ok, now this time the extreme tardiness really isn't my fault ... I blame delayed flights and inconstant Internet access ....
Well I'm writing this week's entry somewhere fairly unique. Seat 40A, 38,000 feet somewhere above the Molucca Sea (I didn't even know there was such a thing).
Needless to say I've had some things other than rugby on my mind this weekend, but I still managed to squeeze in a game or two.
Two that I wish had seen, but didn't, were the Blues v Chiefs and the Sharks v Cheetahs. The highlights I saw on Fox Sports' Inside Rugby made both look like crackers. That, almost, full length of the field run by Joe Rokothoco, only to end up, almost, at the other end if the park courtesy of Mills Mulinia looked pretty exciting.
The games I did see ... My last trip to AAMI Park for the Rebels, then the highlanders v Force and the Reds v Brumbies.
I'll start with the Highlanders as they played first even if I saw them second.
Now I'm not going to pretend to know the full story or all the arguments for and against the new strip. I just wasn't sure why they didn't choose to e d an era by playing Carisbrook's last Super Rugby game in the old jerseys.
Tradition runs deep at the house of pain and, to me, it would have made sense to retire the stadium and the strip at the same time and start over with a new look and a new home next season.
But, like I said, that's just me.
The Rebels v Stormers was just the sort of game no rugby fan wants to see - BORING.
When the members are reading the newspaper and cracking jokes about the feasibility of sailing to New Zealand for the World Cup, you know you've lost a key demographic.
Personally, I spent most of the game translating the Afrikaans banners brought along by the many Stormers fans in attendance. I don't think they all made the trip especially for the occasion. Previously, I had supposed that the Rebels fan-base was rooted across the Tasman, now I'm not so sure. Over 15,000 in attendance and I think a significant number of those were from much further afield (originally).
The Reds v Brumbies was an interesting proposition, playing for the wonkiest trophy I've even laid eyes on. I guess most of the blame for that should go to the Brumbies since they've held it most of the time.
The Brumbies were hungry, and it showed. They shut down the Reds, who didn't seem to be able to adapt and come up with anything new in response.
The Queenslanders frustration was obvious, they were losing the game and started to lose it with each other as well. Anthony Fa'inga threw his twin brother the mother of evil looks, and a bit of strong verbal when he put down a pass from the Hooker that could have been a real try scoring opportunity.
There were some nasty injuries: Digby Ioane unwittingly contributing to the planking craze sweeping the nation when he was knocked out cold, Ben Lucas taking a trip to la-la land (although he returned to the field and played on), and Mark Chisholm hobbling off with a bung knee.
All in all the Brumbies were the better side on the day and 13 knocked off the top dog. They played well, but as the commentary team pointed out, "They should have a few (good games) stored up, they've been rubbish all season!"
Touché.
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