Tag: Rugby

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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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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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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The Lions will play in the Super Rugby semi-finals for the third successive year after defeating the Jaguares 40-23 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

A pair of Nicolas Sanchez penalties had given the Argentinians an early 6-0 buffer, but Swys de Bruin’s outfit soon showed why they have reached the showpiece event over the past two seasons and responded with 24 unanswered points. Ruan Combrinck, Harold Vorster and Malcolm Marx all crossed the whitewash to open up a seemingly comfortable 24-6 advantage.

The Jags were evidently stunned but they re-found their form towards the end of the half and reduced the arrears via the boot of Sanchez. They then touched down twice in the opening 10 minutes of the second period via Bautista Delguy and Pablo Matera.

An Elton Jantjies three-pointer was sandwiched in between those scores before Andries Coetzee’s try effectively completed the win before it was rubberstamped by the fly-half, who added six more points from the tee.

Mario Ledesma’s men were the Lions’ closest challengers during the regular season and they showed their quality early on, but the hosts’ experience eventually told.

The Jaguares began brightly, putting the home side under pressure and earning two penalty opportunities, which Sanchez converted for a 6-0 lead.

Back came De Bruin’s outfit, however, dominating the scrum battle and placing the visiting forwards under significant duress. Their fly-half then spotted space on the outside and produced an inch-perfect cross-field kick for Combrinck to collect and finish in the right-hand corner.

Jantjies converted and then added a second from the tee when the kicking game once again played havoc with the opposition defence. Delguy failed to gather Aphiwe Dyantyi’s grubber through and Vorster was on hand to pick up and touch down unopposed.

Having started on the front foot, the Argentinians were now regularly being sent into reverse gear, but they were not helping themselves. Ledesma’s charges continued to make mistakes and one such error saw Marx intercept a stray Gonzalo Bertranou pass and cross the whitewash for the third try.

The Jaguares did regain their composure with Sanchez scoring another three-pointer just shy of the interval before they got themselves back into the contest at the start of the second period. It came from a well-constructed effort as good hands provided Delguy with some space to work and the wing brilliantly rounded the final defender to finish.

Jantjies kept the visitors at arm’s length from the tee but the Jags refused to yield and Matera powered over to take them to within four points of the hosts.

De Bruin’s side displayed all their experience, however, and retained possession impressively. Replacement Marnus Schoeman carried well and Coetzee was the one to benefit from the back-row’s efforts, crossing the line by the left-hand upright.

Although the visitors attempted to get back into the contest, the Lions’ defence was too strong and Jantjies sealed their progress into the last four with a drop-goal and penalty.

The scorers:

For Lions:
Tries: Combrinck, Vorster, Marx, Coetzee
Cons: Jantjies 4
Pens: Jantjies 3
Drop-goal: Jantjies

For Jaguares:
Tries: Delguy, Matera
Cons: Sanchez 2
Pens: Sanchez 3

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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The Waratahs claimed a dramatic 30-23 come-from-behind victory over the Highlanders in a thrilling Super Rugby quarter-final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.

The Highlanders led 23-6 at half-time, having controlled the opening period, but the Waratahs stormed back in the second half, scoring three tries of their own and keeping the visitors scoreless to complete a remarkable turnaround.

The Sydneysiders had their old-timers Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau to thank for being the main instigators in their comeback as they sparked the Waratahs in to life with their tries coming from Folau and Bernard Foley (2).

The Highlanders scored in the first-half through Waisake Naholo and Rob Thompson, but were thwarted in the second by some brilliant Tahs’ defence.

The hosts got the scoring underway. Foley struck his penalty between the uprights after James Lentjes was penalised for offside but Lima Sopoaga responded for the visitors with ‘Tahs lock Jed Holloway the guilty party for not rolling away.

Foley restored the lead for the hosts when Thompson was penalised for not releasing after brilliant work from Michael Wells to get his hands over the ball and affect the turnover.

But soon after the Highlanders would score the game’s first try when Curtis Rona rushed out of the line and Sopoaga exposed the poor read in defence by the hosts, breaking the line and playing a long pass out for Naholo to show blistering speed in his run to the line. Sopoaga added the extras for a 10-6 lead.

Sopoaga extended the lead to 13-6 when excellent defensive pressure left Folau isolated at the breakdown and he conceded the penalty on the 22 right in front of his posts.

The Highlanders were winning the battle at the breakdown and effecting numerous turnover penalties. After soaking up a period of pressure and forcing the hosts to concede yet another penalty for holding on, the ball was kicked for the corner. Then followed an excellent backline move in which Teihorangi Walden got the offload away for Thompson, who had run an excellent support line, to coast in under the posts. Sopoaga’s conversion gave his side a 20-6 lead.

The Highlanders pivot slotted another penalty in the 34th minute after the Waratahs were penalised for not scrummaging straight as the hosts took a 23-6 lead into the interval.

The Waratahs received a boost shortly after the interval when Naholo saw yellow for two high tackles in quick succession on prop Sekope Kepu and the home side ruthlessly capitalised on their numerical advantage, scoring three quick tries in the space of six minutes to complete an amazing turnaround.

First, Kurtley Beale found Foley with a lovely short, inside ball from first receiver with the Waratahs now trailing 13-23 with 25 minutes to go.

Then, scrum-half Nick Phipps pounced on a loose ball after the ‘Tahs did well to disrupt a Highlanders lineout. Beale then turned creator once again, making the tackle bust in midfield before unleashing Folau, who showed his gas with the finish. Foley added the extras to bring the home side to within just three points.

And on the 60-minute mark, the comeback was complete as Folau did brilliantly once again, this time going on a 60-yard run before the ball went through the hands as Foley eventually grabbed his brace.

The Waratahs went 30-23 ahead with another Foley penalty but were then reduced to 14 men for the rest of the game when replacement Paddy Ryan was yellow-carded for cynically preventing a try, which gave the Highlanders another bite at the cherry with a five-metre scrum.

Amazingly, the Waratahs managed to hold on for a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

The scorers:

For Waratahs:
Tries: Foley 2, Folau
Cons: Foley 3
Pens: Foley 3
Yellow Card: Ryan

For Highlanders:
Tries: Naholo, Thompson
Cons: Sopoaga 2
Pens: Sopoaga 3
Yellow Card: Naholo

The teams:

Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley (c), 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Will Miller, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Cameron Clark, 23 Bryce Hegarty

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon (cc), 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Matt Faddes

Date: Saturday, July 21
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20:05 local (11:05 BST, 10:05 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

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Highlights from the Super Rugby Qualifiers, starting with the Hurricanes’ 32-31 win over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium.

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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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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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World Rugby has confirmed that a Samoa player has been provisionally suspended from Rugby World Cup Sevens following an initial investigation into an alleged incident in the tunnel area after his team’s game against Wales on Saturday.

A statement from World Rugby read: “The alleged behaviour is not aligned with the sport’s values and the excellent spirit in which this competition has been played by the 40 participating teams.

“World Rugby has instigated an investigation and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment until the conclusion of that process. The Samoa player will remain provisionally suspended until the final conclusion of that process.”

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Take a check on the Day Two highlights from the Women’s RWC Sevens.

Video credit: World Rugby

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