HIGHLIGHTS-Rugby-Super Rugby week three
Flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked six penalties and a conversion as the Bulls claimed a handsome victory at Ellis Park and ended the Lions home dominance over fellow South African sides that had stretched back to 2015. Pollard controlled the game and punished numerous errors from the Lions, who have now lost back-to-back matches as they seek a fourth Super Rugby final appearance in a row.
Number eight Duane Vermeulen and fullback Warrick Gelant crossed for tries for the visitors, with Pollard’s boot providing a healthy lead for the final hour of the contest. The Lions also scored two tries through props Carlu Sadie and Dylan Smith, but their ineffective backline failed again, with all their seven tries this season coming from forwards.
READ MORE Pollard kicks Bulls to comfortable win over toothless Lions
Forwards drive Crusaders to win over Reds Sunwolves beat Chiefs to win first game away from home
Pacific nation players considering World Cup boycott Blues saddened at sudden death of former prop Tamoaieta
Laumape hat-trick blasts Hurricanes to win over Brumbies Tier Two nations needed in global shake-up - NZ, Australia
Nonu back, Sonny Bill out as Blues face Jaguares Proposed World League shakeup causes player concerns
World League would be 'death' of Pacific rugby Australia won't follow South Africa lead on overseas players
Bulls lose lock de Jager for Lions battle SA Rugby plan to retain players dealt early blow
Wallabies hooker Latu banned for six weeks Whiteley out for six to eight weeks
New Blues, same old problems REDS 12 CRUSADERS 22
Loose forwards Whetu Douglas and Jordan Taufua were driven across the line as the Crusaders pack took control of the game in the second half to register a victory over the Reds at Lang Park in Brisbane. Douglas and Taufua were the last men with their hands on the ball following destructive driving mauls as the nine-time champions ramped up the pressure up front after a helter-skelter first half.
Winger Braydon Ennor and fullback Will Jordan had scored tries in the first 10 minutes of the game while captain Samu Kerevi and Scott Higginbotham scored tries for the home side. CHIEFS 15 SUNWOLVES 30
Flyhalf Hayden Parker was faultless off the tee as the Sunwolves capitalised on their scoring opportunities to upset the Chiefs in Hamilton and record their first win away from home. Openside flanker Shuhei Matsuhashi, lock Uwe Helu and winger Gerhard van den Heever all crossed for the Tokyo-based side, who had won just six games in their three previous seasons of Super Rugby.
Former Otago flyhalf Parker slotted five from five with the boot as the Sunwolves dominated possession and territory in the first half and ensured they capitalised on Chiefs' errors and turnovers. Centre Alex Nankivell and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo both scored tries for the twice champions Chiefs, who have now lost all three of their games this season and face an uphill battle to get into playoff contention.
REBELS 24 HIGHLANDERS 19 Replacement scrumhalf Michael Ruru knocked the ball out of Shannon Frizell's hands as he was diving for a 79th-minute try that could have tied the scores with the conversion to come to give the Rebels victory over the Highlanders in temperatures above 30 Celsius (86F) in Melbourne.
With Will Genia and Quade Cooper orchestrating their flat-attack close to the defensive line, centre Tom English crossed twice while Jack Maddocks and Billy Meeks also scored five-pointers for the home side. Frizell had scored an early try for the Highlanders, while Siate Tokolahi and Jackson Hemopo also crossed as the visitors came within centimetres of clinching a third-late comeback in succession only for Ruru's hand to deny them.
HURRICANES 43 BRUMBIES 13 Ngani Laumape scored a hat-trick of tries on his home ground as the Hurricanes showed how dangerous they can be with victory over the Brumbies in Palmerston North.
Hurricanes captain Dane Coles also crossed twice while James Blackwell scored after the final hooter for the home side, who were given no ball or space last week by the Crusaders, but were at their dynamic best on Friday as they played at pace and attacked from anywhere on the field. Hooker Folau Fainga'a and Tom Wright crossed for the Brumbies, who showed signs of the play that destroyed the Waikato Chiefs 54-17 last week but were forced to chase the Hurricanes in the second half.
(Compiled by Greg Stutchbury and Nick Said; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Ed Osmond)
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