Super Rugby: Folau hat-trick stuns Western Force

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Israel Folau grabbed a hat-trick as the Waratahs smashed the Force 43-21 on Sunday.

The Waratahs ran in six tries in total with Alofa Alofa, Kurtley Beale – who was playing at inside centre – and Kane Douglas grabbing scores alongside Folau’s triple. The Force battled valiantly with Nick Cummins and Kyle Godwin scoring but their efforts proved to be in vain.

“It’s not a coincidence that he ends up in the right place at the right time,” said Waratahs coach Michael Cheika of Israel Folau. “It’s the quality of player to read the game as well as make his impacts and it’s a good start for him. And really nice for the crowd to see him enjoy himself when he scores a try. That’s what we want to see; that’s what we want to have in the game.”

The Lions continued their triumphant return to Super Rugby with a 34-10 win over the Stormers on Saturday.

Marnitz Boshoff was once again at the heart of the Lions’ performance, kicking six penalties, three drop goals and one conversion on his way to collecting a 29-point haul, Stefan Watermeyer with the victors’ only try.

Conceding a try within two minutes, Stormers never quite looked up to the challenge of beating their rivals, who are enjoying life back in the southern hemisphere’s premier rugby competition and move up to fourth in the Super Rugby standings.

Meanwhile, in Durban, the Sharks also managed to make it two wins from two outings, cementing their place at the summit of the Super Rugby table thanks to a 27-9 win over the Hurricanes.

Willem Alberts and Lwazi Mvovo were the players responsible for the hosts’ tries, while Pat Lambie notched another 15 points from the tee. Alberts’ short-range score was a far less glamorous finish compared with winger Mvovo’s, but Jake White will simply be pleased to see his side claim a second successive victory.

The Reds kicked off their 2014 Super Rugby campaign in sensational fashion, holding off the Brumbies 27-17 in Canberra.

Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg had a night to forget, missing a penalty to draw the scores level in the 73rd minute, then dropping the ball cold on his line at the death to gift reserve Reds outside back Chris Feauai-Sautia the match-sealing try. Wallabies No.10 Quade Cooper was brilliant for the visitors, throwing pinpoint long passes for the Reds’ first two tries as well as kicking 12 points.

The Brumbies were boosted by the return of David Pocock, playing his first game in 11 months, but were overpowered by the Reds as Lachie Turner and Aidan Toua put the visitors 17-9 ahead at the break. But, after exchanging penalties with Cooper, Mogg crossed on 53 minutes to narrow the deficit to just three points, but his late error meant it was as close as the Brumbies came.

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Super Rugby: Folau hat-trick stuns Western Force