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Janse van Rensburg snatches victory for the Lions

Rohan Janse van Rensburg scores for Lions

The Lions, last season’s runners-up, made a winning start to the 2017 Super Rugby season with a hard-fought 28-25 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s 77th-minute try proved decisive for the visitors as they edged in front at the crucial moment to cap a thrilling second half.

The opening 40 minutes had been a battle of the boot between Elton Jantjies and Fred Zeilinga, the pair kicking two penalties apiece to make 6-6 at the break.

After the restart the game opened up, with Janse van Rensburg’s second score of the game ensuring four points for the Lions, while the Cheetahs had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Santiago Iglesias and Gonzalo Bertranou inspired Jaguares to a 39-26 win over the Southern Kings, the Argentine franchise holding on in the closing stages to snatch an opening weekend victory.

Jaguares had led 39-12 with 13 minutes to go but Makazole Mapimpi and Luzuko Vulindlu – plus conversions from Lionel Cronje – ensured a nail-biting finale.

It was very different for the Stormers, though, as they took control of their clash with the Bulls with a first-half blitz.

The hosts clocked up 24 points before half-time at Newlands, and, although Bulls mounted a late fightback, it was too much of a deficit to overcome – the visitors not even able to claim a losing bonus.

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J
JW 2 hours 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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