Vodacom Super Rugby Round 1 Review

The Emirates Lions managed to break their away game hoodoo in Argentina, while the Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks both scored impressive victories on the opening weekend of 2019 Vodacom Super Ruby action, which saw only one home win from seven fixtures.

Emirates Lions break away game hoodoo in Argentina

Marnus Schoeman (flanker) scored a hat-trick of tries for the Emirates Lions to claim a 25-16 victory against the Jaguares in what marked their first away-win in four attempts in Buenos Aires.

Elton Jantjies (flyhalf) added two conversions and two penalty goals to assist the side to a well-deserved win on the road. The Highveld team produced a powerful display upfront against the physical Jaguares, while they were also solid on defence.

Apart from the try-scoring exploits of the scavenging Schoeman, debutant Carlu Sadie (prop) was also immense in defence and in the scrums, while he won a few turnovers as well. The positive result will give Warren Whiteley’s team a huge amount of confidence for next Saturday’s derby against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

Scorers:

Jaguares 16 Emirates Lions 25

Jaguares – Try: Santiago Medrano. Conversion: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla. Penalty goal: Bonilla (3).

Emirates Lions – Tries: Marnus Schoeman (3). Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2). Penalty goal: Jantjies (2)

Fabulous Vodacom Bulls crush DHL Stormers at Loftus

Rosko Specman scored a sizzling brace of tries on debut, while Handre Pollard delivered a masterclass kicking display for the Vodacom Bulls in their sparkling 40-3 triumph over the DHL Stormers on Saturday evening in Pretoria.

The start of the big derby was delayed by 20 minutes because of an accident on the N1 motorway close to Pretoria, which resulted in the late arrival of the DHL Stormers’ bus at Loftus Versfeld.

Incredibly, Lood de Jager’s team secured the only home win, with all the other round-one results going the way of the visiting teams.

Springbok Sevens star, Specman, made a dream debut with two brilliant tries in the first half, while fellow wing Johnny Kotze also dotted down on the other side of the pitch. Playmaker Pollard, meanwhile, slotted the conversions and a penalty goal to hand the home team a handy 24-3 lead at the break.

The Cape side struggled to match the intensity of the hosts and their troubles were made worse when skipper Siya Kolisi left the field in the 27^th minute following a head injury assessment.

Springbok centre Jesse Kriel finished a sublime set move when he collected a beautifully-weighted chip kick from Pollard to race in under the poles. Pollard finished the match with a 100 % kicking record, slotting four conversions and four penalty goals to bag the man of the match award.

The Pretoria outfit will travel to Buenos Aires for their next game against the Jaguares.

Scorers:

Vodacom Bulls 40, DHL Stormers 3

Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Rosko Specman (2), Johnny Kotze, Jesse Kriel; Conversions: Handré Pollard (4); Penalty goal: Pollard (4).

DHL Stormers – Penalty goal: SP Marais.

Cell C Sharks hunt down Sunwolves in Singapore

The Cell C Sharks produced a clinical display to defeat the Sunwolves 45-10 in their opening fixture in Singapore, in which Springbok midfielder Lukhanyo Am showed sublime form.

The Durbanites scored six tries to one after the Sunwolves opened the scoring early in the first half, when centre Shane Gates scooped up a chip kick to streak home.

However, the men from Durban quickly settled down and found their rhythm to stack up six converted tries through Akker van der Merwe (2), Makazole Mapimpi, Sibusiso Nkosi, Dan du Preez and replacement back Jeremy Ward.

They host the Blues at Jonsson Kings Park in their next match.

Scorers:

Sunwolves 10, Cell C Sharks 45

Sunwolves - Try: Shane Gates; Conversion: Hayden ParkerPenalty: Parker.

Cell C Sharks - Tries: Akker van der Merwe (2), Daniel du Preez, Sibusiso Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi, Jeremy Ward; Conversions: Robert du Preez (5), Rhyno Smith; Penalty: Du Preez.

Other Round 1 results:

Friday, 15 February

Chiefs 27, Highlanders 30

Brumbies 27, Rebels 34

Saturday, 16 February

Blues 22, Crusaders 24

Waratahs 19, Hurricanes 20

The Vodacom Super Rugby log after Round 1:

        South African Conference