Super 15 Rugby Results Round 9 2015

Super 15 Rugby Results Round 9 2015, catch all the results from the latest round and see how your predictions played out. We picked 50% of the results, not our best weekend of picks thanks to some upsets.

Super 15 Rugby Results Round 9 2015

Blues (16) v (14) Brumbies

Conference and league leader’s cellar dwellers the Blues hosted the Brumbies in Auckland. This game was potentially a banana skin for the boys from ACT as the Blues were due for a win. The game relatively messy in the first quarter with errors from both and ill discipline from the Brumbies allowing Dan Bowden to sink some easy penalties (4^th and 7^th). Bowden was at it again close to the break after the Blues had an attacking scrum 15 out with a huge open side to attack they spun it wide then some grinding work and good patience by the forwards close in was awarded moments later as Bowden took a beautiful gap beating the tackler to dive over (34^th). The second 40 started much like the first, the Brumbies finally getting on the board with Leali’ifano slotting a penalty (45^th). Some excellent patience, phase play, and ruck work saw the Brumbies put together 25 phases of hard grinding work close to the line, credit the Blues for strong goal line defense which was eventually sucked in and Nic White simply spun it wide for Taliauli to dot down uncontested (56^th). Leali’ifano hitting a couple more penalties for ill discipline late in the game from the Blues (67^th & 73^rd) and Ihaia West (77^th) bringing the deficit to two. The Brumbies had a chance in 79^th minute to take the game as the Blues front row was penalized 50m out for collapsing the scrum. Nic White, renowned for hitting long buzzer beaters couldn’t convert; Blues pick up their first win of the season.

Hurricanes
Tries – D. Bowden
Pen – D. Bowden 2, I. West
Con – D. Bowden

Brumbies
Tries – L. Taliauli
Pen – C. Leali’ifano 3

Canterbury Crusaders (20) v (25) Otago Highlanders

The Crusaders hosted the Highlanders, a local derby with both teams showing good form and exciting running rugby of late. The sure boot of Sopoaga put the visitors on the board first (5^th) but the Crusaders were quick to reply with some hard running and quick recycling putting the fringe attack on the front foot, Nadolo attracting 3 defenders 10 out, offloaded nicely for Todd to crash over in the corner (7^th). Sopoaga was also binned for a shoulder charge leading up to the try. An attacking Crusaders scrum 10 out was held nicely by the Highlanders, Nadolo taking the ball close, beating the first two tacklers, taken down 5 out and Taufua performing an excellent scoop and dive to dot down uncontested (19^th). Sopoaga was out of the bin to convert a penalty (23^rd). An aimless kick from the Crusaders was punished as the Highlanders counterattacked from inside their own half seeing Sopoaga get inside some forwards and offload nicely for Ben Smith to run away 4o out and dot down (38^th). Into the second half what looked to be a promising Crusaders attack was cut short by a perfectly timed interception by Naholo who raced to dot down (44^th). Naholo was at it again after a line out 5m out was spun infield and the Crusaders followed suit expecting the Highlanders to continue left but Aaron Smith ran right and spun it out wide where Nadolo cruised over uncontested (50^th). Slade replied with a penalty after some good pressure from the Crusaders (56^th), the second half proving to be a physical battle with both teams cancelling each other out with solid defense. Slade hit another penalty (76^th) but were still 5 points behind with 3 minutes to go, Higlanders holding on with possession to kick it out for the win.

Crusaders
Tries – M. Todd, J. Taufua
Pen – C. Slade 2
Con – I. Dagg, C. Slade

Highlanders
Tries – B. Smith, W. Naholo 2
Pen – L. Sopoaga 2
Con – L. Sopoaga 2

New South Wales Waratahs (18) v (32) Stormers

The Waraths at home, well rested after their bye week face a Stormers outfit who have been on the wrong side of a tough battles with the Highlands and Hurricanes but have looked progressively better each week. Catrakilis opened the Stormers account early taking the points with a converted penalty (6^th). But the hosts replied through a great run from Beale and Folau out wide for Folau to feed a rampaging Naiyaravoro 22 who beat 3 defenders to dive over in the corner (12^th). The Stormers pressing forward through their left hand channel sucking the Tahs defense in 5 out, some great hands back to the right hand side giving the Stormers and overlap and another 5 points courtesy of de Allende (20^th). Moments before halftime the Waratahs retained possession and pressure meters out from the line replicating the Stormers previous offense sucking the men in and feeding it wide to Horne who battled his way over (39^th). Inside of halftime an excellent chip kick bounced favorably for van Wyk who raced away from 50 out to dot down (46^th). Excellent defense from the Stormers smothered the Waratahs attack and nullified their playmakers around the field, de Jongh getting a hand out to intercept a Tahs attack fed de Allende on his inside who ran away 40 out for 2^nd of the night (70^th). A Waratahs knock on just outside the Stormers 22 was scooped up by Kolbe who raced away to seal the victory for an impressive Stormers (76^th).

