1
The DHL Stormers and the Cell C Sharks closed the gap on log leaders Vodacom Bulls to just two points with only one round remaining following their Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked wins over the Toyota Cheetahs and Tafel Lager Griquas respectively.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Cape side, with flyhalf Damian Willemse in commanding form, moved to second spot on the log with 17 points from five games as a result of their 30-13 home victory over the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday evening.
Cell C Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch was again the hero for his team when the kicked the winning penalty at the end of their exciting clash with the Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley to hand the Durban outfit a dramatic 34-33 win on Friday night.
The Durbanites also have 17 log points, but the men from the Cape have a better points difference. The Vodacom Bulls lead the standings on 19 points.
The game between the Emirates Lions and Phakisa Pumas scheduled for Emirates Airline Park on Saturday afternoon was postponed in line with COVID-19 protocols.
In next weekend’s final round of fixtures the Vodacom Bulls host the Phakisa Pumas on Friday in Pretoria (19h00), the Toyota Cheetahs have a home match against the Tafel Lager Griquas in Bloemfontein (16h30) while the Cell C Sharks face the DHL Stormers in Durban (19h00).
DHL Stormers stay in the hunt with home win
The DHL Stormers made sure they stay in the hunt for top honours of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked when they outplayed the Toyota Cheetahs 30-13 at DHL Newlands in Cape Town.
ADVERTISEMENT
The win saw DHL Stormers move up to second place on the league table with 17 points from their five games, still two points behind leaders the Vodacom Blue Bulls who had a bye this weekend.
The first half saw a tight arm wrestle between the two sides, with the home side eventually edging ahead to lead by 13-3 at the halftime break.
However, some enterprising play by Springboks Warrick Gelant and Damian Willemse – combined with some powerful scrumming in the second half – secured a convincing and vital win for the home team and a second loss in a row for the team from Bloemfontein.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers 30 (13) – Tries: Herschel Jantjies, Juarno Augustus, Warrick Gelant. Conversions: Damian Willemse (3). Penalty goals: Willemse (2). Drop goal: Willemse.
ADVERTISEMENT
Toyota Cheetahs 13 (3) – Try: Rosko Specman, Conversion: Tian Schoeman. Penalty goals: Schoeman (2).
Bosch sparkles in the Diamond City
Flyhalf Curwin Bosch kicked an 81st minute penalty goal to guide the Cell C Sharks to a dramatic 34-33 win over Tafel Lager Griquas in their match in Kimberley on Friday evening, where the lead changed no less than eight times.
Just one minute earlier, Tafel Lager Griquas flyhalf Tinus de Beer had kicked a clutch penalty goal to put the home side 33-31 ahead at Tafel Lager Park just as his side looked they were on their way to clinching their first win of the competition.
However, unfortunately for the North Cape side, the script was not yet done.
The Durbanites won back the last restart and attacked from way out and when referee Griffin Colby penalised the home side for a ruck infringement, Bosch stepped up to kick the winning points.
The previous 78 minutes had delivered a real feast of rugby, with the home side first enjoying a 9-7 lead at the break and then a 13-point lead with 15 minutes to play. If the Cell C Sharks deserved this victory, it would be their refusal to stop chasing the win, and that proved vital in the end.
Scorers:
Tafel Lager Griquas 33 (9) – Tries: Ederies Arendse, Eduan Keyter, Gideon van der Merwe. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (3). Penalty goals: De Beer (4).
Cell C Sharks 34 (7) – Tries: Sanele Nohamba, Manie Libbok, Jeremy Ward, Dylan Richardson. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4). Penalty goals: Bosch (2).
Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments