Month: March 2019

The Hurricanes progressed to the Super Rugby semi-finals with a hard-fought 32-31 victory over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday.

Tries from Julian Savea, Ben Lam, a TJ Perenara brace and two penalties from Beauden Barrett proved too much for the visitors, who scored through Brad Weber, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, Lachlan Boshier as well as a McKenzie penalty.

The Chiefs dominated the opening 20 minutes of both halves but were thwarted by the Hurricanes’ line speed and discipline on defence, while the hosts were the more clinical of the sides on the day.

The Hurricanes will now meet the winner of the Crusaders versus Sharks clash, taking place on Saturday.

The home side took the lead within the opening minute when McKenzie tried to get a static Chiefs backline going with a long, looping pass which Savea clutched out the air ahead of opposite number Shaun Stevenson before racing in under the posts to give the home side a dream start.

However, the visitors hit back in the seventh minute. Lienert-Brown got the offload away for Nathan Harris, who made the mini-break and released Weber on his inside for a clear run to the line, capping off a well-worked team try involving superb interplay between backs and forwards.

The Chiefs had an overwhelming majority of the possession and territory in the opening 20 minutes. Credit to the Hurricanes, who defended stubbornly to limit the damage. And having soaked up the pressure, the hosts would the enjoy the better of the second part of the second half and score next in the 33rd minute.

It came after brilliant work from Ngani Laumape to hold up an opposition player five metres from the Chiefs try-line, creating the maul and winning the scrum penalty for his side in a wonderful position. From the resulting set-piece, Perenara got over with a trademark sniping break as the hosts took a 17-10 lead in to the interval.

11 minutes after the half-time break, Charlie Ngatai’s kick held up in the breeze and was pounced upon by the chasing Boshier, who went on a bullocking 40-metre run, shrugging off a couple of defenders, before being halted five metres short. The ball was shifted out to the left where Lienert-Brown had numerous options on the overlap, but finished the job himself, as McKenzie levelled matters at 17-17 after 51 minutes, setting up a tense final 30 minutes.

Just when the Hurricanes needed a response, one of their big players rose to the occasion in the 62nd minute when the talismanic Perenara went over for his brace from first phase with the sniping dart in identical fashion to his first.

Soon after, Solomon Alamailo was penalised for a deliberate knock-down and was lucky to escape the yellow card. However, the hosts would capitalise from the resulting scrum, spreading the ball out to the left wing, where Lam finished an incisive backline move on the overlap for a 32-17 lead

The visitors hit back with two late tries when Alamailo went on a scintillating break and delayed the pass expertly for McKenzie, who ran a great support line to dot down before Boshier powered over after a series of powerful carries from the forwards.

It wasn’t enough to overturn the 15-point deficit though as the Hurricanes won by just the one point – 32-31.

The scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Savea, Perenara 2, Lam
Cons: B Barrett 2, J Barrett
Pens: B Barrett 2

For Chiefs:
Tries: Weber, Lienert-Brown, McKenzie, Boshier
Cons: McKenzie 3, Ngatai
Pen: McKenzie

Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Gareth Evans, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen

Chiefs: 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Shaun Stevenson, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Mitch Karpik, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Alex Nankivell

Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Referees: Nick Briant, Paul Williams
TMO: Glenn Newman

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The Lions and Jaguares will clash for the third time this season when they go head-to-head in the fourth and final Qualifier at Ellis Park on Saturday.

For the hosts, they are attempting to reach the semi-finals for the third successive year having competed in the showpiece event in 2016 and ’17. They lost to the Hurricanes and Crusaders in the respective finals but, after once again finishing top of the South African Conference, their consistency is to be admired.

Unlike the past two campaigns, however, the Johannesburg-based outfit have endured a much tougher season in 2018 and their opponents this weekend came close to usurping Swys de Bruin’s men.

Only defeats to the Bulls and Sharks prevented the Argentinians from overtaking De Bruin’s outfit and claiming a home game in the quarter-finals. As it is, the Jaguares will have to travel to Ellis Park and face the Lions at altitude but you get the feeling that Mario Ledesma and his charges will not be too concerned.

After disappointing in their first two years in Super Rugby, this has been a marked development by the Jaguares, who have looked far more assured under the former front-rower. He has improved their previously ailing set-piece and been slightly more conservative than the all-out attack approach that encompassed the previous regime.

The Lions are still the favourites, though, and have been on good form recently, winning three of their past four matches. Home form has also been a significant factor in matches between the teams with neither managing to pick up a victory on their travels.

Last year was the closest either came to upsetting the hosts when the Argentinians succumbed 24-21 in Johannesburg but, in the other five encounters, neither have got within 12 points of the opposition.

That should change on Saturday with the South Africans not quite at the same level as the previous couple of seasons. They should ultimately have enough to defeat the Jaguares but it is a difficult game to call with the Argentines going into the contest under little pressure.

