Weekend Round Up
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Sharks book last Currie Cup semi-final berth
The Sharks booked the last semi-final berth in the Currie Cup with a bonus-point 48-40 victory against a gutsy Blue Bulls outfit at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
As a result, the Currie Cup defending champions will travel to Bloemfontein next week to take on the log-leaders, the Free State Cheetahs, in their semi-final.
The Golden Lions will host Griquas at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg in the other semi-final.
CONFIRMED: Currie Cup semi-final kick-off times on Saturday, 31 August:
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 25, 2019
14h00: @LionsRugbyCo v @GriquasRugby in Johannesburg
17h00: @CheetahsRugby v @TheSharksZA in Bloemfontein@DirectAxis #CurrieCupReloaded pic.twitter.com/Ysh8ZMflca
High drama in Bloemfontein as @CheetahsRugby secure top spot on @TheCurrieCup log against @WP_RUGBY. ⚡⚡
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 24, 2019
🔗 https://t.co/aPAWYgC2dC#CurrieCupReloaded @DirectAxis pic.twitter.com/3e6DAOFxvr
Bayonne stun Racing 92 on opening day, Toulouse beaten
The Top 14 Round 1 Results
Savea scores as Toulon start campaign with Agen trouncing
Former New Zealand winger Julian Savea scored as Toulon crushed Agen 44-25 on Saturday in the opening round of the French Top 14 campaign.
Savea, 29, who failed to score until three months into last season, was joined by former Georgia forward Mamuka Gorgodze and former France youth international Julien Heriteau on the scoreboard, who both claimed doubles.
Elsewhere, France winger Noa Nakaitaci scored twice as Lyon hammered Stade France 43-9.
Top 14 Table Following Round 1
Scotland gained a measure of revenge over France by fighting back to win 17-14 at a sold out Murrayfield, but there are injury concerns for Gregor Townsend ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Les Bleus hammered their Six Nations rivals 32-3 in Nice last weekend, but squandered an 11-point lead to suffer a defeat four weeks before the World Cup starts in Japan.
Lock Sam Skinner, wing Tommy Seymour and debutant back-row Blade Thomson came off with injuries in a much-improved display from Scotland and Townsend will be hoping for positive news on the trio.
Damian Penaud scored a first-half double, but Sean Maitland's converted try and a Greig Laidlaw penalty reduced the deficit to four points at half-time. Read more
Record win keeps Schmidt's men from top spot
England produced a stylish display to secure a record-breaking 57-15 home win over Ireland in their latest Rugby World Cup warm-up match, denying the visitors a place as world number one.
For the third consecutive week, England approached a warm-up knowing their opponents could move to the top of the rankings but, after beating and then losing to Wales, they ensured the Grand Slam champions remained at the summit by routing the Irish.
The second Wales match saw just a single try scored between the two sides, yet there were a pair inside 13 minutes of an entertaining and ultimately one-sided affair at Twickenham on Saturday. Read more
Ireland 'nowhere near where we need to be' - Best
Perpignan score a sensational 90 metre try in season opener
Coast to coast 🔥👌
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) August 24, 2019
What a TRY 👏 @usap_officiel pic.twitter.com/QO3d29Fq89
Perpignan kicked off life back in PRO D2, France's second division, with a 23-13 victory over Beziers on Thursday.
The win was Perpignan's first in-season victory since they stunned Montpellier back in February this year and was just their second and final victory in the 2018/19 Top 14 season.
TOP FIVE TRIES: Mitre 10 Cup Round Three
