Review

Super 14 - Round 5 Review

Monday, March 15 The Vodacom Bulls and the Vodacom Stormers strengthen South Africa’s presence at the top of the Vodacom Super 14 log after both teams recorded convincing victories over the Highlanders and Hurricanes this weekend.

In Pretoria, the hosts maintained their undefeated run in this season’s competition and remained in pole position on the log following their 50-35 win over their Otago opponents on Saturday. While at Newlands, the Cape franchise moved in to second position following their 37-13 win over the Hurricanes.

The Vodacom Bulls ran in seven tries thanks to wing Francois Hougaard and No 8 Pierre Spies who both scored a brace. Hooker Gary Botha, wing Gerhard van den Heever and centre Wynand Olivier were the other try-scorers.

However while the hosts ran in seven tries, they conceded five in this highly entertaining game which saw both teams play attacking rugby throughout the match. Israel Dagg scored a hat trick while Tim Boys and Robbie Robinson added the other five pointers for the hosts.

Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn scored 15 points but was unable to equal former Sharks fullback Gavin Lawless’ record of scoring 100 points in four Super Rugby games. He needed 23, but only managed to score 15 by kicking six conversions and a penalty. Steyn (92) is still the leading points’ scorer in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.

The Vodacom Stormers secured their second bonus point win in the competition after running in five tries against the Hurricanes at Newlands on Saturday evening.

Man of the match Sireli Naqelevuki, fullback Joe Pietersen, centre Jaque Fourie, No 8 Duane Vermeulen and prop Brok Harris were the try scorers for the hosts in Cape Town.

Pietersen (73), who is currently the fourth leading points scorer in the competition after Steyn (92), Stephen Donald (80) and Quade Cooper (78), also kicked a penalty and converted three tries.

The Vodacom Stormers still boasts the best defensive record in the Vodacom Super 14. They however conceded two late tries in this match which were scored by Tyson Keats and David Smith, who is the joint leading try scorer in the competition with five tries.

Smith is joined at the top of the try-scoring leader board by the NSW Waratahs’ Drew Mitchell. The Waratahs winger ran in four tries on Friday as the hosts comprehensively defeated the Auto & General Lions 73-12 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The defeat for the Johannesburg franchise was their fifth in this season’s competition and kept them rooted at the bottom end of the log at the conclusion of round five. They are currently in 13th position with two log points.

The Sharks conceded their fifth defeat in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 and ended round five in 12th position on the log with four points after narrowly going down 24-22 to the ACT Brumbies on Saturday.

England international Andy Goode kicked five penalties and converted the Sharks’ only try in the match which was scored by scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.

Weekend results:

Vodacom Bulls 50 Highlanders 2 35

Scorers: Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Francois Hougaard (2), Pierre Spies (2), Gary Botha, Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier; Conversions: Morne Steyn (6); Penalty: Steyn.
Highlanders – Tries: Israel Dagg (3), Tim Boys, Robbie Robinson; Conversions: Matthew Berquist (3), Israel Dagg (2).

Vodacom Stormers 37 Hurricanes 13

Scorers: Vodacom Stormers – Tries: Sireli Naqelevuki, Joe Pietersen, Duane Vermeulen, Brok Harris, Jaque Fourie; Conversions: Pietersen (3); Penalty: Pietersen. Hurricanes – Tries: Tyson Keats, David Smith; Penalty: Willie Ripia.

Brumbies 24 The Sharks 22

Scorers: Brumbies – Tries: Ben Alexander (2); Conversion: Matt Giteau; Penalties: Giteau (4). Sharks – Try: Ruan Pienaar; Conversion: Andy Goode; Penalties: Goode (5).

Waratahs 73 A&G Lions 12

Scorers: NSW Waratahs – Tries: Drew Mitchell (4), Lachlan Turner (2), Josh Holmes (2), Dean Mumm, Tom Carter, Wycliff Palu; Conversions: Berrick Barnes (9). Auto & General Lions – Tries: Tonderai Chavhanga, JC Janse van Rensburg; Conversion: Burton Francis.

Other weekend results:

Chiefs19 Crusaders 26

All Black flyhalf Dan Carter became New Zealand’s leading points-scorer in Super Rugby after guiding the Crusaders to a 26-19 victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.

The pivot added 16 points with the boot by kicking four penalties and two conversions to move his career record in Super Rugby to 996 points. The victory for the Crusaders (18) ensured that they ended round five in third position on the log, behind the second placed Vodacom Stormers (19) and the log-leading Vodacom Bulls (20).

Scorers: Chiefs – Try: Richard Kahui; Conversion: Stephen Donald; Penalties: Donald (3). Crusaders – Tries: Kahn Fotuali'i (2); Conversions: Dan Carter (2); Penalties: Carter (4).

Reds50 Western Force 10

The Queensland Reds ran in seven tries and comfortably defeated the Western Force 50-10 in this Vodacom Super 14 Australian derby played in Brisbane on Sunday.

Anthony Faingaa, Scott Higginbotham and Digby Ioane all scored a brace of tries as the hosts moved in to sixth position on the log with 15 points after five matches.

Scorers: Reds – Tries: Tries: Anthony Faingaa (2), Digby Ioane (2), Scott Higginbotham (2), Luke Morahan; Conversions: Quade Cooper (5), Ben Lucas; Penalty: Cooper. Western Force – Try: Nick Cummins; Conversion: James O`Connor; Penalty: O`Connor.

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