Billed as the match of the season the final game of the round had much to recommend itself, but I guess its official, although the Highlanders are rumoured to be changing their strip - lime green anyone? It's the Crusaders who appear to have gone and done it by stealth. They are no longer the red and blacks ... Those bloody grey jerseys seem to have been out more often than the real ones
The game was played at a frenetic pace, and end to end action wasn't uncommon - although only one of these relay exchanges resulted in a try, to the Reds.
The battle of the number 10s, was a preview of what could be on show in the Tri Nations, and hey, I'll take Carter's boot, and defence any day. Cooper missed a couple of sitters but Dan the man seemed to have the ball on a string (when it didn't come off the side of his boot).
Although first blood went to the Crusaders, the first try was awarded to the Reds, despite an obvious, no, I'm not being one eyed, the commentators saw it too - FORWARD pass!!!
The Crusaders first try went to, who'd have thunk it ... Brett Ward, who added to his points tally in Super Rugby, an account long thought closed, dotting down off the back of a great run by Robbie Fruean and taking on Digby Iaone in a footrace.
Zac Guilford had another great game. Just overrunning the bounce after some great work getting to the try line and dealing with a bit of interference from Samo.
The Crusaders set piece worked really well, nicking three line outs against the throw and putting loads of pressure on the Reds scrum, but penalties were a problem (would have been a much bigger one if Cooper could land 'em).
Both sides played their best rugby from broken play, and Canterbury did pull off a few more turn overs, but were pinged a couple of times for slowing the ball down. However, I couldn't agree with the commentators: "Richie McCaw still winging ...."
Well if Stu Dickinson won't blow it right, forward passes, knock ons and only one side getting done for holding on or coming in from the side, I'd be "winging" too!!
With a bye this round, the Rebels at least gained some points. Their first since .... their last bye .....
If the Crusaders were hard done by re:'the gate', their southern brothers dispensed with it entirely. Neither the Highlanders nor the Lions came from behind last feet at the majority of the rucks that went down in Dunedin.
Two players can probably expect a call from the citing commissioner after a nasty round the neck clear out right on the try line resulted in a couple of punches, which lead to an all in flare up in the corner.
Sharks flanker, Desyl, replicated the manoeuvre on Tom Carter ... but he coped a yellow card for his trouble.
In other news from Durban, I was so excited ... the hairy caterpillar that had taken up what appeared to be permanent residence on Kurtley Beale's upper lip has GONE!!! Oh happy day.
The Tahs were possibly a little over confident coming into the encounter - apparently the Sharks had only won one of the last 10 matches between the two sides. But the Sharks prevailed and dispatched the Sydneysiders 26:21.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Ignorance is bliss
Confession time again.
A few weeks ago I noticed the eminent visage (ears and all) of one Ruben Thorne on the Crusaders bench sitting next to – at that stage injured – Richie McCaw.
The boyfriend then had to put up with all manner of gushing comments about a team coached by a former Canterbury (and All Black) Captain who was now drawing on the experience of his successor (in both jerseys), in what I assumed to be a consultant coaching capacity, alongside the current All Black (and sometime Canterbury) Captain. Outstanding.
Now the confessing – I would have been much less excited had I known the real reason Thorne had rejoined the fold.
Not in the consulting capacity I envisaged, he was actually there (as I would have known if I’d read more of the rugby press – a serious downside of writing this blog is that I don’t read nearly as much as I used to for fear of prejudicing my own commentary) … as an actual member of the touring 22!
The il-(or del)-lusion was shattered when I read Injury-cursed Crusaders stagger on, New Zealand Herald, 20 May 2011.
Where, as Dylan Cleaver eloquently put it: “There's depth … and then there's having to draft Brent Ward and Reuben Thorne into your squad, just to make sure you can name a match-day 22.”
It speaks volumes – well, maybe yells is more apt – about how much trouble the Crusaders are in on the injury front.
The casualty list reads like a whose who of All Blacks and contenders: Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland (both gone for the season), Sonny-Bill Williams, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matt Todd and Owen Franks. Its fortunate Cater and McCaw are back, as now the players who have been ably holding the fort have also been packed off to the infirmary (although Matt Berquist did manage an appearance with 2 minutes to go).
However, while Thorne (Reuben Thorne Ruben Thorne Ruben Thorn) didn't get off the bench, Brett Ward started on the wing against the comparatively 'new' boy on the block Sitiveni Sivivatu.
But, just as it seems they're living in the past, the Crusaders have apparently gone high tech. The large bump protruding from above the shoulders of the southern men is not a new form of protective gear ... It's a GPS!!
That's right, Toddie is now keeping a close eye on how much his boys run in the game - big brother style, no more 'lazy running' in this side.
The mainlanders faced another 'home' game away from fortress Cantabria ... This time a trip up north to Napier, closer to Chiefs territory than their own, and the cow bells were there to prove it.
Robbie Fruean got another shot to prove he's more than just Sonny Bill's sidekick, and fluffed it again with another very quiet night.
Guilford had another strong showing, seemed to be in everything, including an almost intercept off a Kahui pass which was the result of great vision from the form winger, and challenging hard on all Crusaders restarts.
Good rucking and counter rucking from both sides opened the game up and it felt like anything could happen.
The second half heralded the return of big bad Brad, and the first try of the match went to the only non-All Black in the Crusaders pack, Luke Ramano.
After a close contest in the first half, the Crusaders ran away with it a little in the second. Finally closing it out 25:19.
I obviously didn’t learn my lesson last week, and again tried to stay awake for the Rebels match in RSA – where the cameramen still haven’t figured out who Richard Kingi is – this time Cooper Vuna was elected ‘stand in’, and I was most surprised to see James Hilgendorf back on the field, I thought he was gone for the season after doing his knee against the Reds.
Needless to say, I dozed off – again!
But it appears I’ve created a monster. The boyfriend, who watched the entire game before hauling me off the couch, kept waking me up to complain about the referee: “Look at that, in from the side? BOLLOCKS!”
I was really looking forward to the Sharks Bulls game in Durban, where it’s good to see they’ve finally given up any pretence of having cheerleaders and now just call them the Flasher Girls right off the bat.
Now, I picked the Sharks, but based on their performance I can only plead sentimentality. They couldn’t stick a tackle, falling off 9 of 23 by the end of the first half and putting themselves under enormous pressure with dodgy handling.
The Bulls simply outmuscled the Springbok laden pack (although in fairness the Bulls aren’t short of the Green and Gold either….) and, in the end Patrick Lambie couldn’t knock over a penalty for the bonus point.
A few weeks ago I noticed the eminent visage (ears and all) of one Ruben Thorne on the Crusaders bench sitting next to – at that stage injured – Richie McCaw.
The boyfriend then had to put up with all manner of gushing comments about a team coached by a former Canterbury (and All Black) Captain who was now drawing on the experience of his successor (in both jerseys), in what I assumed to be a consultant coaching capacity, alongside the current All Black (and sometime Canterbury) Captain. Outstanding.
Now the confessing – I would have been much less excited had I known the real reason Thorne had rejoined the fold.
Not in the consulting capacity I envisaged, he was actually there (as I would have known if I’d read more of the rugby press – a serious downside of writing this blog is that I don’t read nearly as much as I used to for fear of prejudicing my own commentary) … as an actual member of the touring 22!
The il-(or del)-lusion was shattered when I read Injury-cursed Crusaders stagger on, New Zealand Herald, 20 May 2011.
Where, as Dylan Cleaver eloquently put it: “There's depth … and then there's having to draft Brent Ward and Reuben Thorne into your squad, just to make sure you can name a match-day 22.”
It speaks volumes – well, maybe yells is more apt – about how much trouble the Crusaders are in on the injury front.
The casualty list reads like a whose who of All Blacks and contenders: Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland (both gone for the season), Sonny-Bill Williams, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matt Todd and Owen Franks. Its fortunate Cater and McCaw are back, as now the players who have been ably holding the fort have also been packed off to the infirmary (although Matt Berquist did manage an appearance with 2 minutes to go).
However, while Thorne (Reuben Thorne Ruben Thorne Ruben Thorn) didn't get off the bench, Brett Ward started on the wing against the comparatively 'new' boy on the block Sitiveni Sivivatu.
But, just as it seems they're living in the past, the Crusaders have apparently gone high tech. The large bump protruding from above the shoulders of the southern men is not a new form of protective gear ... It's a GPS!!
That's right, Toddie is now keeping a close eye on how much his boys run in the game - big brother style, no more 'lazy running' in this side.
The mainlanders faced another 'home' game away from fortress Cantabria ... This time a trip up north to Napier, closer to Chiefs territory than their own, and the cow bells were there to prove it.
Robbie Fruean got another shot to prove he's more than just Sonny Bill's sidekick, and fluffed it again with another very quiet night.
Guilford had another strong showing, seemed to be in everything, including an almost intercept off a Kahui pass which was the result of great vision from the form winger, and challenging hard on all Crusaders restarts.
Good rucking and counter rucking from both sides opened the game up and it felt like anything could happen.
The second half heralded the return of big bad Brad, and the first try of the match went to the only non-All Black in the Crusaders pack, Luke Ramano.
After a close contest in the first half, the Crusaders ran away with it a little in the second. Finally closing it out 25:19.
I obviously didn’t learn my lesson last week, and again tried to stay awake for the Rebels match in RSA – where the cameramen still haven’t figured out who Richard Kingi is – this time Cooper Vuna was elected ‘stand in’, and I was most surprised to see James Hilgendorf back on the field, I thought he was gone for the season after doing his knee against the Reds.
Needless to say, I dozed off – again!
But it appears I’ve created a monster. The boyfriend, who watched the entire game before hauling me off the couch, kept waking me up to complain about the referee: “Look at that, in from the side? BOLLOCKS!”
I was really looking forward to the Sharks Bulls game in Durban, where it’s good to see they’ve finally given up any pretence of having cheerleaders and now just call them the Flasher Girls right off the bat.
Now, I picked the Sharks, but based on their performance I can only plead sentimentality. They couldn’t stick a tackle, falling off 9 of 23 by the end of the first half and putting themselves under enormous pressure with dodgy handling.
The Bulls simply outmuscled the Springbok laden pack (although in fairness the Bulls aren’t short of the Green and Gold either….) and, in the end Patrick Lambie couldn’t knock over a penalty for the bonus point.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Game and a half
For those of you who might have taken this week's heading as alluding to a fantastic game of rugby, sorry. It's a little more literal.
That's right, of all the rugby played in Round 13, I watched precisely a game and a half.
Now before the booing starts let me explain the half ... It was 2am, and the Bulls had already score 6 tries in under 40 minutes!!
To give you some indication of the fight the Rebels were putting up, let me quote a ridgey didge Melbourne supporter. At one stage, I must have dozeily asked how things were going and got this response: "Well the Rebels are doing quiet well actually ... It's been 10 minutes since they conceded a try" - actual conversation, scout's honour.
The Rebels were always going to face an uphill battle without a solid first five - the fact that it was the players themselves who elected to leave Cipriani behind is indicative of just how much respect the rest of the team have for the former golden boy.
Obviously keen to make amends for his transgressions, Richard Kingi on the other hand seemed to be everywhere.
Granted that could sometimes have been due to the fact that Joel Stransky obviously had no idea who any of the Rebels replacement players were and called about 3 of them, including Luke Rooney on the wing and Afusipa Taumoepeau in the centers Kingi (when he was actaully playing at full back....).
It was all pretty much one way traffic, but the Bulls third try deserves a special mention.
Everyone thought Zane Kirschner had knocked it on, except the referee. And after a cheeky "oh well I might as well kick the ball away" hack at the pill, Busson found himself in acres of space - everyone, both sides, had stopped playing - with Dani Russo bellowing at him to run. So, run he did, and scored one of the more bizarre tries I've seen in Super Rugby.
It all underscores that fundamental commandment of competitive sport ... Don't let up until you hear the whistle, because as any sports fan can attest ... The officials are often BLIND.
Apparently they Rebels had a much better second half, and the final score backs up what I had initially supposed to a very one eyed assessment, 47-10 at full time after trailing 40-3 at the break.
