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Highlights: Potent Sharks finally tame Lions, Jaguares in seventh heaven

Sharks back-row Dan du Preez on the charge

The Sharks stayed in the hunt for a Super Rugby play-off spot by consigning the Lions to a first defeat in 22 derbies with a 31-24 victory and the in-form Jaguares saw off the Stormers on Saturday.

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South African Conference leaders the Lions had won seven consecutive matches against the Sharks, but that run came to an end after the home side came storming back at Kings Park.

Swys de Bruin’s side were 21-11 up at the break following tries from Ruan Combrink, Cyle Brink and Kwagga Smith after Dan du Preez’s five-pointer had put the Sharks in front.

The Sharks turned it around in the second half, Andre Esterhuizen and Lwazi Mvovo crossing and Robert du Preez taking his tally with the boot to 16 to move the Durban-based franchise just three points behind the eighth-placed Rebels.

Daniel Hourcade’s Jaguares have now won seven consecutive matches after a 25-14 defeat of the Stormers.

Bautista Delguy, Guido Petti and Matias Orlando went over for an entertaining Jaguares who go from strength to strength and sit just three points behind the Lions in the South African Conference.

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Nickers 34 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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