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Blues stun table topping Lions

Blues utility back Michael Collins

The Blues left it late to grab their first win of Super Rugby 2018, beating the Lions by three points in a dramatic game in Johannesburg, while the Sharks eased to victory over the Sunwolves in Durban.

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With five minutes left on the clock at Ellis Park, the Blues were trailing 35-24 after struggling to contain their hosts in a one-sided first half.

But a brilliant team try saw Jimmy Tupou storm over the line and Stephen Perofeta converted to drag the Blues back into contention after 76 minutes.

In a thrilling last-minute of play, the Blues’ determined play paid off when Murphy Taramai finished off a superb move and Perofeta again made no mistake to ensure his side clinched a 38-35 win.

There was no such drama at Kings Park, where Makazole Mapimpi scored two of the Sharks’ seven tries as they beat the Sunwolves 50-22.

The Sharks led 24-3 at the break following tries from Mapimpi, Armand van der Merwe and Lubabalo Mtembu, and further scores from Jacques Vermeulen, Sibusiso Nkosi and Cameron Wright brought a run of three Sharks defeats to an end in emphatic style.

 

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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