South Africa's Western Stormers left defending Super 12 champions the Auckland Blues staring down the barrels of elimination from this year's tournament in Auckland yesterday with a stunning 51-23 victory.
The Stormers, who unveiled an exciting new speedster in the form of Zimbabwean winger Tonderai Chavhanga, led 36-11 at half-time and never looked like losing on their way to victory by eight tries to three.
A miserable night for Auckland saw their woes compounded by injuries to All Black star Joe Rokocoko and Oreni Ai'i, while flyhalf Carlos Spencer looked out of sorts and bewildered for much of the match.
PHOTO: AP
About the only mistake from the Stormers in a scintillating performance was failing to kick-off 10m at the start, handing Auckland a scrum -- which the New Zealanders promptly lost.
The ball spun out behind Auckland and in what amounted to a standing start sprint, Chavhanga defeated Fiji-born Rokocoko to touch down inside the first minute for the opening try.
Auckland climbed back into the game and a lead with two penalties and then, with Rokocoko off injured, his replacement Ai'i powered over for a try in the corner, despite the attentions of a Stormers tackler.
The Stormers were on the attack again when No 8 Adri Badenhorst took an intercept and pounded 75m down the paddock for a solo try, Chavhanga comfortably off to his side in case he ran out of puff.
A few minutes later Badenhorst got his second try. Chavhanga benefited from a deft De Wet Barry pass to notch up his second, while Neil De Kock followed soon after. Gaffie du Toit slotted over the conversions and 10 minutes out from half time, the Blues were beaten. Werner Greef got the last of the tries in the first half for the Stormers.
Playing desperation rugby in the second half Ai'i tried a chip kick from deep in his own half, only to see Marius Joubert take it and easily score.
The game's crunch moment came when Ai'i and Chavhanga went for the same high ball; the young Zimbabwean survived but Ai'i saw the rest of the game concussed from the sideline.
Halfway into the second half, the game wrapped up, the Stormers almost lost interest with scoring and at one point du Toit slotted over a drop goal, confirmed by the video referee.
The Blues mounted a late charge which produced a classic wingers try for Doug Howlett while Rico Gear scored a solo effort up the middle.
For the fans the only interest was whether Auckland could collect a bonus point for four tries; in the end a committed Stormers defense kept them out, handing the South Africans maximum points and a likely home semi-final.
Northern Bulls 23, Reds 17
The Northern Bulls of South Africa kept their Super 12 hopes alive with a 23-17 defeat of the Queensland Reds in a scrappy match at Ballymore yesterday.
The Reds out-scored the Bulls three tries to two but made far too many mistakes to allow the South Africans to score their first win in Australia in the Super 12 competition and move fourth in the table.
Flyhalf Derick Hougaard proved the match-winner, kicking three penalties and converting both of the Bulls' tries for a personal haul of 13 points.
Queensland led 12-6 at halftime after tries by winger Peter Hynes, who pounced on a cross-field kick by Reds prop and captain Nick Stiles, and center Steve Kefu.
Hougaard opened the scoring with the first of his two penalties in a scrappy first half as both sides let try-scoring opportunities slip.
Winger Eddie Fredericks scored an easy converted try for the Bulls eight minutes after the break after a bullocking run by fullback Hennie Daniller.
The Bulls then increased their lead to 20-12 when replacement hooker Gary Botha barged over to capitalise on Reds' errors. Hougaard then kicked his third penalty to shut out a disappointing Reds side.
Rugby league convert Wendell Sailor scored a consolation try for Queensland in the final minute but the Reds left their charge far too late after the Bulls had scored 17 points in 14 minutes to dominate the second half and make sure of a well-deserved win.
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