29 April 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 11 – BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS

The biggest takeaways from Round 11 of Super Rugby from a South African perspective, according to Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Crusaders were expected to win comfortably, and they duly delivered, with the 36-10 victory a record 26th straight at their Christchurch fortress. The hosts were also expected to have a clear skills advantage – with one to 23 being complete ball players – and they did, as slick interplay between the forwards and backs led to five tries.

What was surprising, and most striking, was how the Crusaders dominated physically. The Lions showed plenty of heart on defence, especially in the first half, but they were mauled in the collisions. It’s not often that South African sides are outmuscled like the Lions were on Friday.

The loss of Warren Whiteley was a big blow and while the inspirational captain isn’t the biggest No.8, his withdrawal meant the Lions were left with a workmanlike but lightweight loose trio in Marnus Schoeman, Cyle Brink and Kwagga Smith. At 843kg, the Lions pack were asked to punch above their weight against the 924kg, All Black-laden ‘Saders unit and although they did so well at scrum time, they were tenderised in the trenches.

The always-game Smith, who took over the captaincy and No.8 jersey from Whiteley, embodied his team on the day when he was sent flying through the air by a surging Sevu Reece. That collision perfectly summed up the game as a whole. It was a case of boys against men, with the biggest takeaway being the Everest-like challenge the classy Crusaders presents starts with having to match them physically.

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A week after crashing to a first home loss to the Reds in 15 years, the Sharks broke a 19-year drought in Sydney. In yet another topsy-turvy season for the Sharks, it’s been difficult to pinpoint why the Durbanites have been so inconsistent. That wasn’t the case on Saturday.

It was clear as day that the 23-15 win largely came down to an overhaul in personnel – the most significant of the six changes to the starting XV the one at flyhalf – where Curwin Bosch replaced Robert du Preez. The pivotal switch was long overdue, as Bosch’s mercurial skills were wasted week after week whilst Du Preez’s struggle to find form never turned the corner.

Curwin Bosch contributed 13 points in a composed performance at flyhalf as @TheSharksZA claimed a tour-opening 23-15 victory over the @NSWWaratahs in Parramatta on Saturday.https://t.co/J4QX7WWgez — SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) April 27, 2019

With Bosch at No 10, for the first time since 2017, the Sharks looked a different side. They seemed to have their swagger back and were much more fluid and fast-paced on attack. They played with a newfound confidence that allowed them to build much-needed momentum after having been stuck in neutral during brutal back-to-back defeats in Durban that had led up to Saturday’s showdown.

Bosch’s defence was blamed for him having to camp out at fullback or ride the pine as a supposed super sub, yet the 22-year-old was strong in shoring up his channel, while his big boot saw the Sharks win the kicking battle for a change. It wasn’t a complete performance as he missed two kicks at goal, but it was a big step in the right direction and one that will leave more egg on coach Robert du Preez’s face, with fans wondering aloud why it’s taken so long for Bosch to be backed at flyhalf.

Aside from the Bosch factor, the Sharks looked stronger under the leadership of Tendai Mtawarira, who led by example. The Du Preez twins Jean-Luc and Daniel turbocharged the team over the gainline and Lukhanyo Am’s hand in the win should not go unnoticed.

The ‘Tahs’ red card in the 45th minute and yellow five minutes later tipped the scales in the Sharks’ favour, for sure, and they weren’t able to pull away as they would’ve liked, however, the Sharks were unquestionably the superior side on the day and were particularly outstanding on defence.

Nostradamus himself would not have foreseen a Stormers’ victory on Saturday. The Bulls battered them 40-3 at Loftus in one of the most lopsided ever clashes between South Africa’s greatest rugby rivals back in Round One. That set the sides on decidedly different courses, and they entered Round 11 at opposite ends of the South African Conference.

A disappointing defeat to the Brumbies, after yet another uninspired performance at Newlands last week, all but made it a foregone conclusion that the Bulls would do the double over the Stormers, only for the Cape team to do the unthinkable. The turnaround was nothing short of remarkable and the 24-23 win should be savoured as a truly special triumph.

The Stormers made the big plays and that’s ultimately what turned the tables. Both teams left points out on the park, but the hosts created and finished more opportunities than the visitors. There was the break by Damian Willemse and sublime finish by Seabelo Senatla, the moment of magic from Dillyn Leyds where the flyer sliced through and linked up with Herschel Jantjies for a seven-pointer, and the moment of madness from Manie Libbok, who butchered a certain try when he opted not to pass to an unmarked teammate.

The Stormers back three were brilliant, it must be said, and bamboozled the Bulls with their unpredictability, pace and fancy footwork. When the Bulls scored two minutes into the second half to undo the hosts’ first-half dominance and take the lead for the first time (16-14), the Stormers showed the necessary composure they’ve lacked for most of the season and were able to regain the lead with a 56th-minute penalty.

Jantjies’ Leyds-inspired try on the hour mark was the play of the day and handed the Stormers an eight-point cushion, but what was equally important was the Capetonians’ collective defensive effort to snuff out three Bulls lineout drives and turn over possession on their line minutes later.

Notwithstanding the high error count, it was one of the better all-South African affairs of the season and one of the most exciting North-South derbies in quite some time. There’s nothing sweeter for Stormers supporters than a win over the age-old rival (and vice versa), and the Newlands faithful would’ve left feeling that die Kaap is weer Hollands.

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