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South Africa’s World Cup hero Makazole Mapimpi bagged a double as the Coastal Sharks outclassed Otago Highlanders Friday, while the Brumbies won their second of the season in a convincing victory over the Rebels.<\/p>\n
The Sharks posted five tries to three, with winger Mapimpi — who became the first Springbok to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final during last year’s triumph in Japan — crossing twice in the 42-20 victory at Dunedin.<\/p>\n
In Canberra, the ACT Brumbies made it 10 wins on the trot at home by beating the Rebels 39-26, compounding the Melbourne team’s miserable start to the season after a shock 36-27 defeat against Japan’s Sunwolves in Fukuoka last weekend.<\/p>\n
Like the Brumbies, who made the semi-finals last year, the Sharks have won two from two after a 23-15 victory over Northern Bulls last week.<\/p>\n
“The boys played for each other. The work rate and the defence were great,” captain Lukhanyo Am said after fullback Aphelele Fassi also scored a brace to snuff out a Highlanders’ fightback.<\/p>\n
“The Highlanders managed to put us under pressure but we bounced back.”<\/p>\n
Highlanders skipper Rob Thompson said a home side featuring six debutants made too many errors at crucial moments.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately we let them off too much,” he said. “But we’re a young team and we have a few boys debuting. Unfortunately we couldn’t get it done for them but we’ll be better for it.”<\/p>\n
The Highlanders had a bye last week and looked rusty in their first outing of the season, gifting the Sharks early attacking opportunities with knock-ons and poor lineouts.<\/p>\n
The match appeared to be settling into a tightly contested arm wrestle before the Sharks sparked to life, snatching three converted tries in seven minutes to take a 27-3 lead at the break.<\/p>\n
The first came when flanker James Venter outpaced the Highlanders defence in a race for the line, before Mapimpi twice found himself on the end of passing moves that left the Highlanders’ tacklers flailing.<\/p>\n
The Highlanders were much improved after the break and scored three tries but Fassi’s late double ended any prospect of a comeback.<\/p>\n
– ‘Just sloppy’ –<\/p>\n
Rebels coach Dave Wessels reshaped his forwards pack after crashing to the Sunwolves, but it was no match for a Brumbies team that came out firing.<\/p>\n
“I’m proud of the effort, especially how we started in the first half,” said Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa after the six tries to four win. “They’re a quality side and we knew they would fight back.”<\/p>\n
The Brumbies had a try after just four minutes with inside centre Irae Simone throwing a dummy to power over. And they kept pressing as the Rebels’ defence struggled, with Tom Banks also touching down after a beautiful offload from youngster Noah Lolesio, who converted both tries.<\/p>\n
Tom Cusack got their third try and Solomone Kata grabbed his first in Super Rugby minutes later after a grubber kick bounced favourably.<\/p>\n
The Rebels, who had won their last four matches against the Brumbies, lifted in the final five minutes of the first-half, which saw Angus Cottrell dot down and Matt Toomua convert to give them some hope going into the break 24-7 behind.<\/p>\n
They returned invigorated, with a maul pushing Cottrell over for another try a minute after the restart before Folau Fainga’a barged over to restore the Brumbies’ advantage.<\/p>\n
Wallabies fullback Dane Haylett-Petty weaved past three defenders to put more points on the board for the Rebels and Frank Lomani also crossed, but it wasn’t enough to make up the deficit.<\/p>\n
“We showed heart but you can’t start like that in a competition this good,” said Rebels captain Haylett-Petty. “They just grinded us down. We were just sloppy.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n