The last time the teams met: The Jaguares gained revenge for their defeat in Round Two by overcoming the Lions 49-35 in Buenos Aires. It was the start of a remarkable run which saw them claim eight victories in nine matches as they reached the play-offs for the first time. Bautista Delguy’s first minute score set them on their way and, although Marvin Orie and Sylvian Mahuza responded for the visitors, two tries via Emiliano Boffelli and another from Javier Ortega Desio put the Argentines in command. The Lions did close the gap through Malcolm Marx’s brace and Lourens Erasmus’ effort but Bautista Ezcurra and Ortega Desio completed the win for the hosts.

Players to watch:

For Lions: After being maligned for his performance against England, Elton Jantjies has settled back in nicely to the Lions’ surroundings, but this will be his first truly high pressure match since returning to the franchise. How will he react and can the Jaguares put him under enough pressure to make him wilt? That is what the Hurricanes and Crusaders managed to do in the previous two Super Rugby finals and there are significant question marks over his temperament in big games.

For Jaguares: Following Tomas Lezana’s emergence in the back-row, previous incumbent at openside Marcos Kremer has been moved to lock. The 20-year-old has been in excellent form this season but the back five forward has struggled to reproduce that over recent weeks. However, he has an opportunity to rectify that in his other position having played much of his age-grade career in the second-row. Kremer is a powerful ball-carrier and obviously adept at the line-out so they will look for the youngster to get them on the front foot.

Team news: Ross Cronje and Aphiwe Dyantyi will start for the Lions on Saturday as they look to make it a third successive semi-final.

They have replaced Courtnall Skosan and the injured Nic Groom in the starting line-up with boss Swys de Bruin making two changes to the side.

De Bruin has also altered the bench slightly following Groom’s enforced absence with Dillon Smit among the replacements, while prop Dylan Smith is selected ahead of Jacobie Adriaanse.

Meanwhile, Jaguares head coach Mario Ledesma has made several changes to his squad to face the Lions.

With qualification already secured last weekend, the Argentinian outfit decided to rest a number of key first team players.

All those duly return with Emiliano Boffelli, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Moroni, Nicolas Sanchez and Gonzalo Bertranou named in the backline.

Among the forwards, out go six of the eight which started against the Sharks and in come Javier Ortega Desio, Tomas Lezana, Guido Petti, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustin Creevy and Santiago Garcia Botta, while Marcos Kremer is shifted to lock.

On the bench, Ledesma has decided to go with a six-two split with Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini and Juan Manuel Leguizamon providing lock and back-row cover.

Form: Following a mid-season blip where the Lions suffered three successive losses, going down to the Reds, Hurricanes and Highlanders, they have recovered to claim the South African Conference. Swys de Bruin’s outfit go into the match in decent form having beaten the Brumbies, Stormers and Bulls in their previous four matches, with their only defeat coming against the Sharks in Durban.

Meanwhile, the Jaguares go into the contest off the back of consecutive losses after succumbing to both the Bulls and Sharks. It prevented them from claiming top spot in the division having put themselves in an excellent position following seven victories in a row. They have proven that they can win away from home this season but they have remarkably yet to do so on South African soil.

Prediction: The Jaguares are much improved from the side that went down by 20 points in the regular-season fixture at Ellis Park, but we think that home advantage will be a decisive factor. Lions by 5.

Previous results:

2018: Jaguares won 49-35 in Buenos Aires
2018: Lions won 47-27 in Johannesburg
2017: Lions won 24-21 in Johannesburg
2017: Jaguares won 36-24 in Buenos Aires
2016: Jaguares won 34-22 in Buenos Aires
2016: Lions won 52-24 in Johannesburg

The teams:

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Courtnall Skosan, 23 Howard Mnisi

Jaguares: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de le Fuente, 11 Matias Moroni, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 22 Martin Landajo, 23 Sebastian Cancelliere

Date: Saturday, July 21
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15:05 local (14:05 BST, 13:05 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Egon Seconds
TMO: Marius Jonker

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Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson admits he doesn’t know if he would have taken the job if he knew what he would be getting himself into.

Gibson’s first two years saw the ‘Tahs finish 10th in 2017 and a record-lowest 16th last year in an initiation of sorts at the start of his tenure. Despite pressure on him to be sacked, the ‘Tahs brains trust stuck with their man.

And now, Gibson looks to be repaying the faith shown in him, with the Sydneysiders comfortably topping the Australian Conference, thus setting up a home quarter-final against the Highlanders on Saturday.

But it wasn’t always plain sailing as Gibson revealed in an interview with the Fox Rugby Podcast.

“They backed me last season off two pretty average, mediocre years,” Gibson said.

“I don’t know whether I would have taken the job when I look back.

“As much as it was a winning team, it was very much a team in transition in terms of the roster, the playing list.

“The systems and everything that goes with the experience of all your staff being in place had gone, disappeared.

“To put that back in place and to really, truly own it and do it the way I wanted to do it — it’s taken to this point just to get here.

“One of my goals as NSW coach is making sure that part of the legacy that I want to leave behind is all those development systems and positions that we have in our club, are filled and work regardless of who the head coach is.”

He added: “If I had my time again, I probably would have been a little bit more patient.

“I’ve learnt how important it is that the head coach is supported from an organisational view.

