Western Force upset Jaguares, Southern Kings win all-South African affair

It was a landmark result for Australian Super Rugby as Western Force upstaged Jaguares, while Southern Kings trumped Sharks in an entertaining clash.

Western Force became the first Australian Super Rugby team to win in Argentina after stunning Jaguares 16-6 in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Leading 3-0 at half-time, Western Force made sure of their first away win of the season thanks to tries from Alex Newsome and Isireli Naisarani.

Western Force are now six points adrift of Australian conference-leading Brumbies.

Southern Kings defeated a fellow South African Super Rugby side for the first time, securing a thrilling 35-32 victory over Sharks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Tries from Alshaun Bock and Lionel Cronje, who also kicked two penalties and a conversion in the first half, saw the hosts go in 18-16 ahead at the break.

Patrick Lambie sent over two three-pointers and converted Dan du Preez’s try in reply but he had to be replaced Garth April in the 33rd minute.

Rhyno Smith was sent to the sinbin just before half-time and the Kings took advantage early in the second term, Bock crossing for his second try of the match and Cronje converting.

The tables were turned in the 54th minute when Kings’ Ross Geldenhuys picked up a yellow card, Sharks seizing on the opportunity to cross through Lwazi Mvovo. April converted to follow the two penalties he had kicked since replacing Lambie.

And when the substitute added two more penalties to make it 32-28 with five minutes remaining, he looked to have decided it in the visitors’ favour.

Kings were not to be denied though, an intense spell of late pressure eventually seeing Pieter-Steyn de Wet cross for a 78th-minute try, converted by Cronje, to seal a dramatic victory.