2018 super rugby
[OPINION] Super Rugby 2018: Whirlwind from start to finish
Marc Lewis says the 2018 Super Rugby season was one of massive highs and dreadful lows for so many fans.
Elton Jantjies has been a Springbok for the last six years, has played in two previous Super Rugby finals but many in SA remain unconvinced about his ability at the very top level.
The Waratahs’ run to the semifinals was due in part to some good luck and the side’s resilience.
The Hurricanes’ defeat by the Canterbury Crusaders brought Chris Boyd’s four-season involvement with the team to an end.
The Lions beat the Waratahs 44 - 26.
The Crusaders will go on to play against the Lions or the Waratahs who fight for the second spot in the final.
The Lions and the Jaguares came into their quarterfinal clash knowing that the Waratahs lay in wait in the semifinal round after they came from behind to beat the Highlanders 30-23 in Sydney.
The Lions remained in pole position with 41 points from 15 games, but the defeat opened the door for Argentina’s Jaguares to also hunt them down.
Emirates Lions captain Warren Whiteley has missed almost three months of rugby due to a knee injury.
The Argentine side’s eight wins in 13 matches so far is their best performance in three seasons in Super Rugby with another three games still to play after the June international break.
The defeat of the Otago Highlanders on Saturday was the first by an Australian team against New Zealand opposition in the competition in 41 matches over two years.
The Lions returned to Emirates Airline Park after an indifferent four-week tour of Australasia, where they lost three of their four matches.
Beaten by the Sharks in their last start in Durban, the Highlanders were glad to return to their Forsyth Barr stronghold, where they notched their 11th win in succession.
The victory maintained the Stormers’ 100% home record this season and kept alive their playoff hopes as they scored four tries to two against the improving Bulls.
Prolific try scorer Lam took his season tally to 13 tries and Ardie Savea also crossed for the 2016 title winners
Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira returns to the Sharks’ starting line-up for the match against the Highlanders at Kings Park on Saturday.
Andre Warner will start at scrumhalf for the Bulls against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday in their crucial Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Newlands.
The Lions Rugby Union has announced that flanker, Jaco Kriel, has signed for English Premiership club Gloucester.
Two changes were made to the Emirates Lions starting line-up to face the Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for their Vodacom Super Rugby game on Saturday.