Now I had very high hopes for the Reds v Blues game (see I'm not biased, I didn't even watch the Crusaders game this weekend) but it wasn't one I would have liked to call one way or the other ... Which is lucky really since, for the first time this season, I forgot to lodge my picks ..... GRRRRRR
The Reds claimed first blood, and second, and third. But the Blues fought back late in the first half with 2 quick tries. The Aucklanders seemed to be their own worst enemies, and why they were playing in their away strip is anybody's guess.
I've always been under the impression that it's red and green that gave colourblind folks trouble, but apparently, red and blue are also too close as the Blues trotted out in their alternative white jerseys.
The Blues opened the scoring in the second half, and seemed to have the momentum, but it wasn't to be.
The Reds played well, but they didn't take or play the Blues out of the game, the Kiwis did that to themselves.
That's right, of all the rugby played in Round 13, I watched precisely a game and a half.
Now before the booing starts let me explain the half ... It was 2am, and the Bulls had already score 6 tries in under 40 minutes!!
To give you some indication of the fight the Rebels were putting up, let me quote a ridgey didge Melbourne supporter. At one stage, I must have dozeily asked how things were going and got this response: "Well the Rebels are doing quiet well actually ... It's been 10 minutes since they conceded a try" - actual conversation, scout's honour.
The Rebels were always going to face an uphill battle without a solid first five - the fact that it was the players themselves who elected to leave Cipriani behind is indicative of just how much respect the rest of the team have for the former golden boy.
Obviously keen to make amends for his transgressions, Richard Kingi on the other hand seemed to be everywhere.
Granted that could sometimes have been due to the fact that Joel Stransky obviously had no idea who any of the Rebels replacement players were and called about 3 of them, including Luke Rooney on the wing and Afusipa Taumoepeau in the centers Kingi (when he was actaully playing at full back....).
It was all pretty much one way traffic, but the Bulls third try deserves a special mention.
Everyone thought Zane Kirschner had knocked it on, except the referee. And after a cheeky "oh well I might as well kick the ball away" hack at the pill, Busson found himself in acres of space - everyone, both sides, had stopped playing - with Dani Russo bellowing at him to run. So, run he did, and scored one of the more bizarre tries I've seen in Super Rugby.
It all underscores that fundamental commandment of competitive sport ... Don't let up until you hear the whistle, because as any sports fan can attest ... The officials are often BLIND.
Apparently they Rebels had a much better second half, and the final score backs up what I had initially supposed to a very one eyed assessment, 47-10 at full time after trailing 40-3 at the break.
Now I had very high hopes for the Reds v Blues game (see I'm not biased, I didn't even watch the Crusaders game this weekend) but it wasn't one I would have liked to call one way or the other ... Which is lucky really since, for the first time this season, I forgot to lodge my picks ..... GRRRRRR
The Reds claimed first blood, and second, and third. But the Blues fought back late in the first half with 2 quick tries. The Aucklanders seemed to be their own worst enemies, and why they were playing in their away strip is anybody's guess.
I've always been under the impression that it's red and green that gave colourblind folks trouble, but apparently, red and blue are also too close as the Blues trotted out in their alternative white jerseys.
The Blues opened the scoring in the second half, and seemed to have the momentum, but it wasn't to be.
The Reds played well, but they didn't take or play the Blues out of the game, the Kiwis did that to themselves.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Close calls
Well the were some exciting games this weekend.
The Hurricanes had their second opportunity in two weeks to snatch victory in the dying moments, but this time, against the Blues they needed a try and just couldn't pull it out the hat.
The Crusaders were also six points up approaching, and at, the 80 minute mark, but the Stormers hung onto the ball, maintaining possession. The Crusaders threw everything into defense, including some naughty business that earned Maxwell a yellow card two and a half minutes after the game 'should' have been over. Nervous moments there, but the crew managed to defy their grey jersey odds and hold off one of the form teams in the competition.
The Sharks Brumbies match was also close for most of the game, as the second half ticked by, one just got the feeling that if either side could make a break through, they could run away with it. After a few matches where they scored three, the bonus try, scored by Alberts, was a just reward.
