HIGHLIGHTS-Rugby-Super Rugby week nine
Centre Matias Orlando scored a hat-trick of tries as the Jaguares stunned the Sharks with a comprehensive victory at King's Park on Saturday, to build on their last-gasp win over the Bulls the previous week. It was a first ever success in Durban and well deserved, as they stormed back into contention for top spot in the conference by overwhelming their hosts seven tries to two.
Their other tries came via flank Pablo Matera (two), scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli and wing Matias Moroni as they proved clinical with ball in hand and put up a stout defensive effort to keep their hosts at bay. The Sharks crushed the Lions last weekend at Ellis Park but their inconsistency in performance showed again as they were always second best, scoring two tries via lock Hyron Andrews and replacement back Aphelele Fassi.
READ MORE Orlando blooms as Jaguares stun Sharks in Durban
Second-half try blitz sees Stormers home in Melbourne Crusaders come from behind to take South Island honours
Rugby Australia's 'position unchanged' after Folau meeting Rugby Australia intends to sack Folau over 'discriminatory' post
Brumbies will manage Pocock's workload after return Sonny Bill to have knee surgery, World Cup questions loom
Stuttering South Africans look for change of fortune in Super Rugby Rugby Australia says Folau anti-gay comments are 'unacceptable'
Bulls bring in six Boks to bolster side for Reds clash 'They won't let anyone else in' – Japan captain Leitch on Sunwolves expulsion
Australia can be surprise package at World Cup – Gregan Cane returns from broken neck, gets All Blacks boost
Force cut enables Rugby Australia to post surplus, improve results Stormers skipper Kolisi to miss Melbourne Rebels clash
Trailblazing Aboriginal Wallaby McDermott dies aged 79 Flying Folau lands try-scoring record in Howlett's home town
HIGHLIGHTS-Super Rugby week eight ACT BRUMBIES 31 LIONS 20
The Brumbies scored five tries in Canberra to rebound from last week's heavy loss to the Crusaders and see off the losing Super Rugby finalists from the last three seasons. Number eight Lachlan McCaffrey and winger Toni Pulu crossed in six first-half minutes to put the Brumbies in front for good after they conceded an early try and Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani increased the lead with a third just before the break.
Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies produced a bit of magic to reduce the deficit after 50 minutes but another two-try burst in three minutes, courtesy of backs Tom Banks and Tom Wright, set the home side on their way to a third win of the season. The Johannesburg-based Lions also suffered a thumping last week but they were unable to respond despite scoring the first and last tries of the match through wingers Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sylvian Mahuza.
WAIKATO CHIEFS 33 AUCKLAND BLUES 29 The Chiefs ran in five tries to extend their unbeaten run against the Blues to 15 matches after a breathless Hamilton thriller on Saturday.
The Blues, looking to put together five straight wins for the first time since 2011, never gave up and the home side had to fight tooth and nail for the win after Ma'a Nonu crossed for his second try in the 78th minute. Flanker Lachlan Boshier crossed for a brace of tries for the Chiefs, who also had scores from scrumhalf Brad Weber, hulking winger Ataata Moeakiola and Jesse Parete as they beat New Zealand opponents for the first time this season.
A five-pointer from fullback Melani Nanai and the first from evergreen centre Nonu kept the Blues in touch before a brilliant finish in the corner in the 66th minute from winger Rieko Ioane, his eighth try of the season, set up the late drama. MELBOURNE REBELS 24 STORMERS 41
The Stormers struck early and ran in three tries in a nine-minute burst after the break to end their Australasian tour on a high with an emphatic victory over the Rebels in Melbourne. Three successive defeats had made for a miserable trip for the Stormers but a brilliant individual try from winger Dillyn Leyds and a huge defensive effort gave them hope of returning to Cape Town with a win when they led 10-3 at halftime.
Reece Hodge intercepted a Jean-Luc du Plessis pass for a converted try that levelled up the scores straight after the break but Juarno Augustus, Damian de Allende and Ruhan Nel then crossed in quick succession for the visitors. Will Genia and Campbell Magnay scored tries for the Australian Conference leaders to cut the deficit to 10 points with three minutes remaining, but Nel raced almost the length of the pitch for his second five-pointer to seal the victory.
CANTERBURY CRUSADERS 43 OTAGO HIGHLANDERS 17 Super Rugby champions the Canterbury Crusaders recovered a halftime deficit for the second week in a row to thrash the Otago Highlanders and extend their unbeaten run at home to 24 matches.
Ten points down after 12 minutes, the Crusaders ran in six tries to secure a bonus-point victory and stretch their lead over the resting Wellington Hurricanes at the top of the New Zealand conference to 11 points. Starting outside backs Braydon Ennor, David Havili and Sevu Reece all crossed before replacements Mitchell Drummond and Will Jordan added two more tries. The Highlanders also conceded a penalty try from a five-metre scrum.
Fullback Ben Smith, playing his 150th Super Rugby match, gave the visitors a flying start when he crossed in the third minute and Josh Ioane slotted home a penalty soon afterwards but the flyhalf's 74th-minute try was only ever going to be a consolation. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney and Nick Said; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty, Andrew Cawthorne and Clare Fallon )
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