Vodacom Super Rugby Review - Round 4

​The DHL Stormers continued with their winning streak and are now four games unbeaten following their hard-fought 17-7 Vodacom Super Rugby win over the Jaguares on Saturday in Cape Town. The Cell C Sharks defeated the Rebels 36-24 in Ballarat for a second win on their Australasian tour.
 
However, the Vodacom Bulls are still winless after they suffered a heart-breaking 23-21 loss to the Blues in Pretoria, while the Emirates Lions had a bye.
 
The DHL Stormers increased their league tally to 17 for a five-point lead over the Cell C Sharks on the South African Conference log table. The Jaguares slipped to third place (10) and they are followed by the Emirates Lions (5) and Vodacom Bulls (0).
 
Mapimpi scores a double in sparkling Cell C Sharks triumph
 
Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi gave a sparkling display and scored two tries as he helped the Cell C Sharks to splendid 36-24 triumph over the Rebels on Saturday morning (SA time) in Ballarat.
 
The Durban side led 22-10 at halftime and despite playing with 13 men at one stage in the second half, they still managed to score a convincing win over the Melbourne outfit for a second success Down Under. Hooker Kerron van Vuuren (dangerous tackle) and wing Madosh Tambwe (repeated team offence) were the visiting players who spent time in the sin bin.
 
Marika Koroibete, Isi Naisarani, Anaru Rangi each scored a try for the home side while pivot Andrew Deegan kicked three conversions and a penalty goal. The visitors scored through Mapimpi (2), Andre Esterhuizen, Tambwe and Curwin Bosch. Bosch also slotted four conversions and a penalty goal.
 
Click here to read the full match report.
 
DHL Stormers beat Jaguares to make it four wins in a row
 
The DHL Stormers clinched their fourth consecutive Vodacom Super Rugby win of the season on Saturday afternoon as they defeated the Jaguares 17-7 at a damp DHL Newlands Stadium.
 
Springbok Damian Willemse (flyhalf) scored the only points of the first half compliments of a penalty goal which gave the hosts a slender 3-0 lead at the break.
 
The first half saw a huge forward tussle between the two teams, however, the second half erupted into action when the DHL Stormers scored two tries in quick succession. Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies showed his pace as he raced away for a try under the posts, while midfielder Ruhan Nel – who was last week's try scoring hero in Johannesburg - found a gap in the visitors’ defence to dive over for the second try.
 
Click here to read the full match report.
 
Vodacom Bulls suffer heart-breaking defeat at Loftus
 
A late penalty goal by Blues flyhalf Otere Black secured the Kiwi-side a last-gasp 23-21 victory against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening, keeping the home side winless in the competition.
 
The men from Pretoria held a 11-8 lead at the break and led by a single point with minutes to go before conceding a costly penalty, which allowed the visitors to snatch victory from their grasp. The defeat marked the Vodacom Bulls’ third loss in as many games, and as a result they are rooted at the foot of the South African Conference standings.
 
Referee Marius van der Westhuizen handed out four yellow cards during the encounter, with both teams receiving two each. Burger Odendaal and Andries Ferreira (Vodacom Bulls), Jonathan Ruru and Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) were the transgressors.
 
Click here to read the full match report.
 
The weekend’s other Round 4 results:
 
Saturday, 22 February
Reds 64, Sunwolves 5
Chiefs 14, Brumbies 26
Stormers 17, Juguares 7
​Bulls 21, Blues 23
 
Friday, 21 February
Crusaders 33, Highlanders 13

Issued by SA Rugby Communications