Speaking of Alberts, he had an absolute blinder. A demon in defense, he was literally throwing himself into tackles - kinda reminded me of the human javelin himself Mr Norm Maxwell ... Except better discplined.
Now that I think about it, I actually made a few personal, rather than personnel, observations this weekend.
1. Digby Ioane's ninja head /face gear. Yes, it was every bit as bizarre as we were lead to believe it would be, but did he actually play in it? He wore it when he ran onto the field, and then I never saw it again. Granted, it looked slightly more intrusive than the one famously worn by Detroit Pistons Gaurd Richard Hamilton, but surely someone would have thought about that before hand?
2. Could the third Faingaa brother look anymore like the twins? I mean seriously.
3. I know we should all be used to it by now, but what is Matt Giteau's hairdresser thinking? And is he / she on acid? The GI Jonah faux mullet is a big call even from a man with a reputation for wacky do's. Three cheers for head gear.
4. I know this was hardly his fault, but I had to feel for Brumbies prop Ben Alexander just before kick off. Usually the player bios which pop up on screen when the player takes the field says something like, 34th super cap, or, debuted against the Warratahs in 2005. But no, not Ben Alexander. He's "conceded 15 penalties this season", and that's before the game has even begun.
5. Andries Bekker definitely had his angry man face on ... Abusing the ref, Zac Guilford, and his own hooker after a couple of dodgy lineouts.
Which brings me back on track.
Lineouts were a bit shaky across the board this weekend.
The Blues stuffed up their first four throws, Zac Guilford needs to learn to stop and think before automatically taking a quick throw, and yes they still have to be straight ... Which leads to one of the most bizarre call line out calls I've ever heard ... pisang. Now I'm not sure what planet Andries Bekker is from, seriously, but here on earth, a banana (English tranlastion) is by definition crooked .... Not exactly what you want from the hooker.
The other couple of bizarre comments come from the Rebels v Reds match.
Phil Kearns, the Rebels fans (dubbed by Kaf as the noisiest in Australia) are NOT "becoming more and more educated", the reason we "shout the right things at the right times" is because we KNOW THE BLOODY RULES.
And yes, the Rebels missed Cipriani's boot, but I don't understand how commentators across the board could sit there with a straight face and say that the Rebels will miss his attacking capabilities when they are the team that's scored the least number of tries this season. And who was directing traffic then?
That's about all from me this week, except to give a massive shout out to the Crusaders replacements.
Starting without many front line players, the Cantabrians then had to deal with losing four backs to injury in the first 30 minutes. The numerous resulting reshuffles, which even saw flanker Matt Todd move to the centers, obviously interrupted their flow, but the team stuck irony and stuck at it. Champion.
The Hurricanes had their second opportunity in two weeks to snatch victory in the dying moments, but this time, against the Blues they needed a try and just couldn't pull it out the hat.
The Crusaders were also six points up approaching, and at, the 80 minute mark, but the Stormers hung onto the ball, maintaining possession. The Crusaders threw everything into defense, including some naughty business that earned Maxwell a yellow card two and a half minutes after the game 'should' have been over. Nervous moments there, but the crew managed to defy their grey jersey odds and hold off one of the form teams in the competition.
The Sharks Brumbies match was also close for most of the game, as the second half ticked by, one just got the feeling that if either side could make a break through, they could run away with it. After a few matches where they scored three, the bonus try, scored by Alberts, was a just reward.
Speaking of Alberts, he had an absolute blinder. A demon in defense, he was literally throwing himself into tackles - kinda reminded me of the human javelin himself Mr Norm Maxwell ... Except better discplined.
Now that I think about it, I actually made a few personal, rather than personnel, observations this weekend.
1. Digby Ioane's ninja head /face gear. Yes, it was every bit as bizarre as we were lead to believe it would be, but did he actually play in it? He wore it when he ran onto the field, and then I never saw it again. Granted, it looked slightly more intrusive than the one famously worn by Detroit Pistons Gaurd Richard Hamilton, but surely someone would have thought about that before hand?