“Having incredible stability and direction — the CEO, the chairman, the captain, your support staff — all in place and being really stable and all aligned towards one direction and a firm direction.

“When I look back to 2015, when Cheik left to take on the Wallabies, he took six staff with him, which is a big hole to fill.

“At the time we had no CEO, no general manager — the ingredients that you need to be a really successful club weren’t in place and so we really were starting from a blank canvas.

“For some coaches that would be a really appealing thing, but I guess being inexperienced at that stage, I made some mistakes.

“When I reflect on that, I would have probably taken my time a little bit more and been far more considered with my moves.”

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With Super Rugby reaching the Qualifiers, we take a look at the best bets from the three games which take place on Saturday.

Crusaders v Sharks

On paper, this seems like it should be a comfortable victory for the hosts. They are the defending champions, have won their past 12 games and are favourites to retain the title after finishing top of the Super Rugby standings.

The record of South African teams in play-off games in New Zealand sides also makes for ominous reading with them yet to triumph in 13 attempts. It should go out to 14, particularly with the bookmakers giving odds of 1/20 (bet365, Betfred and BoyleSports) for Scott Robertson’s men to claim the win, but the Sharks do have the physicality to challenge the Christchurch-based outfit.

While the All Blacks and their franchises are renowned for their tempo and skill set, the Crusaders also have the best front five in the competition. It is effectively an international forward eight with Scott Barrett in particularly outstanding form but, in Thomas du Toit, Akker van der Merwe and Tendai Mtawarira, the Durban team do have a front-row which could cause problems for the hosts.

An injury to Jean-Luc du Preez is a loss in the back-row but they have plenty of power throughout the XV and have performed well against New Zealand teams this season. It may not be enough, with them 9/1 at various companies to cause an upset, but it could be closer than most reckon and they are 5/4 (Ladbrokes and Coral) on a +17 handicap.

Waratahs v Highlanders

Unlike the opening game on Saturday, the next two are much more difficult to call with the Waratahs looking to finally bring some joy to Australian rugby. They face, on paper at least, the weakest of the remaining New Zealand teams, with the Highlanders finishing in fourth place in their conference.

That means little according to the bookies, however, with Aaron Mauger’s men still seen as favourites going into this encounter. They were able to rest a number of star players in the final match of the regular-season and the likes of Luke Whitelock, Rob Thompson and Aaron and Ben Smith return to the XV.

As a result, 888sport have the visitors down at 11/17 to secure their place in the semi-finals, while the Waratahs are 13/10 outsiders with bet365 and Black Type to claim the victory. It is slightly surprising after the Waratahs’ dominant 41-12 triumph over the Dunedin-based franchise earlier in the campaign. Although that result came after the visitors had been reduced to 14 men following Tevita Nabura’s red card, Daryl Gibson’s side were already in control before that incident

The absence of Michael Hooper is a blow for the Australians, though, and it could prove decisive on Saturday, but we think that backing the Waratahs is the more prudent option.

Lions v Jaguares

The last match of the Qualifiers sees an all-South African Conference affair as the seventh place Jaguares travel to Johannesburg to take on the Lions – finalists from the last two years.

If their form from 2016 and ‘17 is anything to go by, this should be a comfortable victory for the hosts, but they have struggled to find that dominance during the 2018 season. Saturday’s opponents were in contention for top spot in the division before Swys de Bruin’s men finished the campaign strongly to claim second in the overall standings and a home quarter.

With the advantage of playing at Ellis Park, the bookmakers think that De Bruin’s charges will make it to a third consecutive semi-final, with bet365, Betfair and Paddy Power all having them down at 3/10, but the Argentines are a dangerous proposition this year.

Under Mario Ledesma they have impressed and should challenge the hosts, despite having to play the match at altitude. They like to play expansively and, at 3/1 with Marathonbet and Black Type, the Jags are worth backing.

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Check out which players have come and gone at the 12 Premiership clubs ahead of the upcoming season.

Bath

In: Jackson Willison (Worcester Warriors), Lucas Noguera Paz (Jaguares), Victor Delmas (Colomiers), Darren Atkins (Academy), Ruaridh McConnochie (England Sevens), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Will Chudley (Exeter Chiefs), Guy Mercer (Ospreys), Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish), Alex Davies (Yorkshire Carnegie)

Out: Matt Banahan (Gloucester), Josh Lewis (Dragons), Ben Tapuai (Harlequins), Nick Auterac (Harlequins), James Phillips (Sale Sharks), Nathan Charles (Melbourne Rebels), Rory Jennings (London Scottish), Will Homer (Jersey Reds), Kane Palma-Newport (Colomiers), Shaun Knight (Rouen), James Wilson (Southland), Jeff Williams (released)

