Bulls snatch late try to beat Hurricanes Super Rugby opener

PROP forward Pierre Schoeman’s try eight minutes from time saw the Bulls come from behind to beat the Hurricanes 21-19 in both side’s opening Super Rugby match of the season at Loftus Versfeld yesterday.

It was a debut win in the competition for new coach John Mitchell against the 2016 winners of the competition.

A Beauden Barrett try just before the hour mark had seen the Hurricanes take a 19-16 lead as the Kiwi flyhalf became only the fourth player to pass 1 000 points in Super Rugby.

But a charge down near the halfway line from Handre Pollard set up the try for Schoeman to turn the result in favour of the hosts.

The Bulls took an early lead as Johnny Kotze went over on the wing. However, after 20 minutes the Hurricanes had gone 12-8 ahead after Ricky Riccitelli’s try and a clever chip and chase by wing Wes Goosen saw him cruise over.

Schoeman was then sinbinned, putting the new-look Bulls under further pressure, but despite having a man down they crossed the Hurricanes’ line twice.

The first effort from RG Snyman was adjudged to have been knocked on but the giant lock burst through the line to set up his fellow second rower Lood de Jager for a 13-12 lead, extended to 16-12 at the break when Pollard scored a penalty.

The Hurricanes did well to battle the effects of the altitude, however, they proved too tired in the final 10 minutes to hold on for the victory.

Yesterday morning Ned Hanigan scored with the last attack of the game as the Waratha’s side took advantage of an overthrow at a Stormers lineout to win the match 34-27 on the final whistle in Sydney.

The home side outscored their South African opponents four tries to three in a seesaw game that was evenly balanced at 17-17 at half-time.

As the match wound to a close, the Waratahs came to light with a few penetrative downfield sweeps but a dogged Stormers defence held out.

Five minutes from the end, a crucial Stormers line-out went horribly wrong and it probably put paid to their chances of staging a matchwinning attack at the end. Just as the fulltime siren was about to sound another Stormers line-out went awry and this time it cost them the game as the Waratahs worked the ball towards the tryline and flank Hanigan landed the killer blow. Foley added the conversion to cap the bonus-point win. – ANA & Reuters