Weekend WRAP

Blitzbokke win in Vegas, Italy back to earth, France in tatters, Sharks rampant but injured, Kings clawed, England on track … A look at the weekend’s results and scorers …

The Sharks might have outscored the Leopards by 11 tries to 1, but the victory came at a cost, with captain Keegan Daniel injuring his knee and Tim Whitehead breaking his arm. Both look to the out of the game for at least six weeks.  In Cape Town, the Stormers made like a cat with the mouse like Boland (eventually), but saw Eben Etzebeth limp off early in the first half with an ankle injury that sees him out of action for at least 6 weeks.

One has to wonder at the usefulness of games against the likes of the Leopards and Boland, sides that will not be threatening the Vodacom Cup scorers. It would seem that across the Indian Ocean, our Aus and Kiwi friends are more inclined to play other Super15 franchises or stronger opposition in their warm up games.

To the weekend’s results then:

Super Rugby warm up matches:

Sharks 71-8 Leopards

Sharks – Tries: Pat Lambie, Jacques Botes (2), Odwa Ndungane, Tera Mtembu (2), Lwazi Mvovo (2), Jean Deysel, Frans Steyn, Allan Dell. Conversions: Pat Lambie (5), Meyer Bosman (2)
Leopards- Try: Elardus Venter. Penalty: Johnny Welthagen

Bulls 32-10 Cheetahs

Bulls – Tries: Dewald Potgieter, Francois Venter, Lionel Mapoe, Jurgen Visser. Conversions: Morne Steyn (2), Visser. Penalties: Steyn (2).
Cheetahs – Tries: Raymond Rhule, Johan Sadie.

Boland 0-57 Stormers

Stormers – Tries: Jaco Taute, Gio Aplon (2), Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker, Siya Kolisi (3), Joe Pietersen. Conversions: Kurt Coleman, Pietersen (5)

Lions 41-31 Kings

Lions – Tries: Hendrik Roodt (2), JJ Breett, Ruan Dreyer, Warwick Tecklenburg (2). Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3), Lionel Cronje. Penalty: Boshoff.
Kings- Tries: Rynier Bernardo, Johan Herbst (2), Hadleigh Parkes. Conversions: Wesley Dunlop (3), George Whitehead. Penalty: Whitehead

Rebels 45-47 Hurricanes
Blues 40-36 Waratahs
Reds 8-20 Chiefs
Brumbies 37-8 ACT XV
Force 46-0 Tongan XV
Highlanders 38-21 Crusaders

Six Nations:
France 6 – 16 Wales
Scotland 34 – 10 Italy
Ireland 6 – 12 England
Log:
England Pld:2 W:2 Pts:4
Scotland Pld:2 W:1 Pts:2
Wales Pld:2 W:1 Pts:2
Ireland Pld:2 W:1 Pts:2
Italy Pld:2 W:1 Pts:2
France Pld:2 W:0 Pts:0

USA Sevens:

Cup final: South Africa 40-21 New Zealand

3^rd place playoff: Samoa 36-31 Fiji

Cup Semi finals:
Fiji 14-19 New Zealand (extra time)
Samoa 7-12 South Africa (extra time)
Plate: Canada
Bowl: France
Shield: Australia

Aviva Premiership
Northampton 11 – 27 Gloucester
Bath 32 – 9 Worcester
London Irish 29 – 16 Saracens
Harlequins 16 – 17 Wasps
Leicester 28 – 12 London Welsh
Sale 21 – 16 Exeter

–
Top 14
Agen 22 – 9 Toulouse
Castres 44 – 13 Stade Francais
Mont de Marsan 32 – 14 Grenoble
Montpellier 33 – 10 Biarritz
Bordeaux-Begles 41 – 0 Toulon
Bayonne 13 – 10 Perpignan
Racing Metro 12 – 6 Clermont