'Game of Thorns' a double-edged sword

So much so that after the match the team posed in the dressing room with a banner proclaiming "Game of Thorns – Saviour of the Reds Kingdom."

Styled on the hit TV show "Game of Thrones", it featured Thorn holding a sword while sitting on the spikey Iron Throne.

One can only hope Thorn, currently in his first year coaching at the Reds, lasts longer than some of the throne's previous occupants.

As fans of the show can attest, it does not end well for most of them, who tend to end up poisoned or stabbed in the back.

The Reds will face the Stormers at Newlands in Round Six on Saturday.

Best. Banner. Ever! 😂😂😂

Brad Thorn's hard nosed approach is winning over the @Reds_Rugby fans: https://t.co/gcHMQ9IV5L pic.twitter.com/u5gwhUVOIW

— Fox Sports Rugby (@FOXRugbyLive) March 18, 2018

Israel on a wing and a prayer

Israel Folau's electrifying performance under the high ball in the Waratahs' 51-27 win over Melbourne Rebels had pundits declaring he has finally found his ideal position.

Coach Daryl Gibson put Folau on the wing instead of fullback where he usually plays for both the 'Tahs and Wallabies.

The gamble paid off spectacularly as rained down attacking kicks, with the Sydney Morning Herald declaring Folau as "unstoppable" in the subsequent aerial battle during a second-half comeback.

Folau's prowess in the air was honed during a stint playing Australian Rules with Greater Western Sydney, although he struggled at times in the unfamiliar code.

AFL great Cam Mooney famously questioned Folau's ability with a rather poetic put-down shortly after he had switched to Aussie Rules from rugby league.

"He doesn't know how to compete. He doesn't know what to do out there," Mooney said. "Right now, again, he is a statue watching the birds."

Sunwolves show a bit of mongrel

Long regarded as Super Rugby's easybeats, Japan's Sunwolves won over some sceptics during a gutsy 38-40 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.

The Tokyo-based outfit laid to rest the ghosts of a 7-94 humiliation at the same ground last year and coach Jamie Joseph was confident of further improvement.

He said the Sunwolves had no pre-season because Japan's domestic league only ended in mid-January, meaning his players were only now coming up to speed.

"The thing I like about our team is that they're not giving up," Joseph said, praising a "spirited, energetic" performance from the team who joined the competition in 2016.

"I felt we played some good rugby but the tries we conceded were a little soft and that seems to be our Achilles' heel," he added.

Mauger still on dream run

Once a favourite son of the Crusaders, Aaron Mauger returned to haunt his old team and maintain a perfect start as coach of Highlanders.

Mauger's Highlanders are the only unbeaten team in the competition and top the New Zealand conference with three wins after a 25-17 victory over the reigning champions.

Former All Black centre Mauger, who played 89 games for the Crusaders, is quietly making a success of his first head coaching role since he was sacked by Leicester Tigers in 2015.

A quirk of the draw means his Highlanders have played all three of their opening games in front of enthusiastic support at home under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Mauger was unfazed at the prospect of hitting the road and facing the Hurricanes in the New Zealand capital next weekend. 

"At the end of the day, a game is a game. Four white lines on the outside and 15 guys in the opposition," he said.

Bulls' Brazil inspiration

Spectators watching the Bulls take on the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday could be forgiven for trying to pick out Neymar or Philippe Coutinho among the visitors.

A few remarked that the Bulls' away strip had a familiar look – canary yellow jersey, blue shorts and white socks – identical, in fact, to the Brazil football team's famous kit.

Turns out its no accident, with the Bulls' strip reflecting the colours of Pretoria's Mamelodi Sundowns football team, who in turn were inspired by the Selecao.

It's part of an effort to deepen ties between the Bulls and Sundowns, who share a home ground, encouraging fans to attend each others' games.

AFP