2. Could the third Faingaa brother look anymore like the twins? I mean seriously.
3. I know we should all be used to it by now, but what is Matt Giteau's hairdresser thinking? And is he / she on acid? The GI Jonah faux mullet is a big call even from a man with a reputation for wacky do's. Three cheers for head gear.
4. I know this was hardly his fault, but I had to feel for Brumbies prop Ben Alexander just before kick off. Usually the player bios which pop up on screen when the player takes the field says something like, 34th super cap, or, debuted against the Warratahs in 2005. But no, not Ben Alexander. He's "conceded 15 penalties this season", and that's before the game has even begun.
5. Andries Bekker definitely had his angry man face on ... Abusing the ref, Zac Guilford, and his own hooker after a couple of dodgy lineouts.
Which brings me back on track.
Lineouts were a bit shaky across the board this weekend.
The Blues stuffed up their first four throws, Zac Guilford needs to learn to stop and think before automatically taking a quick throw, and yes they still have to be straight ... Which leads to one of the most bizarre call line out calls I've ever heard ... pisang. Now I'm not sure what planet Andries Bekker is from, seriously, but here on earth, a banana (English tranlastion) is by definition crooked .... Not exactly what you want from the hooker.
The other couple of bizarre comments come from the Rebels v Reds match.
Phil Kearns, the Rebels fans (dubbed by Kaf as the noisiest in Australia) are NOT "becoming more and more educated", the reason we "shout the right things at the right times" is because we KNOW THE BLOODY RULES.
And yes, the Rebels missed Cipriani's boot, but I don't understand how commentators across the board could sit there with a straight face and say that the Rebels will miss his attacking capabilities when they are the team that's scored the least number of tries this season. And who was directing traffic then?
That's about all from me this week, except to give a massive shout out to the Crusaders replacements.
Starting without many front line players, the Cantabrians then had to deal with losing four backs to injury in the first 30 minutes. The numerous resulting reshuffles, which even saw flanker Matt Todd move to the centers, obviously interrupted their flow, but the team stuck irony and stuck at it. Champion.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Coming soon
Ello everyone, experiencing some technical difficulties.
This week's post is written, but needs a second edit and the editing page isn't playing fair.
Will be up as soon as I can ... Provided the hardware doesn't find itself out the window and into the rain ....
This week's post is written, but needs a second edit and the editing page isn't playing fair.
Will be up as soon as I can ... Provided the hardware doesn't find itself out the window and into the rain ....
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
There and back again, a supporter's tale
Yes yes, I know. I'm late again and I promised I'd try not to be. But I watched a full weekend's worth of rugby yesterday and needed some time to take it all in.
You see, along with what was probably only a couple of hundred (although they managed to sound like a couple of thousand) hardened Rebels supporters I made the trip deep behind enemy lines into New South Wales to watch the away leg of the newest local derby in Super Rugby.
I was just hoping it wouldn't be a repeat of the thrashing dished out in round one, and what do you know? The Rebels scored more points (I know, not hard when you're working from a base of 0), and the Warratahs scored less, than they had in that encounter, so it wasn't a total loss. It was a loss none-the-less, although something we've come to expect from the Rebels on the road.
Kudos to the fans though. The weather was miserable ... fully justifying my recent decision to battle common sense and Air New Zealand (re-packing my suitcases 3 times at Tauranga airport) to bring my Dr Martens (all 5kg of them) back to Melbourne - to wear in Sydney ...
But basically, between travelling to Sydney, and then getting to and from the game itself I would have missed all the others were it not for the wonder that is ... my Foxtel IQ (had I mentioned that I've missed it while I've been in NZ?) and so yesterday, while many of you were at work .... I sat on my couch and had my very own Super marathon, 5 games back-to-back. You can see why I needed to decompress.
The Highlanders struggled to get much ball against the Blues. They weren't getting the number of turnovers we've seen all season and couldn't seem to come up with another way of getting their hands on it. I know this will get me in trouble, but it seems like if they can't do it illegally, they can't do it at all. Adam Thompson was back for the Southern men, he got pinged twice in the first 8 minutes for infringing at the breakdown, and the first yellow card was also for doing bad things in this area.
