The Sharks beat the Bulls 29-22 in their United Rugby Championship encounter in Pretoria. While in Johannesburg the Stormers beat the Lions 32-10.
Saturday’s 32-10 victory for the Stormers at Ellis Park flipped the script for the men from the Cape, having suffered a heavy defeat at home by the Lions at the back end of 2021.
But the weekend’s defeat made it four on the trot for Van Rooyen’s charges and leaves them in 14th spot in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The Sharks exorcised some Loftus demons after beating the Bulls 29-22 at home in an gripping but discipline bereft United Rugby Championship game on Saturday night.
The thrilling encounter was the least they deserved for gracing the famous Pretoria ground with their longed-for presence.
Both teams played the last 19 minutes with 14 men, but the Bulls had to toil the longest with a man disadvantage after Morne Steyn was red-carded for a high, late tackle on Lukhanyo Am that the officials deemed dangerous and without mitigation for a lighter sentence 10 minutes in.
Barely a minute after the sending off, Sharks flank Henco Venter drilled through wing Madosh Tambwe, who filled in the No 10 channel where Steyn would have been, to score the first try.
If only the Bulls had a kicker, as the two missed David Kriel conversations proved the difference in the end.
While in Johannesburg, former Lion Hacjivah Dayimani touched down to give the Stormers a 10-3 lead at half-time before Seabelo Senatla and Sergeal Petersen added a pair of excellent team tries in the second period and Deon Fourie got their fourth late on.
Manie Libbok kicked 12 points for the visitors at Emirates Airline Park while the Lions looked like having to settle for a single penalty from the boot of Tiaan Swanepoel until Morne van den Berg produced a late consolation try, converted by the returning Jordan Hendrikse.
Both sides, to their credit, looked to play a high-tempo game early on, making for an entertaining spectacle, and the Stormers began to make inroads in the second quarter.
The Stormers third try was the pick of the bunch. Gelant broke the line in his own half, Damian Willemse gained some valuable territory and Paul de Wet styled out an ankle tap before sending Petersen racing for the line.
With a week off to regroup before heading to Leinster on 25 February, the Lions boss is considering possible tactical and personnel shake-ups.
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