Bristol Bears

In: Charles Piutau (Ulster), John Afoa (Gloucester), Shaun Malton (Exeter Chiefs), Nic Stirzaker (Melbourne Rebels), Yann Thomas (Rouen), Aly Muldowney (Grenoble), Tiff Eden (Nottingham), Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers), Jake Heenan (Connacht), Jordan Lay (Edinburgh), Ollie Dawe (Academy), Tom Lindsay (Bedford Blues), Jake Armstrong (Jersey Reds), Jake Woolmore (Jersey Reds), Tom Pincus (Jersey Reds), Lewis Thiede (Ealing Trailfinders), Piers O’Conor (Ealing Trailfinders), Luke Daniels (Ealing Trailfinders), Harry Randall (Gloucester), Ed Holmes (Exeter Chiefs), James Lay (Bay of Plenty), George Smith (Reds)

Out: Jordan Williams (Dragons), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Max Crumpton (Harlequins), Ryan Bevington (Dragons), David Lemi (Chanlon), Jack O’Connell (Ealing Trailfinders), Tyler Gendall (Cornish Pirates), Billy Searle (Wasps), Soane Tonga’uiha (Ampthill), Giorgi Nemsadze (Ospreys), Gaston Cortes (Leicester Tigers), Jack Wallace (Richmond), Dan Tuohy (Vannes), Jordan Liney (Hartpury College), Ross McMillan (released), Jason Harris-Wright (released), Thretton Palamo (released), Alex Giltrow (released), Ryan Glynn (released), Ben Gompels (released)

Exeter Chiefs

In: Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Santiago Cordero (Jaguares)

Out: Kai Horstmann (retired), Shaun Malton (Bristol Bears), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington Lions), Will Chudley (Bath), Ed Holmes (Bristol Bears), Julian Salvi (retired), Carl Rimmer (retired)

Gloucester

In: Matt Banahan (Bath), Franco Marais (Sharks), Jaco Kriel (Lions), Danny Cipriani (Wasps), Tom Hudson (Academy), Gerbrandt Grobler (Munster), Will Safe (Academy), Franco Mostert (Lions), Ruan Dreyer (Lions), Todd Gleave (London Irish)

Out: Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Richard Hibbard (Dragons), John Afoa (Bristol Bears), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Cameron Orr (Western Force), Andy Symons (Northampton Saints), Tom Denton (Ealing Trailfinders), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), David Halaifonua (Coventry), Charlie Beckett (Jersey Reds), Jeremy Thrush (Western Force), Ed Bogue (Cinderford), Motu Matu’u (London Irish), Elliott Creed (Doncaster Knights), Billy Burns (Ulster), Jacob Rowan (released), Alfie North (released), Carwyn Penny (released), Mason Tonks (released)

Harlequins

In: Marcus Smith (Academy), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Max Crumpton (Bristol Bears), Alex Dombrandt (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Ben Tapuai (Bath), Nick Auterac (Bath), Matt Symons (Wasps)

Out: Jamie Roberts (Bath), Winston Stanley (retired), Adam Jones (retired), Harry Sloan (Ealing Trailfinders), Sam Aspland-Robinson (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Matthews (Wasps), Cameron Holenstein (Jersey Reds), Sam Twomey (London Irish)

Leicester Tigers

In: Guy Thompson (Wasps), Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors), David Denton (Worcester Warriors), James Voss (Jersey Reds), Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins), Jimmy Stevens (Nottingham), Gaston Cortes (Bristol Bears)

Out: Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears), Dominic Barrow (Northampton Saints), Ben Betts (Ealing Trailfinders), Logovi’i Mulipola (Newcastle Falcons), George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), Joe Maksymiw (Connacht), Nick Malouf (Australia Sevens), George Catchpole (retired), Michele Rizzo (Petrarca), Luke Hamilton (Edinburgh), Pat Cilliers (London Irish)

Newcastle Falcons

In: Guy Graham (Hawick), Tom Arscott (Rouen), Logovi’i Mulipola (Leicester Tigers), George McGuigan (Leicester Tigers), Johnny Williams (London Irish), Connor Collett (North Harbour), Josh Basham (London Irish), Nemani Nagusa (Aurillac)

Out: Juan Pablo Socino (Edinburgh), Harrison Orr (Western Force), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors), Belisario Agulla (Hindu Club), Craig Willis (Ealing Trailfinders), Jake Ilnicki (Yorkshire Carnegie), Rob Vickers (retired), Ally Hogg (retired), Scott Lawson (retired), Nick Civetta (Doncaster Knights), Maxime Mermoz (Toulouse), Nili Latu (Hino Red Dolphins), Evan Olmstead (Auckland)

Northampton

In: Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), Will Davis (Ealing Trailfinders), Ben Franks (London Irish), Dominic Barrow (Leicester Tigers), Andy Symons (Gloucester), James Haskell (Wasps), Matt Worley (Racing 92), Charlie Davies (Dragons), Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs)

Out: Sam Dickinson (Ealing Trailfinders), Jordan Onojaife (Ealing Trailfinders), Nic Groom (Lions), Charlie Clare (Bedford Blues), Matt Beesley (Ealing Trailfinders), Christian Day (retired), Rob Horne (retired), George North (Ospreys), Campese Ma’afu (Ealing Trailfinders), Ben Nutley (Coventry), Stephen Myler (London Irish), Tom Stephenson (London Irish), Kieran Brookes (Wasps), Tom Kessell (Coventry), Juan Pablo Estelles (Atlético del Rosario), Ben Foden (released), Jamie Elliott (released), Michael Paterson (released)

