With home semi finals secured for the Lions and Crusaders, we could be set for a repeat of the 2017 Super Rugby final.
Beale magic sets up ‘Tahs comeback
Three tries in six minutes after a Waisake Naholo yellow card saw the Waratahs score in quick succession to set up a comeback against the Highlanders. Kurtley Beale set up Bernard Foley and Israel Folau, before the latter’s 50 metre run set up the Australian flyhalf for his double.
The Warathas secured a 30 – 23 victory after trailing 23- 6 in the 50th minute and are now the only surviving Australian team in the competition. Their next trip to Johannesburg will be incredibly daunting in front of a vibrant Ellis Park.
Lions closing in on final
The Lion’s first half performance was enough to lay the marker for a semi-final spot over the Jaguares. The Jaguares fought valiantly but were let down by simple errors that saw the experienced Super Rugby campaigners take advantage and seal the match 40 – 23, with big performances from Elton Jantjies and Malcolm Marx, the flyhalf scored 20 points from the boot notching the man of the match award, and Malcolm Marx who showed why he’s one of the world best at the breakdowns and topped off his performance with a try from an intercept.
With another home semi-final in the bag the Lions are surely close to a possible 2018 Super Rugby title. Last year the Lion’s were in the running but their hopes were slashed when Kwagga Smith was sent off for an aerial challenge on David Havili that saw the All Black hit the ground in an awkward position, before Jaco Peyper reluctantly showed Smith a red card in the 38th minute. Should Smith have stayed on, we would have seen more of a contest and perhaps the trophy remaining in Johannesburg.
New Zealand’s top two fight for final sport
The Sharks monumental task of overcoming the Crusaders in Christchurch ended in a 40 – 10 rout of the Durbanites. The Crusaders will face the only other New Zealand team in the competition, the Hurricanes, on Saturday the 28th of July.
The Hurricanes who beat the Chiefs by one point will face a team in sublime form having won 14 matches from 16. The Hurricanes will look to reverse their recent 24 – 13 loss to the reigning champs at a stage where their performance will matter most.
Super Rugby Semi-Finals 28 July 2018
- 9:35 – Crusaders v Hurricanes
- 15:05 – Lions v Waratahs
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