Vodacom Super 14 Review – Round 13

The Vodacom Bulls’ 40-35 victory over the Crusaders in Pretoria on Friday not only secured them a home semi-final in the 2010 competition, but it also ensured that South African Vodacom Super 14 franchises set a new record of 14 league game wins over New Zealand opposition in Super Rugby. The Loftus Versfeld triumph was the defending champions’ fourth against Kiwi opposition during this season’s competition and broke the previous record of 13 wins against New Zealand opposition which was set in 2007, in the same season which saw the Pretoria outfit claim their first Vodacom Super 14 title. The Vodacom Bulls recorded victories over the Hurricanes (19-18), Highlanders (50-35) and Chiefs (33-19) earlier in the competition. The Auckland Blues though spoiled the Pretoria outfit’s chances of recording a clean sweep of wins of the five Kiwi franchises; something that was achieved this season by the Vodacom Stormers who are currently in second position on the log. Victor Matfield scored his first try in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 while winger Francois Hougaard added a brace as he ran in his sixth five-pointer of the competition. Flyhalf Morne Steyn equaled Dan Carter’s record of scoring 200 points in 12 Super Rugby games on Friday night after he kicked two conversions, five penalties and two drop goals to end the game with a personal points haul of 25. The Crusaders are still in the hunt for a place in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 semi-finals after they managed to achieve two bonus points in this match. The seven-time champions claimed a log point for losing within seven and notched up another point for running in four well executed tries which were scored by Brad Thorn, Andy Ellis, Shaun Maitland and Ti`i Paulo. Carter kicked three conversions, three penalties and a drop goal. Richie McCaw’s side are now in sixth position on the log with 36 points and must defeat the Brumbies in Christchurch on Friday to keep their chances alive of making the playoffs. Another side who faces a “must win” game next weekend to qualify for the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 semi-finals are the Vodacom Stormers who suffered a 20-14 defeat to the Sharks in Durban on Saturday night.   The Cape franchise secured a valuable bonus point for losing within seven but the hosts fully deserved the win which was their sixth and most probably their finest victory of the 2010 competition. Flyhalf Ruan Pienaar added 15 points on the night by kicking two conversions and two penalties. He also scored the second try of the game after Odwa Ndungane ran in the host’s first five-pointer of the match. Vodacom Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant who kicked two conversions and flanker Francois Louw were the try-scorers for the visitors. The result for the Cape franchise ensured that they maintained second position on the log with 39 points. Schalk Burger’s side will now have to defeat the Vodacom Bulls at Newlands on Saturday to confirm their place in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 semi-finals while a bonus-point win over the defending champions will see the Newlands side host a playoff game later this month. The Vodacom Cheetahs recorded their fourth victory in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 following their 29-14 victory over the Western Force at Vodacom Park on Saturday. The Bloemfontein outfit achieved maximum points from this game after scoring four tries against the Force who suffered their eighth defeat in the competition. Winger Bjorn Basson scored a brace of tries while flyhalf Naas Olivier and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius added the other five-pointers for the hosts. Olivier who kicked three conversions and a penalty has now notched up 100 points in this season’s competition. Centre Ryan Cross and flanker David Pocock scored tries for the Western Force which were both converted by fullback James O`Connor. The victory saw the Vodacom Cheetahs end round 13 in 11th position on the log with 21 points. They host the Auto & General Lions in Welkom in their final league game of the 2010 Vodacom Super 14. Meanwhile the Auto & Generals Lions have now become the first franchise in Super Rugby to concede 526 points after 13 games in the competition. The Johannesburg franchise recorded their 12th consecutive defeat in this season’s competition following their 56-14 defeat to the Blues at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday. The Aucklanders ran in seven tries against the hosts who were guilty of missing numerous first-time tackles. Winger Joe Rokocoko who is the leading try-scorer in the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 with nine tries scored a brace, while five-pointers were added by Benson Stanley, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Paul Williams and Tom McCartney. Brett who is currently in third position on the leading points scorers’ leader board kicked six conversions and three penalties to end the game with a personal points haul of 26. Former Blues flyhalf Carlos Spencer ran in a couple of tries while Herkie Kruger added two conversions for the Auto & General Lions. Weekend results: 40 - 35 Scorers: Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Francois Hougaard (2), Victor Matfield; Conversions: Morne Steyn (2); Penalties: Steyn (5); Drop Goals: Steyn (2). Crusaders – Tries: Brad Thorn, Andy Ellis, Shaun Maitland, Ti`i Paulo; Conversions: Daniel Carter (3); Penalties: Carter (2); Drop Goal: Carter. 