Kings storm home in the second half to stun the Waratahs
THE Kings might be heading for the guillotine next season but they proved they are still very much alive by recording a shock win over the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.
The Port Elizabeth-based side, who will be consigned to the scrapheap for 2018 as part of SANZAAR’s tournament restructuring, trailed 17-7 at half-time but scored the next 19 points before the woeful Waratahs scored a last-minute try to claim a losing bonus point.
The Waratahs looked on track for a much-needed bonus-point win after opening up a 17-0 lead with three first-half tries before the Kings hit back through Justin Forwood, Masixole Banda and Michael Willemse. They clinched victory with a penalty try awarded after a succession of scrum binding errors in the final minutes.
The Kings, despite huge off-field distractions, have been competitive on their Australian tour, losing 46-41 to Force and 47-34 to the Reds ahead of this huge scalp.
Captain Lionel Cronje said: “It has been an absolutely emotional tour for us with all the news regarding Super Rugby. There has been a lot of pressure on our administrators, our families at home and you can imagine all the pressure on our players hearing all the news being away from home.
“It’s amazing to be able to pull a game through like this and to get a victory against the Waratahs who have been Super Rugby champions.”
The Waratahs grabbed an after-the-siren bonus point with a consolation try to winger Taqele Naiyaravoro but captain Michael Hooper was far from happy.
“It was a pretty embarrassing performance from us,” he said. “There was a lot of talk, not much action. It’s going to be a tough weekend.”
A hat-trick of tries to centre Vince Aso helped the
Hurricanes overcome a mid-game wobble to demolish the Brumbies 56-21 in Napier on Friday.
The defending champions scored eight tries to three in the bonus-point win, piling on 42 unanswered secondhalf points after trailing 21-14 at the break.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was in the stands to run his eye over the Hurricanes ahead of the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour and he would have been happy as fly-half Beauden Barrett set up two tries while his younger brother, Jordie, pressed his All Black claims with seven conversions in the match.
George Bridge bagged a hat-trick as the Crusaders juggernaut rumbled over the Stormers 57-24 in Christchurch on Saturday.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read added two tries and Michael Alaalatoa, Pete Samu and Manasa Mataele also made their way over the line as the Crusaders mounted an eight-try stam- pede to remain unbeaten after eight matches.
Fly-half Elton Jantjies kicked the only penalty of the game to help the Lions escape with a 24-21 home win over the Jaguares at Ellis Park.
The teams traded three converted tries to be level with 10 minutes to go but the Lions won a penalty two minutes from time which Jantjies slotted over to seal victory.
Captains Matt Hodgson and Liam Messam both scored tries in Perth yesterday but it was the latter who ended with the win as
Aaron Cruden was on hand with three penalties to help the Chiefs secure a hardfought 16-7 win over the Force.
Guided by their in-form All Blacks, the Highlanders cruised to a bonus-point 40-15 victory over the Sunwolves.
Centre Matt Faddes scored a brace while four Test stars – Malakai Fekitoa, Liam Squire, Aaron Smith and Ben Smith – all added one each.
A minute of magic from Springbok centre Jesse Kriel six minutes from time earned the Bulls a 20-14 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday, in a dire game that former Springbok coach Nick Mallett labelled most of the play “unwatchable”.
Turnover ball in midfield gave the Bulls an attacking opportunity and Jamba Ulengo and Burger Odendaal made ground before Kriel cut inside to score.
In another far from exciting game, the Sharks and the Rebels drew 9-9, with South African Curwin Bosch and Wallaby Reece Hodge slotting three penalties each.