Sale Sharks

In: Joe Jones (Perpignan), James Phillips (Bath), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions), Chris Ashton (Toulon)

Out: David Seymour (retired), Mike Haley (Munster), Josh Charnley (Warrington Wolves), Will Addison (Ulster), Halani Aulika (Grenoble)

Saracens

In: Alex Lewington (London Irish), David Strettle (Clermont), Tom Woolstencroft (London Irish)

Out: Schalk Brits (retired), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Chris Wyles (retired), Kieran Longbottom (Western Force), Danny Cutmore (Cornish Pirates), Mark Flanagan (Bedford Blues), Matt Hankin (retired), Mike Ellery (England Sevens)

Wasps

In: Brad Shields (Hurricanes), Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders), Joe Atkinson (London Scottish), Ross Neal (London Scottish), Michael Le Bourgeois (Bedford Blues), Ben Morris (Nottingham), Billy Searle (Bristol Bears), Ambrose Curtis (Manawatu), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Tom West (Academy), Will Stuart (Academy), Nizaam Carr (Stormers), Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Francais)

Out: Marty Moore (Ulster), Guy Thompson (Leicester Tigers), Sam Jones (retired), Guy Armitage (Ealing Trailfinders), Will Owen (Nottingham), Danny Cipriani (Gloucester), James Haskell (Northampton Saints), Matt Symons (Harlequins), Alex Lundberg (Ealing Trailfinders), Paul Doran-Jones (released), Kyle Eastmond (released), Brendan Macken (released)

Worcester Warriors

In: Callum Black (Ulster), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh), Michael Heaney (Doncaster Knights), Isaac Miller (London Scottish), Scott van Breda (Jersey Reds), Jono Lance (Reds), Francois Venter (Cheetahs), Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes), Duncan Weir (Edinburgh), Farai Mudariki (Tarbes), Justin Clegg (Academy), Zac Xiourouppa (Academy)

Out: Donncha O’Callaghan (retired), Huw Taylor (Dragons), Jackson Willison (Bath), Will Spencer (Leicester Tigers), David Denton (Leicester Tigers), Sam Olver (Ealing Trailfinders), Andrew Durutalo (Ealing Trailfinders), Biyi Alo (Angoulême), Michael Dowsett (Canon Eagles), Ben Howard (England Sevens), Kurt Haupt (SWD Eagles), Grayson Hart (London Scottish), Max Stelling (Hino Red Dolphins), Peter Stringer (retired), Tom Heathcote (released)

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Check out which players have come and gone at the Top 14 clubs ahead of the upcoming season.

Agen

In: Romain Briatte (Aurillac), Xerom Civil (Carcassonne), Timilai Rokoduru (Angouleme), Adrian Motoc (Racing 92), Yohan Montes (Castres), Leo Berdeu, Andres Zafra (both Lyon), Fouad Yaha (Catalan Dragons), Benito Masilevu (Brive)

Out: Filipo Nakosi (Toulon), Antoine Erbani (Pau), Pierre Fouyssac (Toulouse), Vakhtangi Akhobadze (Biarritz), George Tilsley (Bordeaux-Begles), Arthur Joly, Kamaliele Tufele (both La Rochelle), Corentin Braendlin (Montauban), Loick Jammes (Brive), Jeremy Russell (Albi), Leandro Cedaro (Mont-de-Marsan), Lucas Tolot (Nerac), Florian Denos (Ceret), Ignacio Mieres (Marmande)

Bordeaux-Begles

In: Beka Gorgadze (Mont-de-Marsan), Nicolas Plazy (Colomiers), Romain Buros (Pau), Lekso Kaulashvili, Afa Amosa, Brock James (all La Rochelle), Peceli Nacebe (Fijian Drua), Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders), Semi Radradra, Laurent Delboulbes (both Toulon), George Tilsley (Agen), Eto Nabuli, Kane Douglas (both Reds), Ulupano Seuteni (Oyonnax), Viliamu Afatia (Racing 92), Tevita Ratuva (Brisbane City)

Out: Sebastien Taofifenua (Toulon), Simon Hickey (Edinburgh), Johan Aliouat, Gauthier Doubrere (Biarritz), Jean-Baptiste Poux, Jayden Spence (both retired), Loann Goujon (Lyon), Hugh Chalmers (Vannes), Ed Fidow (Provence), Marc Clerc (Castres), Apisai Naqalevu (Clermont Auvergne), Metuisela Talebula (Bayonne), Tom Juniver (Massy), Ben Volavola (Racing 92), Pierre Gayraud (Toulouse), Tian Schoeman (Cheetahs)

Castres

In: Yann David (Toulouse), Paea Fa’anunu (Dax), Wilfrid Hounkpatin (Rouen), Martin Laveau (Bayonne), Tapu Faletea (Narbonne), Kevin Gimeno (Carcassonne), Marc Clerc (Bordeaux-Begles), Scott Spedding, Camille Gerondeau (both Clermont Auvergne)

