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Lions maintain fine form, Chiefs pushed by Sunwolves

Lions celebrate Elton Jantjies’ match-clinching try in Perth

Lions cemented their position at the top of Super Rugby’s Africa 2 Conference on Saturday with a battling 24-15 victory over strugglers Western Force.

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Although the Force failed to score a try in Perth, their visitors’ success was only made certain when Elton Jantjies crossed for his team’s third try in the 82nd minute.

Five penalties from Ian Prior had kept the Force in touch despite first-half tries from Lionel Mapoe and Courtnall Skosan for the Lions.

Jantjies’ late score, which he converted to finish with a personal haul of 14 points, earned Lions a bonus point as the South African side claimed an eighth win from nine games in 2017. They are now 11 points clear of the second-placed Stormers.

Chiefs were made to work hard for a 27-20 victory over Sunwolves that lifted them to the summit of the New Zealand Conference, ahead of Crusaders’ visit to Cheetahs.

Damian McKenzie scored two of Chiefs’ four tries, but the gutsy Sunwolves fought back from 20-3 down at the break to earn a deserved bonus point.

Bernard Foley was the hero for Waratahs as they came from behind to edge out Queensland Reds 29-26.

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The Tahs were out-scored four tries to two, but snatched victory as Foley kicked his fifth penalty of the match in the 78th minute to finish with 19 points.

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Nickers 32 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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