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**truebluefan** · 03-03-2008, 10:18 PM

Blues thrash Cheetahs 50-26

Blues thrash Cheetahs 50-26
March 02, 2008 - 11:35am
Story by: ARU
The Blues made light work of the Cheetahs in their round three clash of the Investec Super 14 overnight, with a resounding 50-26 win.

Outscoring the Cheetahs seven tries to four, the fast running game was a visual delight for the Bloemfontein crowd in sweltering conditions.

Within five minutes, the Blues with on the scoreboard after centre Isaia Toeava turned on the pace to move past the opposition. Nick Evans then added two conversions, before the Cheetahs were able to penetrate the Blues defence with Gavin Passens scoring in the corner.

The Blues responded, stealing a Cheetahs line-out, sending Joe Rokocoko charging down the opposite touch line, to score the first of his three tries. Blues captain Troy Flavell pounced on a loose ball, opening up the Cheetahs defence, giving the set-up for Rudi Wulf to score in the opposite corner.

Choosing not to take two penalty kicks, looking for territory and going for a try paid off for the Cheetahs, with JW Jonker over just before half time. Half time score was 21-12 to the Blues.

**truebluefan** · 03-03-2008, 10:18 PM

The Sharks took revenge over their loss to the Bulls in last year’s Investec Super 14 final, with a 29-15 victory overnight.

The win over the defending champions, including the bonus point, has the Sharks in third place on the Super 14 table.

In a bruising encounter, the first 25 minutes were played in the Sharks half with their defence holding on, with only two penalties to the Bulls giving them a 6-0 lead. But the Sharks were able to make the most of Bull’s Danie Rossouw off the field for cynical play, putting Odwa Ndungane over from a well-worked play, with Rory Kockott converting, to give the Sharks a 7-6 lead at half time.

In the second half, it was a battle of the goal-kickers with Morse Steyn and Rory Kockett trading penalties, as well as a drop-goal to give the Bulls a 15-10 lead with ten minutes to play.

Bulls’ JP Nel was sent to the sin bin for a spear tackle on Sharks full-back François Steyn, and the Sharks made the most of the extra player and scored three tries in the space of seven minutes.

In his first Super 14 appearance, Frederic Michalak was over after fast hands from forwards and backs had him over close to the posts.

Against the run of play, Sharks replacement loose forward Jacques Botes snatched up the ball and raced down the left touchline, before passing to Keegan Daniel who was over with five minutes remaining.

Pouncing on a Bulls knock-on, Sharks’ Jacques Bote gave chase to his kick ahead and scored under the post to give his team a very sweet taste of revenge.

**truebluefan** · 03-03-2008, 10:19 PM

Brumbies wallop Reds 43 - 11 in Canberra
March 02, 2008 - 12:03pm
Story by: ARU
The Baby Brumbies delivered Laurie Fisher one of the most memorable results of his coaching career with a six-try demolition of a red-faced Queensland in the Investec Super 14 round three match at Canberra Stadium.

The Reds arrived in the national capital declaring the visit as their best chance to record a Super Rugby win over the Brumbies on ACT soil. Early in the second half, with the Brumbies leading just 10-6, the Queensland dream was still alive.

But it was snuffed out as the Brumbies launched a merciless five-try second half onslaught – including three while the Reds had replacement back Peter Hynes in the sin bin from the 68th minute.

Even more impressively, the already below-strength Brumbies had to contend with the disturbing third minute loss of Wallabies fullback Julian Huxley, who was stretchered from the field after a head knock.

His untimely exit forced a backline revamp that had Mark Gerrard shifting into the No.15 duties.

By night’s end Gerrard had walked away with man of the match honours – his general play kicking and solidity at the back complementing the impressive work of the rookies across the backline in front of him.

Regular frontline stars Stirling Mortlock, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Gene Fairbanks and Clyde Rathbone were missing. But Fisher was later lauding the raw talents who stepped up again to deliver the Brumbies their second win of the season.

"It’s been a tough start to the season for us and to play like that is a wonderful credit to the players who were out there tonight," said Fisher.

"I thought (flyhalf) Christian Lealiifano was tremendous and (outside centre) Leo Afeaki made a wonderful debut. Saia Faingaa in his first Super 14 starting game and at 20 years of age, the work he did out there was terrific.

"I don’t want to single out blokes but there were some guys who were absolutely magnificent. We took a lot of confidence out of defending comprehensively in the first half and got a bit of adrenaline in the second half.

"A few things stuck for us and it paid off."

The Brumbies led 10-3 at halftime. Three minutes after the interval, Reds winger Clinton Schifcofske landed a penalty goal to reduce the margin to four.

But midway through the second half, lock Mark Chisholm stamped his authority on the game with two tries. His second came after he charged on to a cut out pass from Lealiifano and bumped aside Schifcofske.

Reserve front rower Ben Alexander grabbed a try on debut while winger Peter Playford also scored his first for the Brumbies during Hynes’ sin bin visit.

Queensland No.8 John Roe marked his 100th game for the Reds with a consolation try late in the game.

**truebluefan** · 03-03-2008, 10:19 PM

The Waratahs survived an early deficit, a high error count and a sin bin stint for Test backrower Wycliff Palu to defeat the Highlanders in a wet weather struggle in their Investec Super 14 match at Carisbrook.

Both sides scored two tries, with the Highlanders collecting theirs inside the first half hour to establish a 12-3 lead under leaden and leaking skies above New Zealand’s south island.

The home side’s second try followed moments after the Waratahs had threatened at the other end of the field, only to lose the ball in a tackle and have the Highlanders toe it down the ground.

Replacement flanker Adam Thomson, with his long and loping stride, outpaced Waratahs halfback Brett Sheehan in a two-man footrace to touch down under the NSW posts.

But the Waratahs, while continuing to spurn their hefty share of possession throughout the game, recovered from the two-try setback to be almost on level terms by halftime.

Outside centre Ben Jacobs took the final pass from skipper Phil Waugh to cross late in the opening stanza. A Kurtley Beale conversion from the sideline, together with an earlier penalty, left the Waratahs trailing just 12-10.

Beale was astray with another penalty attempt in the 51st minutes, but eight minutes later the Waratahs were in front courtesy of what would prove the match-deciding score.

Jacobs snatched a Highlanders kick out of mid-air and was on his way to a second try when an ankle tap curtailed his progress. The Waratahs, however, would not be denied. An offload from Jacobs to Test No.8 Palu completed the five-point play.

Palu crossed in the corner and was caught high by Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan in the act of scoring. The reaction from the Waratahs forward – an open-handed shove – earned him a 10-minute sin bin visit.

The Highlanders also received a penalty on halfway from the restart. A long-range attempt at goal from James Wilson narrowly missed.

While relieved his side collected its second win in three outings this season, Waratahs skipper Waugh said: "It was pretty ugly, I think both teams will be disappointed the way they played.

"We played two trial games in those conditions. We trained in those conditions. Particularly in the first half, we had a fair bit of interplay and we passed the ball a little.

"In the second half it just rained harder. We gave it a go in terms of playing expansively. But it is hard in those conditions to open the game up. That is probably why it was a little stop-start and so many mistakes."

Coach Ewen McKenzie added: "We tried to play more open football and, inevitably, if you have more possession you are going to have more mistakes."

A worrying by-product of the result was a shoulder injury to fullback Lachie Turner. He is considered in doubt for the Friday night’s clash with the Brumbies.

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