Funnily enough, being a man down did good things to the Highlanders. It almost looked like they'd been in each others way before, but now had space to move. Ben Smith and Matt Saunders ran some great lines, and Robbie Robinson was the man eventually over for the try early in the second half. The Blues shut-up-shop late in the second half, and trapped the ball in the forwards for 29 phases to chew up time and claim the win.
Once again the Hurricanes started with a hiss and a roar. The Reds were the first on the scoreboard with Scott Higginbotham crashing over in the opening minutes, but the Hurricanes came back with 22 unanswered points and claimed the bonus point in the first half when a little man (Will Genia) was left trying to stop a fat man (Neemia Tialata) just a couple of meters from the line ... no chance.
The Reds staged a comeback in the second half, and there was some confusion when Dom Shipperley thought he'd claimed the mark when juggling a catch inside his 22, turned out he hadn't / couldn't in that situation and ended up being driven back over the try line by some strong hurricanes defense. Schoolboy lesson that. Always. Play. To. The. Whistle.
The visitors couldn't do enough though, and Cruden, who hadn't kicked well all night, slotted a high pressure penalty right on full time to give the Hurricanes the game by 2.
Before I get to the Bulls v Chiefs, I just want to mention something I noticed on the advertising banners during the NZ games (I am going somewhere with this, and the segway isn't as random as it seems). In both Dunedin and Wellington I noticed, for the second week in a row, advertising that was most definitely not aimed at the local audience. The RAND Show being held in Jo'burg.
While I was pondering the value of having your product seen by hundreds of thousands of people (the TV viewing audience) who wouldn't be attending in the hope of catching the eye of tens of thousands of South African viewers, I turned on the Bulls game.
Loftus, the home of the 'Blue' Bulls and seas of banners claiming 'Ons bloed is blou' (our blood is blue, for those whose Afrikaans is a little more than rusty), was swathed in ... Red! the team also playing in one-off red jersey's. No explanation given on-air other than the jersey's would be given to fans after the match. So, not for charity then.
My eagle eye then noticed that the flags and T shirts waved, and worn, by the crowd were covered with the Vodacom (Vodafone to those not living in the republic) logo. The whole thing was a sponsor's promotion. I guess it worked ... since I'm now telling all of you about it too but left a bad taste, interfering with the team's very identity.
The Crusaders came out firing in Perth. McCaw slotted in at Number 8, a testament to how well Matt Todd has played in his absence, so the anticipated head-to-head with Pocock didn't quite eventuate, but the breakdowns were hotly contested all match. The Crusaders getting the upper hand in the first half and the Force seeming to turn over a few in the second.
The Crusaders backs were everywhere in the first 20 minutes, but the Force stayed in it. The Crusaders seemed determined not to kick at all and ran the ball from everywhere. They had a fair amount of support in the stands and CA-ANterbury rang out across the sold out NIB Stadium.
The rugby gods however seemed to be smiling on the men in blue. Every bounce of the ball of 50:50 call seemed to favour the Force, and Richie spent 10 minutes in the bin (the red and greys conceding 11 points in that time). For some reason the Kiwis abandoned the running game that had worked so brilliantly and started paying safe, when they were behind! It was stressful!
The wasn't held / didn't release the ball drama refuses to go away, and popped up twice leading up to Corey Flynn's try, but the points were on the board and when Fotuali'I went over from half back (where he should be) after some sustained pick and go, it was all over 42:30.
You see, along with what was probably only a couple of hundred (although they managed to sound like a couple of thousand) hardened Rebels supporters I made the trip deep behind enemy lines into New South Wales to watch the away leg of the newest local derby in Super Rugby.
I was just hoping it wouldn't be a repeat of the thrashing dished out in round one, and what do you know? The Rebels scored more points (I know, not hard when you're working from a base of 0), and the Warratahs scored less, than they had in that encounter, so it wasn't a total loss. It was a loss none-the-less, although something we've come to expect from the Rebels on the road.
Kudos to the fans though. The weather was miserable ... fully justifying my recent decision to battle common sense and Air New Zealand (re-packing my suitcases 3 times at Tauranga airport) to bring my Dr Martens (all 5kg of them) back to Melbourne - to wear in Sydney ...
