Van Rensburg stars as Lions maul Waratahs

Rohan Janse van Rensburg claimed his second double in as many games as the Lions romped to a thrilling 55-36 win over the Waratahs in their Super Rugby clash in Johannesburg.

Last season’s beaten finalists ran in eight tries in total, with Warren Whiteley, Ruan Ackermann, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Sylvian Mahuza and Malcolm Marx also finding the line and fly-half Elton Jantjies kicking 15 points.

The Waratahs, who downed Australian rivals Western Force in their opening game, were hampered by first-half yellow cards for Reece Robinson and Sekope Kepu, but did manage to score five tries of their own through Rob Horne, Michael Hooper, Bryce Hegarty, David McDuling and Israel Folau.

The Stormers also made it two wins from two, eventually seeing off a dogged Jaguares side 32-25 at Newlands.

EW Viljoen, Jano Vermaak and SP Marais all scored five-pointers for the hosts, who also earned a penalty try, while wing Santiago Cordero claimed two of the visitors’ three touchdowns.

There was a similarly tight tussle in Bloemfontein where the Cheetahs held off a late surge from the Bulls to win 34-28.

Tries from Teboho Mohoje (2), Clinton Swart and Justin Basson helped the hosts open up a 28-14 lead by the break, but Jamba Ulengo and Piet van Zyl replied for the Bulls during the second half to set up a tense finale.

The Sunwolves, meanwhile, responded to their 83-17 trouncing at the hands of the Hurricanes last weekend with an improved display, but were still beaten 37-23 by the Southern Kings.

Replacements Rudi van Rooyen and Chris Cloete were among four try-scorers for Deon Davids’ men in a game that was played at the National Stadium in Singapore.