Waratahs
Tries – T. Naiyaravoro, R. Horne
Pen – B. Foley 2
Con – B. Foley

Stormers
Tries – D. de Allende 2, J. van Wyk, C. Kolbe
Pen – D. Catrakilis, K. Coleman
Con – D. Catrakilis 2

Western Force (15) v (24) Free State Cheetahs

A desperate Western Force host the Cheetahs in Perth, the Force on a six game losing streak and the Cheetahs sitting at the bottom of the South African conference. The Cheetahs first to open their account with wing Raymond Rhule dotting down after some sustain pressure from the Cheetahs pack early (5^th). The Force worked their way close to the line and replied with a try to Luke Morahan who was on the end of a beautiful offload from Dane Haylett-Petty (14^th). The Force were dominant through the first half but could not convert on their possession, two penalties rounded the half out (Pietersen 36^th and Burton 38^th). The Force brought an unexpected approach to the 2^nd 40 with an all in driving maul crashing that could not be stopped, Chris Alcock claiming the spoils (42^nd). Pietersen took the points (46^th) and a drop goal (49^th) to make a 1 point game, the Force still dominant but lacking discipline. Brussow was over next with a dive close to the line (67^th) and Pietersen slotting the conversion making it a 6 point game. The Force failing to capitalize on possession and opportunities gifted Pietersen another easy 3 points with a penalty (76^th) which put the game out of reach for the hosts, sweet victory for the Cheetahs.

Force
Tries – L. Morahan, C. Alcock
Pen – L. Burton
Con – L. Burton

Cheetahs
Tries – R. Rhule, H. Brussow
Pen – J. Pietersen 3
Con – J. Pietersen

D/Goal – J. Pietersen

Lions (23) v (21) Sharks

The Sharks coming off a drubbing courtesy of the Crusaders and the loss of key personnel through injuries and suspension, the Lions a hard fought win over the Bulls last round. The Lions took points on offer early on after some good pressure, Jantjies (9^th and 18^th) but the Sharks were quick to reply with Renaldo Bothma crashing through to open the Sharks account (20^th). Mvovo outran the Lions defense for their second, the speedster getting an overlap which he took full advantage of (31^st). Before half time the Lions replacement wing Howard Mnisi dove over to open his account (39^th). The Sharks starting slow in the second 40 leaked 2 tries inside 6 minutes to Frans de Klerk (43^rd) and Harold Vorster (46^th). A quality battle resumed for the rest of the game, whilst not high scoring the game see-sawed with the Sharks getting the better of possession but unable to capitalize with the Lions showing a lot of heart on defense. Thomas du Toit did break the Lions hold crashing over (77^th) with Zeilinga converting. Zeilinga did have an opportunity to convert an ambitious penalty on full time but his went wide, Lions taking the victory.

Lions
Tries – H. Mnisi, F. de Klerk, H. Vorster
Pen – E. Jantjies 2
Con – E. Jantjies

Sharks
Tries – R. Bothma, L. Mvovo, T. du Toit
Con – F. Zeilinga 3

Bulls (43) v (22) Queensland Reds

Loftus Versfeld hosted the Bulls and Reds, both sides coming off loses last round with the Reds injury toll climbing. The Bulls running the ball like they did against the Crusaders 2 weekends ago, Hougaard picking up the first try of the night (7^th). Lachlan Turner was quick to reply as makeshift fly half Nick Frisby got a good bounce of the ball to offload pre tackle to Turner who gassed the Bulls 40 out (15^th). The Bulls hot on attack replied minutes later with Spies crashing over close to the line (17^th). Hougaard added to his tally running away for another try catching the Reds asleep to round the half out (34^th). A fired up Reds outfit came out all guns blazing in early stages of the second half with Genia capitalizing on some good work from the forwards and lazy ruck time defense to crash through from 10 out (45^th). Minutes later Genia put through a pin point grubber 5 out and Frisby claimed the spoils diving over (47^th). The Reds losing their momentum when Adam Thompson was binned 3 minutes later for collapsing a maul and the Bulls took full advantage with Marcel van der Merwe being on the end of a man overlap to dot down (52^nd). A huge bust from Samu Kerevi up the centre saw the big man run 45m only to be taken around the ankles but quick ruck time play saw Marco Kotze dive over (56^th). Odendaal caught the Reds napping on the line as he darted through the fringe of the ruck to dive over (59^th) and van Zyl replicated that try again catching the Reds napping (68^th) to close the game out.

Bulls
Tries – F. Hougaard 2, M. Van der Merwe, B. Odendaal, P. van Zyl
Pen – J. Potgieter 4
Con – J. Potgieter 3, T. Schoeman 2

Reds
Tries – L. Turner, W. Genia, N. Frisby, M.Kotze
Con – L. Turner