Crusaders see off Waratahs ; Sunwolves beat Rebels and Stormers nil the Hurricanes
Saturday 1 February 2020 15:33, UK
The Crusaders began their bid for a fourth straight Super Rugby title with a 43-25 bonus-point win over the Waratahs.
Winger Will Jordan and centre Braydon Ennor scored two tries apiece for the Crusaders, who led 24-6 at half-time.
The Waratahs closed the gap to 24-18 after 57 minutes with two quick tries from debutant Mark Nawaqanitawase but the Crusaders extended their lead again with scores from Jordan, Ennor and lock Luke Romano.
"I think it was a good way to start the season," said Crusaders captain Scott Barrett. "We wanted to start well and set the pace in this competition.
Former England centre Ben Te'o made a winning start with the Sunwolves as they began their final season in Super Rugby with a commanding 36-27 win over the Rebels in Fukuoka.
The Tokyo-based side are being ejected from the southern hemisphere tournament at the end of the season and made a defiant statement with a five tries to four win.
They led 22-13 at half-time with tries from captain Keisuke Moriya, prop Jarred Adams and winger Tautalatasi Tasi, then added tries through full-back James Dargaville and fly-half Garth April to lead 36-13 midway through the second half.
April added four conversions and a penalty for a 16-point haul.
The Rebels rallied with tries from Andrew Kellaway and Andrew Deegan to cut the lead to nine points with five minutes remaining.
The Stormers got their Super Rugby season off to an impressive start with a 27-0 bonus-point victory over the Hurricanes at Newlands, but will be sweating over the fitness of Siya Kolisi who was forced off in the first half.
The Springbok World Cup-winning captain was hit by a late tackle from Hurricanes hooker Ricky Riccitelli and appeared to injure his knee, limping out of the contest.
Kolisi was touch-and-go for the World Cup in Japan last year with a knee problem, and it will be of major concern that he lasted only 26 minutes at the start of the new campaign.
The Stormers were already 12-0 up by the time he departed, wing Sergeal Petersen crossing the line before Bok prop Steven Kitshoff barged his way over for a second.
Another World Cup winner, scrum-half Herschel Jantjies, added a third before halftime as he scooped up a loose ball to race clear for a dominant home side.
Fly-half Damian Willemse ran the length of the pitch after an intercept to score a late fourth try.
The Hurricanes made too many unforced errors in what was a forgettable performance from the New Zealand side, who tried to play a physical game that was not matched by skill.
The Stormers handed a debut to former Wales and British & Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts. They host the Bulls in their next outing
