian rivals.
Israel Folau led the hosts’ second-half fightback with two tries and Tolu Latu, Bernard Foley and Paddy Ryan also scored for the Waratahs. Foley made four conversions.
Meanwhile, flyhalf Stephen Donald crossed twice as the Chiefs scored 19 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half to put the game beyond doubt and beat the Reds 46-17 in New Plymouth.
Prop Kane Hames, centre Charlie Ngatai, who was making his first Super Rugby appearance in a year after recovering from concussion, lock Dominic Bird and wing James Lowe also scored tries with fullback Damian Mckenzie contributing 16 points with the boot.
Reds hooker Stephen Moore, wing Eto Nabuli and centre Campbell Magnay scored tries for the visitors with Cooper adding a single conversion.
And the Lions moved to the top of the overall standings and kept themselves in prime position for home advantage in the play-offs with a seven-try, bonus point 47-10 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne.
The South Africans have 42 points, one ahead of New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders, following tries to flanker Kwagga Smith, scrumhalf Ross Cronjé, wingers Courtnall Skosan and Sylvian Mahuza, replacement Anthonie Volmink and captain Warren Whiteley.
Referee Shuhei Kubo also awarded the Lions a penalty try after Rebels replacement lock Culum Retallick was yellow carded for having deliberately collapsed a line-out drive. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies added five conversions.
In Bloemfontein wing Waisake Naholo scored after the hooter to secure a remarkable comeback for the Otago Highlanders as they scored three tries in the final five minutes to snatch a 45-41 victory from their hosts.
The visitors trailed 41-24 going into the closing stages of the game, but as the home side tired, the Highlanders exploited the holes in their defence brilliantly as wing Tevita Li, fullback Matt Feddes and Naholo, with his second try of the match, secured the points.
The win sees the Highlanders claim a sixth Super Rugby victory in a row for the first time since 2005, and ensured a seventh straight loss for the limping Cheetahs.
In Wellington, New Zealand, Ngani Laumape scored two late tries, one that began deep inside Hurricanes territory as the home side secured a scrappy 41-22 victory over South Africa’s Stormers.
Fullback Jordie Barrett also crossed twice, while Julian Savea, Cory Jane and Beauden Barrett grabbed tries for the home side.
Stormers’ replacement hooker Ramone Samuels scored the visitors’ only try with fullback SP Marais slotting four penalties while flyhalf Robert du Preez kicked a penalty and conversion before he went off injured. – Reuters