Vodacom Super Hero Sunday a winner
Double header pre-season warm-up rugby matches a winner at FNB Stadium.
Not only has Vodacom Super Hero Sunday become a winner for the fans in the pre-season warm-up rugby matches, but the franchise coaches have an ideal opportunity to select their final squad for the Vodacom Super Rugby season, which starts on January 31.
In the first double header of the day, DHL Stormers managed to fight off a last-minute surge from Cell C Sharks to win with 21-19.
The two teams kept each other at bay and only in the latter part of the first half the Stormers managed the break through and Hershel Jantjies crossed the tryline and Damien Willemse converted to make it 7-0.
Cell C Sharks answered with a try by Makazole Mapimpi, which made the halftime score 7-5 in favour of the Stormers.
In the second half, Jantjies scored again while Godlen Masimla dotted down, and having Willemse and Jean-Luc du Plessis conversions helped to keep the Stormers ahead.
The Sharks’ tries came from Mapimpi (2) and Marius Louw in the second half, which saw Curwin Bosch and Boeta Chamberlain converting their efforts.
The match was played in the heat of the day and a typical pre-season one in which both teams made considerable errors, but both coaches, John Dobson (Stormers) and Sean Everitt (Cell C Sharks), could tick boxes and take the positives of the match forward to their Super Rugby campaign.
The second match saw Emirates Lions taking on near neighbours Vodacom Bulls in a nail-biting affair.
The match was played with more pace from both sides and the Bulls managed to outscore the Lions in the final minutes with 40-35.
The spectators were treated with a try-a-piece from both sides within five minutes. Dan Kriel made a solo try for the Lions, having captain Elton Jantjies converting.
Abongile Nonkontwana dotted one for the Bulls while Morné Steyn levelled the score with his conversion.
The Lions continued to keep their nose in front with tries by Kriel, Duncan Matthews (2), Courtnal Skosan and Morné van der Berg. Jantjies converted five tries.
The rest of the Bulls’ tries came from Johnny Kotze, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw (2) and Cornal Hendricks. Conversion were made by Steyn (2) and Chris Smith (3).
But it was the Bulls who broke the hearts of the Lions fans when utility back Hendricks scored a perfect try to give his side a hard-fought 40-35 win over the Lions.
Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen will have many thoughts running through his mind before he announces his Super Rugby squad. But the local franchise from Johannesburg has played their brand of rugby throughout the match against the Bulls, which is evident of what the fans can expect in 2020.
Vodacom Bulls coach Pote Human will be happy with his team’s efforts and has an abundance of in-form players to choose from.