Out: Damien Tussac, Alexandre Bias (both retired), Kylan Jaminet (Colomiers), Yohan Montes (Agen), Eric Sione, Afusipa Taumoepeau (both Perpignan), Pierre Berard (Beziers), Jordan Ladhuie (Carcassonne)

Clermont Auvergne

In: Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs), George Moala (Blues), Apisai Naqalevu (Bordeaux-Begles)

Out: Raphael Chaume, Noa Nakaitaci (both Lyon), Aurelien Rougerie, Luke McAlister (both retired), Malietoa Hingano (Stade Francais), David Strettle (Saracens), Alexandre Nicoue (Biarritz), Aaron Jarvis (Dragons), Atila Septar (Pau), Scott Spedding, Camille Gerondeau (both Castres), Otar Giorgadze (Brive)

Grenoble

In: Clement Ancely (Massy), Steve Blanc-Mappaz (Vannes), Junior Rasolea (Edinburgh), Taleta Tupuola (Montauban), Theo Nanette (Aurillac), Taiasina Tuifu’a (Lyon), Gaetan Germain, Mike Tadjer (both Brive), Halani Aulika (Sale Sharks), Pablo Uberti (Bordeaux-Begles), JC Janse van Rensburg, Raymond Rhule (both Stormers), Davit Kubriashvili (Montpellier), Ben Lucas (Reds)

Out: David Mele, Eddie Sawailau (both Perpignan), Aly Muldowney (Bristol Bears), Dylan Hayes (Angouleme), Benoit Jasmin (Carcassonne), Axel Paramelles (Nevers), Alaska Taufa, Taiso Silafai-Leaana (both Valence-Romans), Paulin Mas (Chambery), Pierre Maiau (Vannes), Sona Taumalolo (retired), Arnaud Heguy (Dax)

La Rochelle

In: Maxime Lafage (Colomiers), Ihaia West (Hurricanes), Arthur Joly (Agen), Brieuc Plessis-Couilloud (Narbonne), Marc Andreu (Racing 92), Remi Bourdeau (Beziers), Sila Puafisi (Brive), Lopeti Timani (Rebels)

Out: Lekso Kaulashvili, Afa Amosa, Brock James (all Bordeaux-Begles), Jeremie Maurouard (Lyon), Charles Bouldoire (Biarritz), Jason Eaton, Gregory Lamboley (both retired), Luc Mousset (Bayonne), Rene Ranger (Northland), Dom Barrow (Northampton Saints)

Lyon

In: Raphael Chaume, Noa Nakaitaci (both Clermont Auvergne), Patrick Sobela (Oyonnax), Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs), Jeremie Maurouard (La Rochelle), Jonathan Wisniewski (Toulon), Loann Goujon (Bordeaux-Begles)

Out: Stephane Clement (Stade Francais), Frederic Michalak, David Attoub, Hemani Paea (all retired), Mike Harris (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Theophile Cotte (Nevers), Tanginoa Halaifonua (Massy), Leo Berdeu, Andres Zafra (both Agen), Taiasina Tuifu’a (Grenoble), Theo Belan (Toulouse)

Montpellier

In: Johan Goosen (Cheetahs), Julien Ledevedec (Brive), Levan Chilachava (Toulon), Julien Tomas (Pau)

Out: Julien Delannoy, Jesse Mogg (both Pau), Joffrey Michel (Oyonnax), Davit Kubriashvili (Grenoble), Joe Tomane (Leinster), Charles Geli (retired)

Pau

In: Julien Blanc (Beziers), Dan Malafosse (Mont-de-Marsan), Antoine Erbani (Agen), Julien Delannoy, Jesse Mogg (both Montpellier), Atila Septar (Clermont Auvergne)

Out: Conrad Smith, Julien Pierre (both retired), Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Begles), Sylvain Charlet, Masalosalo Tutaia (both Perpignan), Brandon Fajardo (Colomiers), Julien Tomas (Montpellier)

Perpignan

In: David Mele, Eddie Sawailau (both Grenoble), Sylvain Charlet, Masalosalo Tutaia (both Pau), Wandile Mjekevu (Toulouse), Johan van Heerden (Baia Mare), Eric Sione, Afusipa Taumoepeau (both Castres), Manu Leiataua (Bayonne), Eroni Sau (Fijian Drua), Cyril Deligny (Narbonne), Paddy Jackson (Ulster)

Out: Christophe Andre (Provence), Yann De Fauverge, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Alasdair Strokosch, Lifeimi Mafi, Tevita Mailau (all retired), Joe Jones (Sale Sharks), Frederic Gendre, Mathieu Majeau, Thibault Dufau (all Dijon), Jens Torfs (Mont-de-Marsan), Samuel Faconnier (Ceret), Martin Garcia Veiga (FC Barcelona Rugby)

Racing 92

In: Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Olivier Klemenczak (Dax), Simon Zebo (Munster), Fabien Sanconnie (Brive), Raphael Lagarde (Bayonne), Ben Volavola (Bordeaux-Begles), Dominic Bird (Chiefs)

