Super Rugby: Highlanders hammer Lions

The Highlanders have evoked memories of last year’s Super Rugby triumph with a 34-15 win over the Lions.

Lima Sopoaga of the Highlanders crosskicks the ball.

The Highlanders have evoked memories of last year’s triumphant Super Rugby campaign with a scintillating 34-15 win over the Lions in Dunedin in New Zealand.

Three long-range tries early in the second spell blew open what had been a close and fast-moving affair, handing the South African side their first loss of the season.

Following wins on the road against the Sunwolves and Chiefs, the Lions could not match the speed and verve of the defending champions, who scored four tries to two.

It was a second successive win for the NZ Highlanders, who unleashed the successful recipe of 2015, playing with a heady mix of continuity and astute kicking from halves Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga.

They also surprised with a scrum which dominated the visitors, who had based last week’s upset of the Chiefs on a strong set piece.

Sopoaga, who finished with five-from-five shots at goal plus a late drop goal, was in exceptional touch, setting up the only try of the first spell with an angled grubber kick for winger Matt Faddes.

The Highlanders led 10-3 at halftime and following the resumption, captain Ben Smith mixed speed of thought with his exceptional pace in a brilliant 75m try.

He took a quick throw-in and received the return pass from All Blacks teammate Smith before heading off the cover defence.

The Highlanders scored 14 points in three minutes, courtesy of a long-range intercept try to Faddes, who pounced on a loose pass from Lions fullback Jaco Van Der Walt.

The home side’s final try was a sweeping team effort from deep, ending with Smith’s last pass to standout centre Malakai Fekitoa.

Elton Jantjies of the Lions kicks a penalty.

The hosts were scoreless over the final quarter following Sopoaga’s drop goal, and they conceded tries to centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg and reserve loose forward Ruan Ackermann, which denied them a bonus point.

Of concern heading into their fourth-round match against the Waratahs were injuries to lock Joe Wheeler, winger Patrick Osborne and flanker Dan Pryor which forced them from the field.

The Lions return to South Africa with two wins from three offshore games and will play their first home game next week against the Cheetahs.

Sunwolves fall short in Singapore

A spirited second-half comeback from the Central Cheetahs proved too hot to handle for the Sunwolves as the Japanese newcomers were edged out 32-31 in tropical Singapore on Saturday and still await their first Super Rugby win.

A hat-trick from right wing Akihito Yamada and stellar kicking performance from Samoan fly half Tusi Pisi meant the partisan crowd of 8808 dared to believe for large parts of the game, before wilting in the second half.

After a scrappy opening, it was the Sunwolves who led after four minutes when Yamada dived in the corner following some lacklustre Cheetah defending.

Pisi duly converted before the Cheetahs struck back with two penalties in quick succession, both from the boot of Niel Marais.

The Sunwolves roared back to life as Yamada added another try, with Pisi kicking another conversion. Marais then dragged the Cheetahs back, flinging himself onto the loose ball for the try before converting.

But the Sunwolves were not to be denied, as Yamada sealed his hat-trick and skipper Shota Hori added their fourth a minute before the half. Pisi made both conversions.

The Sunwolves then extended their 28-13 halftime advantage with Pisi hammering home a penalty.

The Cheetahs were not done yet, with quick tries from Uzair Cassiem and Marais narrowing the Sunwolves’ lead to four points, with Marais kicking both conversions.

The game swung in the way of the Cheetahs when Sunwolves were hit with a double blow as Pisi limped off on the 70 minute mark and Edward Quirk was sin-binned.

The away side took full advantage, with Boom Prinsloo adding a try and the South African side held on for their first win.

AAP/AFP

Lima Sopoaga of the Highlanders crosskicks the ball.