Morne Steyn produced another metronomic goal-kicking display, slotting 16 points with his boot, adding a try and setting up two others as the Bulls overcame a spirited Melbourne Rebels 41-35 in their Super Rugby match yesterday.
Steyn managed five conversions and two penalties, and did not miss a shot at goal, as the Bulls won their fourth successive match.
“It was pretty exciting from the stands, high intensity, good attacking from both sides, maybe not the best defensively from us, but good to get the win,” Bulls captain Pierre Spies said.
Photo: AFP
“We needed these points,” he added of the victory that propelled them to the top of the South African conference on 42 points, one ahead of the Stormers, who have a bye.
The match was one of milestones for the Melbourne side, with Mark Gerrard making his 100th Super Rugby appearance, while club captain Stirling Mortlock was making his first of the season from the replacements’ bench after he recovered from a long-standing calf injury.
It was also their first match since they parted ways with enigmatic flyhalf Danny Cipriani, who has returned to England early. The former England international has signed with Sale for next season.
Photo: AFP
The first half was helter--skelter as both sides secured a bonus point by scoring four tries each with Melbourne’s captain Gareth Delve crashing over after the hooter had sounded to vindicate his decision not to take a penalty shot at goal and ensure the match was evenly poised, with the Bulls leading 31-28.
However, the second period failed to live up to the first as both sides adopted a more conservative, patterned approach for the first 20 minutes before Steyn’s deft chip-kick ahead was gathered by J.J. Engelbrecht to crash over and break the shackles.
Cooper Vuna struck back immediately for the Rebels for his second try, with Kurtley Beale adding his fifth conversion, before Steyn slotted a 72nd-minute penalty for the Bulls to give them a 41-35 lead that they held until the final whistle.
HURRICANES VS BLUES
AP, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
All Blacks center Conrad Smith scored one try and created another as the Wellington Hurricanes beat the Auckland Blues 35-19 in Super Rugby yesterday.
Smith has haunted the Blues this season, scoring two tries including a last-second match-winner when the Hurricanes won their first meeting 26-25 in round five.
He was again the decisive individual, scoring the first of the Hurricanes’ three tries in the 10th minute and providing the final pass for the third try to winger Julian Savea.
Scrumhalf T.J. Perenara was also outstanding, repeatedly taxing the Blues defense before scoring the Hurricanes’ fourth bonus-point try in the 68th.
The Hurricanes inflicted the Blues’ ninth loss in 10 matches this season and their sixth in succession, keeping New Zealand’s largest and richest franchise anchored at the bottom of the Super 15 standings.
At the same time they posted their fifth win from 10 games, rising above expectations after the clearout of star players that took place when Mark Hammett -became Hurricanes coach at the end of last season.
They scored five tries to one, breaking out of a first-half tussle in which the lead changed hands five times and after which the Hurricanes took a brittle 16-12 lead to halftime.
The Hurricanes owed their advantage to first-half tries to Smith and fullback Andre Taylor. Taylor touched down for the eighth time this season to stay at the top of the tournament’s try-scoring list.
The match hung in the balance at halftime as the Blues competed strongly in set-pieces and held at least equal shares of territory and possession, but the Hurricanes fastened onto a couple of fleeting chances to score second-half tries that extended their advantage and turned the match in their favor.
“We just held it together enough,” Hurricanes captain Smith said. “Auckland are a tough team to play. We wanted to make sure we kept our game together, kept our structure together and knew we’d get points, and that’s what happened. The Blues defended very well, but I just think we adjusted our game, read the way they were playing and that’s what got us some good headway.”
All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu kicked four penalties against his past and possibly future teammates to score all of the Blues’ points in the first half.
Weepu quit the Hurricanes at the end of last season to join the Blues and has hinted in the past week he is eager to return to his hometown next season.
Smith scored the opening try of the match after 10 minutes when All Blacks winger Cory Jane brilliantly batted back a cross-kick from flyhalf Beauden Barrett and the center retrieved the ball to score.
Taylor then scored a brilliant try, supporting a breakout by Jane from deep inside the Hurricanes’ half after Perenara turned over an attacking kick.
Savea crossed the Blues’ line twice within five minutes in the second half. His first attempt to score was denied when he put a foot in touch, but his second was successful as he took a final pass from Smith to score in the 57th.
Perenara drove home the Hurricanes’ advantage when he went alone from a 5m scrum in the 68th. Lock Jason Eaton scored the fifth and final Hurricanes try a minute from fulltime.
Center Benson Stanley scored the Blues’ only try in the 74th, too late to affect the outcome of the match.
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