Out: Dan Carter (Kobelco Steelers), Remi Tales (Mont-de-Marsan), Adrian Motoc (Agen), Benjamin Dambielle, Yannick Nyanga, Patricio Albacete, Casey Laulala (all retired), Marc Andreu (La Rochelle), Viliamu Afatia (Bordeaux-Begles), Albert Vulivuli (Vannes), Matt Worley (Northampton Saints), So’otala Fa’aso’o (Brive)

Stade Francais

In: Kylan Hamdaoui, Alex Arrate (both Biarritz), Lester Etien (Massy), Stephane Clement (Lyon), Tala Gray, Yoann Maestri, Gael Fickou (all Toulouse), Malietoa Hingano (Clermont Auvernge), Nicolas Sanchez (Jaguares), Piet van Zyl (London Irish), Atunaisa Manu (Viadana)

Out: Brandon Nansen (Dragons), Meyer Bosman (retired), Steevy Cerqueira (Brive), Sakaria Taulafo (Ceret), Zurab Zhvania (Wasps), Maxime Gau (Massy), Marvin Woki (Montauban), Bakary Meite (Carcassonne)

Toulon

In: Filipo Nakosi (Agen), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Sebastien Taofifenua (Bordeaux-Begles), Liam Messam (Chiefs), Stephane Onambele (Colomiers), Jacques Potgieter (Munakata Sanix Blues), Daniel Ikpefan (Oyonnax), Julian Savea (Hurricanes)

Out: Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Jocelino Suta, Vincent Clerc, Bryan Habana, Sebastien Tillous-Borde (all retired), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre), Semi Radradra, Laurent Delboulbes (both Bordeaux-Begles), Jonathan Wisniewski (Lyon), Levan Chilachava (Montpellier), Duane Vermeulen (Kubota Spears), Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Samu Manoa (Cardiff Blues), Ma’a Nonu (released)

Toulouse

In: Pierre Fouyssac (Agen), Albin Placine (Biarritz), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Pita Ahki (Connacht), Theo Belan (Lyon), Pierre Gayraud (Bordeaux-Begles), Maxime Mermoz (Newcastle Falcons), Pierre Pages (Blagnac)

Out: Yann David (Castres), Jean-Marc Doussain (Lyon), Tala Gray, Yoann Maestri, Gael Fickou (all Stade Francais), Wandile Mjekevu (Perpignan), Florian Fritz, David Roumieu (both retired)

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Ahead of Saturday’s qualifiers in Super Rugby, we are putting our head on the block and picking our winners from the three games.

The Crusaders open proceedings against the Sharks before the Waratahs host the Highlanders and the Lions and the Jaguares complete the day’s action at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

SUPER RUGBY

Crusaders v Sharks

Preview: The tournament’s in-form team the Crusaders continue the defence of their Super Rugby title against the Sharks in Christchurch on Saturday.

Prediction: Home win here as the reigning champions march on. Crusaders by 15.

Waratahs v Highlanders

Preview: The Waratahs host the Highlanders at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday in what should be a thrilling trans-Tasman Super Rugby quarter-final.

Prediction: The hosts to show they can beat Kiwi teams with 15 men. ‘Tahs by 5.

Lions v Jaguares v

Preview: The Lions and Jaguares will clash for the third time this season when they go head-to-head in the fourth and final Qualifier at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Prediction: The Jaguares are much improved from the side that went down by 20 points in the regular-season fixture at Ellis Park, but we think that home advantage will be a decisive factor. Lions by 5.

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Perry Baker scored a brace as USA brought the curtain down on a scintillating day of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 action at AT&T Park with a 35-0 defeat of Wales to take their place in the Championship quarter-finals.

The hosts are joined in the race for the Melrose Cup by defending champions New Zealand, Olympic champions Fiji, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2018 winners South Africa, RWC Sevens 2013 runners-up England, Argentina, France and Scotland.

The Championship quarter-finals will get underway at 15:32 local time (GMT-7) on Saturday with Scotland facing South Africa, Argentina taking on Fiji, France meeting New Zealand and USA tackling England.

The men’s tournament began with a preliminary round featuring the nations ranked ninth to 24th to determine who would progress to face the top eight seeds in the round of 16 and who would take their place in the Bowl bracket on the final two days of the tournament.

Papua New Guinea, making their RWC Sevens debut, came close to upsetting the form book when the 23rd seeds battled back from 24-7 down against Canada with some slick handling and pace leading to tries by Henry Kalua and Hensley Peter. There was to be no fairytale comeback, though, with Connor Braid making certain of a 29-21 victory for Canada.

Chile and Ireland were also involved in an epic battle that went down to the wire. Ireland, winners of a bronze medal in the London round of the series, looked to be heading for extra-time against the battling South Americans until they worked Jimmy O’Brien over in the corner with time up, much to the relief of the Irish fans in the stands.

