Japan’s Sunwolves yesterday stunned the Jaguares 36-28 in a pulsating clash of Super Rugby to post their first-ever win after a miserable run of seven defeats.
It was a victory largely made in Samoa as flyhalf Tusi Pisi kept the Tokyo side in the game against the explosive Argentines, booting 18 points, including the go-ahead penalty eight minutes from time.
“To get this historic win in Japan is very special,” Sunwolves captain Shota Horie said. “We had to try to forget what happened in our last game and put everything on the line today and luckily we did that.”
Photo: AFP
The Sunwolves have endured a torrid first season in Super Rugby, with last week’s 92-17 humiliation by the Cheetahs marking yet another low.
The Jaguares, who boast 13 of the Argentina side that reached last year’s World Cup semi-finals, looked set to snap a six-match losing streak as they opened a 13-8 halftime lead.
Captain Agustin Creevy crashed over early before Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and Emiliano Boffelli added brilliant tries, but Juan Martin Hernandez missed all three conversions — which was to prove costly.
A converted try from Facundo Isa gave the visitors a 25-16 advantage before the Sunwolves, roared on by their army of howling fans, came storming back, sparked by a slashing try from New Zealander Derek Carpenter.
Pisi, who is set to join English second-tier club Bristol at the end of the season, held his nerve to fire the Sunwolves back in front 29-28 before Harumichi Tatekawa burst over with the final play to trigger wild scenes at the buzzer.
“I’m extremely proud,” Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett said after an emotional afternoon. “I had a bit of a tear-up in the [coach’s] box and that’s something I didn’t think I would have before I came here.”
Before the match, the teams observed a minute’s silence for the victims of last week’s deadly earthquakes in southern Japan.
“We were deeply sorry not to be able to bring the people of Kyushu any relief in our last game,” Horie said. “I would be very happy if this win can offer them some small hope at this difficult time.”
Two teams who have been criss-crossing the globe in recent weeks wilted as the second half wore on, but Amorosino refused to blame fatigue.
“That’s not the reason,” he said. “This tournament is very hard for everyone. We have to look at the video and start again.”
The Sunwolves joined Super Rugby on the back of Japan’s astonishing performance at the World Cup, where the Brave Blossoms won three pool games, including a 34-32 shock upset over two-time champions South Africa.
However, delays bringing in playing and coaching staff sabotaged the team’s preparations, while the squad’s lack of depth prompted former Japan coach Eddie Jones, now in charge of England, to slam the Sunwolves as “embarrassing.”
Chiefs 28, Hurricanes 27
Damian McKenzie yesterday ensured the Chiefs remained at the top of the Super Rugby table when they survived a late Wellington Hurricanes charge for a narrow victory in Wellington.
In a fast-paced, bruising battle both sides scored four tries with the precision kicking of McKenzie, the competition’s leading points scorer, just keeping the Waikato unit in front by landing all his shots at goal.
The match finished in bizarre circumstances with the Chiefs forced to play with 14 men for the last five minutes, and play uncontested scrums, when they ran out of tight-head props because of injuries.
The Hurricanes were unable to take advantage of their one-man advantage and, in the last play of the game, Beauden Barrett jinked through the Chiefs defensive wall only to have his pass to an unmarked Jason Woodward dropped.
It highlighted the high error count which cost the Hurricanes dearly after they had controlled much of the game and a bloodied Chiefs captain Sam Cane acknowledged afterwards his side were lucky to get the win.
The Chiefs now have seven wins from eight games to remain the competition pacesetters, while the Hurricanes have five from eight and stay third in the New Zealand conference behind the Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders.
Waratahs 49, Force 13
The New South Wales Waratahs yesterday eased some pressure with a powerful win over the Western Force in their Super Rugby clash in Perth.
The Waratahs returned to the winners’ list with a 49-13 victory over the battling Force, running in six tries to one to claim a valuable bonus point.
It was the Waratahs’ third win from seven matches as they fight to keep their playoff hopes afloat, while the defensively inept Force are already also-rans with just one win in eight outings.
Israel Folau became the greatest try scorer in Waratahs history in the 58th minute, with his fifth of the season and 30th of his time with the team.
Waratahs captain Michael Hooper said it was a win which was some time coming.
“That was what we talked about, a full performance,” he said. “It was a great result.”
Force skipper Matt Hodgson admitted his side was “thrashed.”
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