20 - 14 Scorers: Sharks – Tries: Ruan Pienaar, Odwa Ndungane; Conversions: Pienaar (2); Penalties: Pienaar (2). Vodacom Stormers: Tries: Peter Grant, Francois Louw; Conversions: Grant (2). 29 - 14 Scorers: Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: Bjorn Basson (2), Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius. Conversions: Olivier (3); Penalty: Olivier. Western Force – Tries: Ryan Cross, David Pocock; Conversions: James O`Connor (2). 14 - 56 Scorers: Auto & General Lions – Tries: Carlos Spencer (2); Conversions: Herkie Kruger (2). Blues – Tries: Joe Rokocoko (2), Benson Stanley, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Paul Williams, Tom McCartney; Conversions: Brett (6); Penalties: Brett (3). Other results: 31 - 3 The Brumbies moved in to fourth position on the Vodacom Super 14 log following their 31-3 victory over the Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday. The Canberra outfit ran in four tries and comprehensively outplayed their Otago opponents in every facet of play. The Brumbies travel to Christchurch for their final league fixture against the Crusaders at the AMI Stadium on Friday. Scorers: Brumbies – Tries: Rocky Elsom, Salesi Ma`afu, Josh Valentine, Matt Toomua; Conversions: Matt Giteau (4); Penalty: Giteau. Highlanders – Penalty: Israel Dagg. 19 - 46 The Waratahs kept their quest for a home Vodacom Super 14 semi-final alive following their 46-19 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday. The Sydney based franchise scored seven tries thanks to the efforts of Drew Mitchell, Ben Mowen, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Lachlan Turner and Damian Fitzpatrick. Phil Waugh’s side hosts the Hurricanes in their last Vodacom Super 14 league match in this season’s competition which will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday. Scorers: Chiefs – Tries: Jackson Willison (2); Tim Nanai-Williams; Conversions: Callum Bruce, Dwayne Sweeny. Waratahs – Tries: Drew Mitchell, Ben Mowen, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Lachlan Turner, Damian Fitzpatrick; Conversions: Barnes (2), Daniel Halangahu (2); Penalty: Barnes. 44 - 21 Winger Hosea Gear scored a hat trick of tries as the Hurricanes kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the Vodacom Super 14 semi-finals following their 44-21 victory over the Reds in Wellington on Friday. The hosts ensured that they ended round 13 in fifth position on the log with 37 points, two behind the second-placed Vodacom Stormers. Scores: Hurricanes – Tries: Hosea Gear (3), Cory Jane, Tamati Ellison, David Smith; Conversions: Piri Weepu (4); Penalties: Weepu (2). Reds – Tries: Scott Higginbotham, Rod Davies, Will Chambers; Conversions: Quade Cooper (3). Vodacom Super 14 log: Vodacom Bulls    12    10    0    2    119    7    47 Vodacom Stormers    12    8    0    4    166    7    39 Waratahs    12    8    0    4    81    6    38 Brumbies    12    8    0    4    85    5    37 Hurricanes    12    7    1    4    51    7    37 Crusaders    12    7    1    4    75    6    36 Reds    12    7    0    5    56    6    34 Blues    12    6    0    6    33    8    32 The Sharks    12    6    0    6    -7    5    29 Chiefs    12    4    1    7    -68    8    26 Vodacom Cheetahs    12    4    1    7    -126    3    21 Western Force    12    4    0    8    -101    2    18 Highlanders    12    3    0    9    -98    5    17 Auto & General Lions     12    0    0    12    -266    5    5 Vodacom Super 14 leading points’ scorers: Morne Steyn    Vodacom Bulls    5    34    39    3    219 Quade Cooper    Reds    4    27    27    1    158 Stephen Brett    Blues    2    27    22    2    136 Stephen Donald    Chiefs    2    22    25    0    129 Matt Giteau    Brumbies    1    23    25    1    129 Dan Carter    Crusaders    1    20    26    2    129 Ruan Pienaar    The Sharks    3    14    18    1    100 Naas Olivier    Vodacom Cheetahs    1    13    21    2    100 Peter Grant    Vodacom Stormers    1    14    21    0    96 Israel Dagg    Highlanders    4    12    17    0    95 Vodacom Super 14 leading try-scorers: Joe Rokocoko     Blues    9 Gerhard van den Heever    Vodacom Bulls    8 Drew Mitchell    Waratahs    7 Rene Ranger    Blues    7 Jaque Fourie    Vodacom Stormers    6 Ben Alexander    Brumbies    6 Drew Mitchell    Waratahs    6 Francois Hougaard     Vodacom Bulls    6 Ma’a Nonu    Hurricanes    6 David Smith    Hurricanes    6 Issued by SARU Communications