The drama continued into the round of 16 with an incredible comeback by Scotland to beat Kenya 31-26. The eighth seeds had trailed 26-0 against the Kenyans, who had battled past Tonga 19-7 in their opening match, but five second-half tries to the delight of the AT&T Park crowd. Scotland made the most of the space created by Belgium Tuatagaloa’s sending off for two yellow cards to storm back, captain Scott Riddell coolly sending Jamie Farndale over for the winner.

Argentina’s 28-0 victory over Canada was more straightforward before the drama continued as France shocked Australia. With two and a half minutes to go the scores were level at 17-17 before Les Bleus found Tavite Veredamu in space out wide and he had too much pace and power for Australia.

The reward for France is a Championship quarter-final with defending champions New Zealand. The All Blacks Sevens beat Russia 29-5 to signal their intentions to become the first nation to win back-to-back tournaments. They led 12-5 at half-time but quickly built on that with Joe Ravouvou a constant threat with his physicality and speed.

Fiji endured an intense battle with Japan to start their bid for a third RWC Sevens title and went in at half-time trailing the Asian champions 10-7. However, the footwork of captain Jerry Tuwai, one of five Olympic gold medallists in San Francisco, ignited the Fijian attack and three quick-fire tries from Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra and Jasa Veremalua helped wrap up a 35-10 win.

South Africa faced no such problems against Ireland with Siviwe Soyizwapi becoming the first player since RWC Sevens 2005 to score four tries in a match in their emphatic 45-7 victory. That left the hosts to bring the curtain down on day one and, drawing on the euphoria of the crowd, they ran out 35-0 winners with captain Madison Hughes converting all five of their tries.

Rugby World Cup Sevens Results, Day One:

Kenya 19 – 7 Tonga
Canada 29 – 21 Papua New Guinea
France 50 – 0 Jamaica
Wales 33 – 12 Zimbabwe
Samoa 45 – 7 Uganda
Russia 21 – 7 Hong Kong
Japan 33 – 7 Uruguay
Ireland 17 – 12 Chile
Scotland 31 – 26 Kenya
Argentina 28 – 0 Canada
Australia 17 – 22 France
England 19 – 15 Samoa
New Zealand 29 – 5 Russia
Fiji 35 – 10 Japan
South Africa 45 – 7 Ireland
USA 35 – 0 Wales

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Take a check on the highlights from the Men’s first session on Day one at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.

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The Crusaders saw off the Sharks 40-10 with a clinical performance in Christchurch on Saturday to set up a semi-final meeting with the Hurricanes.

While the Sharks enjoyed plenty of decent periods in the game, they made too many errors and missed too many one-on-one tackles as a highly efficient Crusaders side ruthlessly exposed their mistakes.

It was a nightmare start for the visiting South Africans, who conceded two quickfire tries and a penalty in the opening exchanges, falling 13-0 behind in the blink of an eye, but they only had themselves to blame as both five-pointers were errors of their own making.

The home side made an early statement, winning a scrum penalty. Richie Mo’unga kicked for touch and, after a period of pressure in which Thomas du Toit was pinged for not rolling away, Mo’unga was able to give the hosts the lead with the resulting penalty.

Soon after, Sharks scrum-half Louis Schreuder kicked the ball out on the full with the Crusaders intelligently taking the quick lineout and catching the visitors’ backline napping, as they moved the ball from right to left, with Bryn Hall finishing in the corner.

Kieran Read then pilfered a Sharks lineout with the ball being shifted to Ryan Crotty, who did brilliantly to bust the line and play the final pass for David Havili to go over in the left-hand corner.

The away side seemed to recover from their difficult start and began to build some pressure. After Read’s run and pass off the back of the scrum was intercepted by Sharks winger Kobus Van Wyk, the visitors harried up field with some powerful carries. The ball was recycled where a good decoy run allowed Van Wyk to finish off a move he started. Fly-half Robert du Preez added the extras to cut the deficit to six.

Mounga added a penalty on the stroke of half-time as the home side took a 16-7 lead into the interval.

The Crusaders came flying out of the blocks after the break and had their third try just two minutes into the second period and once again it came from the lineout. The ball had been shifted out to the left once again, with Hall getting the offload away inside for Matt Todd to bash over.

Thereafter, the fly-halves would exchange penalties before Braydon Ennor took the game well and truly out of the Sharks’ reach in the 67th minute. The ball was shifted through the hands with Ennor selling the dummy and Read running a good decoy run as the replacement back was able to scythe through the visitors’ defence unscathed for a brilliant finish.

Four minutes later and nine minutes from time, the scoreboard was beginning to tell a brutal story. Todd pounced on a loose ball at the ruck before Mitchell Drummond slipped the ball inside for replacement loose forward Pete Samu, who had the fresh legs and gas to make it to the line and cap off an emphatic victory.

The scorers:

For Crusaders:
Tries: Hall, Havili, Todd, Ennor, Samu
Cons: Mo’unga 3
Pens: Mo’unga 3

For Sharks:
Try: Van Wyk
Con: Du Preez
Pen: Du Preez

The teams:

Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tim Perry
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor

Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha (c), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Wian Vosloo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Makazole Mapimpi

Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

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