But basically, between travelling to Sydney, and then getting to and from the game itself I would have missed all the others were it not for the wonder that is ... my Foxtel IQ (had I mentioned that I've missed it while I've been in NZ?) and so yesterday, while many of you were at work .... I sat on my couch and had my very own Super marathon, 5 games back-to-back. You can see why I needed to decompress.
The Highlanders struggled to get much ball against the Blues. They weren't getting the number of turnovers we've seen all season and couldn't seem to come up with another way of getting their hands on it. I know this will get me in trouble, but it seems like if they can't do it illegally, they can't do it at all. Adam Thompson was back for the Southern men, he got pinged twice in the first 8 minutes for infringing at the breakdown, and the first yellow card was also for doing bad things in this area.
Funnily enough, being a man down did good things to the Highlanders. It almost looked like they'd been in each others way before, but now had space to move. Ben Smith and Matt Saunders ran some great lines, and Robbie Robinson was the man eventually over for the try early in the second half. The Blues shut-up-shop late in the second half, and trapped the ball in the forwards for 29 phases to chew up time and claim the win.
Once again the Hurricanes started with a hiss and a roar. The Reds were the first on the scoreboard with Scott Higginbotham crashing over in the opening minutes, but the Hurricanes came back with 22 unanswered points and claimed the bonus point in the first half when a little man (Will Genia) was left trying to stop a fat man (Neemia Tialata) just a couple of meters from the line ... no chance.
The Reds staged a comeback in the second half, and there was some confusion when Dom Shipperley thought he'd claimed the mark when juggling a catch inside his 22, turned out he hadn't / couldn't in that situation and ended up being driven back over the try line by some strong hurricanes defense. Schoolboy lesson that. Always. Play. To. The. Whistle.
The visitors couldn't do enough though, and Cruden, who hadn't kicked well all night, slotted a high pressure penalty right on full time to give the Hurricanes the game by 2.
Before I get to the Bulls v Chiefs, I just want to mention something I noticed on the advertising banners during the NZ games (I am going somewhere with this, and the segway isn't as random as it seems). In both Dunedin and Wellington I noticed, for the second week in a row, advertising that was most definitely not aimed at the local audience. The RAND Show being held in Jo'burg.
While I was pondering the value of having your product seen by hundreds of thousands of people (the TV viewing audience) who wouldn't be attending in the hope of catching the eye of tens of thousands of South African viewers, I turned on the Bulls game.
Loftus, the home of the 'Blue' Bulls and seas of banners claiming 'Ons bloed is blou' (our blood is blue, for those whose Afrikaans is a little more than rusty), was swathed in ... Red! the team also playing in one-off red jersey's. No explanation given on-air other than the jersey's would be given to fans after the match. So, not for charity then.
My eagle eye then noticed that the flags and T shirts waved, and worn, by the crowd were covered with the Vodacom (Vodafone to those not living in the republic) logo. The whole thing was a sponsor's promotion. I guess it worked ... since I'm now telling all of you about it too but left a bad taste, interfering with the team's very identity.
The Crusaders came out firing in Perth. McCaw slotted in at Number 8, a testament to how well Matt Todd has played in his absence, so the anticipated head-to-head with Pocock didn't quite eventuate, but the breakdowns were hotly contested all match. The Crusaders getting the upper hand in the first half and the Force seeming to turn over a few in the second.
The Crusaders backs were everywhere in the first 20 minutes, but the Force stayed in it. The Crusaders seemed determined not to kick at all and ran the ball from everywhere. They had a fair amount of support in the stands and CA-ANterbury rang out across the sold out NIB Stadium.
The rugby gods however seemed to be smiling on the men in blue. Every bounce of the ball of 50:50 call seemed to favour the Force, and Richie spent 10 minutes in the bin (the red and greys conceding 11 points in that time). For some reason the Kiwis abandoned the running game that had worked so brilliantly and started paying safe, when they were behind! It was stressful!
The wasn't held / didn't release the ball drama refuses to go away, and popped up twice leading up to Corey Flynn's try, but the points were on the board and when Fotuali'I went over from half back (where he should be) after some sustained pick and go, it was all over 42:30.
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