Video - Nabura red carded for flying kick to the face
Tevita Nabura was sent off for a wild kick as the Waratahs ended a 40-match losing streak for Australian sides over New Zealand franchises with a 41-12 thumping of the Highlanders, while the Crusaders and the Sunwolves also claimed Super Rugby wins on Saturday.
Not since May 2016 had an Australian side got the better of a trans-Tasman rival, but the Waratahs ended that hoodoo with a six-try drubbing at Allianz Stadium.
The hosts were eight points to the good following a Taqele Naiyaravoro score when Nabura was given his marching orders for a kung-fu style kick to the face of Cam Clarke as the wing caught a high ball.
Aaron Smith was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-down two minutes later and Naiyaravoro evaded an attempted tackle from Waisake Naholo to dot down for a second time with the Highlanders down to 13 men, Bernard Foley converting to make it 15-0 at the break.
Israel Folau stole the show in the second half in Sydney, claiming a double of his own to reach the 50-try mark in his 83rd Super Rugby match – only Joe Roff and Christian Cullen achieved that tally in fewer games.
Lalakai Foketi and Curtis Rona also went over for the rampant Waratahs, scores from Elliot Dixon and Ash Dixon providing little consolation for the 2015 champions.
The streak is over!#WARvHIG pic.twitter.com/FGDvxGzpHE
— Super Rugby NZ (@SuperRugbyNZ) May 19, 2018
Owen Franks was cited for striking James Parsons in a hard-fought 32-24 win for the Crusaders over the Blues.
The defending champions have now won eight in a row to top the standings, but the struggling Blues put up a fight, Rieko Ioane bagging a brace in an entertaining contest.
They were unable to halt the Crusaders juggernaut, though, George Bridge, Quinten Strange, Matt Todd and Bryn Hall scoring in a clinical display, with Franks set to learn his fate on Sunday.
The Sunwolves followed up their rout of the Reds with a 26-23 triumph over the Stormers, Hayden Parker scoring the decisive drop-goal almost four minutes after the siren sounded in Hong Kong.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments