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Lights go out on Super Rugby

The lights went out on Super Rugby and also Tana Umaga’s Moana Pasifika side on Friday. A power outage at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland forced a 20-minute halt in play in the match between Moana and the Highlanders. The stadium went dark in the 60th minute and when power returned, the match resumed under reduced lightning and with no further broadcast coverage. The Highlanders won 39-19 and dealt a death knell to Moana hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in their five-season existence. Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph believed his team lost their rhythm after the power outage. KEO & ZELS: Boks beware, the real All Blacks are coming Moana coach Umaga admitted his young side faced a mountainous task to climb off the foot of the Super Rugby standings following a sixth successive defeat. The Highlanders had raced into a 32-0 lead early in the second half before Umaga’s side launched a late response with three tries. However, it couldn’t halt a miserable run of heavy losses for Moana since winning their opening-round match against the Fijian Drua. Umaga, who was announced as All Blacks defence coach earlier this week, said he had a less experienced core of players at his disposal than last year, when All Blacks great Ardie Savea was an inspirational figure. Savea led Moana to their best record of six wins to narrowly miss the playoffs last season. However, his departure this year for Japan, along with the absence of several other important players, had weakened Moana’s know-how, Umaga said after the match. Meanwhile, NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar hailed a “special memory” after his team snapped a run of eight straight defeats against bitter rivals ACT Brumbies in Canberra with a thrilling 30-28 win. The Sydney-based side went into the clash after three consecutive Super Rugby losses and with their backs against the wall. But against the odds, they raced to a commanding 21-7 lead after converted tries from Clem Halaholo, Andrew Kellaway and Joey Walton. They then withstood a Brumbies comeback to taste victory in the Australian capital for the first time since 2018. “Tonight’s a special memory. To come into a place that we’ve got enormous respect for … we fronted up and delivered,” McKellar said. It was touch and go after the Brumbies clawed back to 21-21 as the Waratahs faltered, only for the hosts to concede three crucial late penalties. Young fullback Sid Harvey, in only his fourth Super Rugby game, stepped up to convert them all and secure the win. – AFP Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images The post Lights go out on Super Rugby appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

13 minutes ago

Cheetahs boosted by returning stars

The Cheetahs have been strengthened by the return of several key players for Saturday’s SA Cup clash against Eastern Province in Bloemfontein. The match at Shimla Park, brought forward to a 1pm kick-off, sees the Cheetahs make seven changes to their starting line-up as they target a place in the top four. The Cheetahs lie sixth after three rounds, with winless EP third-from-bottom on the 10-team log. Among the notable returns is experienced lock Carl Wegner, who is back after recovering from concussion sustained earlier in the campaign. Also up front, props John-Kelly Okonkwo and Tielman Nieuwoudt come into the starting XV, replacing Dux Manyma and Aranos Coetzee. In the backline, flyhalf Jaco van der Walt has recovered from hand surgery and is restored to the starting lineup after featuring off the bench last week for the match against the Pumas. That match was abandoned due to a lightning storm, with the two teams sharing the points. SA CUP: Heyneke’s Eagles eye Boland upset Centre Carel-Jan Coetzee, who has been out since undergoing ankle surgery in October, is named among the replacements. There is also a reshuffle in the back three, with Cohen Jasper shifting from fullback to right wing, while Clayton Blommetjies returns from injury to take over at fullback. Michael Annies earns a start on the left wing. CHEETAHS – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Michael Annies, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Neels Volschenk, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 John-Kelly Okonkwo, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (c), 1 Tielman Nieuwoudt.Bench: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Frankie dos Reis, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Ramon Uys, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 Prince Nkabinde. Photo: Kian Abdullah/Gallo Images The post Cheetahs boosted by returning stars appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

57 minutes ago