The fight is up to Round Ten in this years ‘heavyweight rugby battle royal’ and with only seven rounds left, all sides competing in Super Rugby 2016 know that only they control their own destiny’s. Over halfway through the season, most of the leading contenders had victories; besides the Stormers who were upset at home by the traveling Waratahs.
The New Zealand (NZ) sides all won–the Crusaders enjoyed their final bye, as the Hurricanes topped 50 points in a runaway game in Johannesburg. That win was much needed, as they had to stay within reach of the table-topping Chiefs who themselves withstood a torrid match against the Sharks in New Plymouth.
Enjoy this quick recap, before Last Word On Sports looks forward to another round of Super Rugby across all conferences.
NZ Super Rugby--Over Halfway Through The Season
Results: Friday 29th April – Chiefs 24 Sharks 22 | Saturday 30th April – Blues 36 Rebels 30 | Highlanders 23 Brumbies 10 | Lions 17 Hurricanes 50 | Crusaders BYE
Close result but Chiefs still winning
Friday night in Taranaki saw a great game played out on Yarrow Stadium. The Sharks visited, carrying one loss and one win record (against the Highlanders no less) Always fearful of the team from Durban, that fear was broken within 50 seconds as hometown player Seta Tamanivalu broke the line and scored early. Fans were buoyed by this but it was not the normal night of high-scoring/tries-a-plenty, as they had become accustomed to.
The first try was quite sudden, while the second try was a well worked effort that moved down field, crossed from side-to-side before a floated pass by Aaron Cruden found the impressive Michael Leitch. The latter is an incredible athlete with great stamina and quick reflexes that the best loose forwards have. And the former, the returning first-five, began the night by kicking his first conversion in many weeks. Observers; who had questioned his possible All Blacks selection, had to admit tonight he went a way towards assuring them “yes, I can kick goals”.
The visitors stayed calm and applied more pressure to the Chiefs and that was reiterated when Garth April pushed the line and broke through. A dead-eye kicker, his run underlined a glimpse of the talent that South Africa has and surprisingly the teams walked to the sheds even at 15-15. Stunned, the fans were quiet while Dave Rennie must have looked hard at his men, to see what they were thinking.
The final 40 minutes were the very best example of Super Rugby, with each team forcing the other into mistakes, unfamiliar for this Chiefs team and it gave the visitors confidence that shone through when another tight forward scored. The alarm bells were ringing, not the cowbells that are usually rung here. It wasn’t a fait accompli though, the Sharks tried all they could but just lacked some polish and even as their defence stopped the home side from scoring any second half tries, they ran out of steam. Big men like Daniel du Preez and Keegan Daniel look like they could ‘break a chair if they sat on it’ but they could not break the Chiefs winning formula.
The match ended at 24-22 and it really was that close. The second match in a row where the Hamilton side were held to a close result but in the end, they managed to get the win. Penalties counted against the visitors who had to make double the tackles of their hosts. That is key and new Chief Dominic Bird made a good return from injury, running hard for 60 minutes and gladly the front row had no further issues with injury (no controversy tonight thank goodness)
EXCITEMENT AT EDEN PARK
On Saturday, we had three matches to enjoy. Three great wins by the Kiwi sides and each demonstrated the strengths of that team. Beginning with the Blues, it was a first step in a ‘five-game block’ that Tana Umaga needed his men to target if they had any chance of reaching the quarter finals. They faced the highly fancied Melbourne Rebels, leaders of the Australian conference and a side gaining in stature.
Played at 5:15pm, it proved to be a ‘great time’ for everyone on hand as ten tries in total were scored, both sides replying to the others attack and it almost ran the players to a standstill. Patrick Tuipulotu was welcomed back and had a strong match even when the scoring action began badly for his Blues team when newly appointed captain James Parson threw a wild inside pass on his own tryline which the Rebels scored from that. Not the desired effect, the hooker had been promoted permanently to the captaincy role this week when Jerome Kaino stood aside to provide stability, as Kaino battles a shoulder complaint.
Desparate to make amends, Parson followed the ball for most of the evening and was rewarded with a try after 14 minutes–this began the ‘I can do anything you can’ theme and before you could say “Super Bang Bang” Kaino and Charlie Faumuina each crossed to extend a lead out to 17-8. The flags were waving often, fans were euphoric by the time Ihaia West scored their fourth point try and the place erupted. It was great to see, but a little premature.
Jordy Reid responded for his team before halftime, to make it 24-18 and fans were a little deflated–that was until the second half began with a huge Bang! Tevita Li, the flying North Harbour winger finished a great move and fans were back on their feet. Super stuff, and when Lolagi Visinia busted up the middle, Eden Park erupted ‘like it was 1999’ [RIP Prince] Was this the beginning of a revival of the flying Blues of old? Not entirely, but it may have been a view on the teams scoring potential.
Ahead 36-18, a dominant team like the Crusaders would have charged on with it but Umaga called on his replacements, and that seemed to remove the edge from his men. Somewhat limply, they creaked along and almost ‘slipped up’ badly. First, a sideline pass stuck for the Rebels Colby Fainga’a to score. Within minutes of that, Sefanaia Naivalu pounced on a dropped ball to run 85 metres and halted the party. Was this a calipso-collapso? Fortunately not, the Rebels were their own enemies when a maul fractured and referee Craig Joubert blew his whistle to end their chances. A technical infringement yes, it spoiled the visitors opportunity, the match ended at 36-30 but the guests had taken away a probable bonus point that frustrated fans and coaches alike.
Taking their eyes off the ‘here and now’ to rest players was a marginal call–reminiscent of John Kirwan’s tenure–so management needs to focus on their on-field leadership. Not even Akira Ioane coul empower a team that had lost it’s direction [he and his brother now leave for Sevens duty] Hopefully, lesson learned as they travel to South Africa.
LANDERS TAME BRUMBIES
Southern men restored some pride down in Otago, withstanding the heat from the Brumbies played out in wet conditions down in Invercargill. The roof of Forsyth-Barr Stadium could have favoured a higher scoring game, but Jamie Joseph had prepared his men for the elements and even as they had little possession and very little territory, they prevailed in the end.
The Australian team needed a good result to bring their season back on-course, and had some chances with ball in hand but never looked capable of anything other than a tight-forwards pushover try to Josh Mann-Rea. Typical of this one dimensional team that for all intense purposes have regressed in the last month. They allowed the Highlanders to pick their opportunities–the best of these was a glorious try to Lima Sopoaga. Nicely set-up right in the middle of the field; even in wet conditions, a pinpoint pass by the supreme Aaron Smith (pictured) saw Sopoaga ghost past the defence in an elegant finish. Top class.
As much as the scoring was of a high quality, the tackling was assured. Alex Ainley and Tom Franklin led the way. Neither man missed a tackle, the team made 93% of theirs while Stephen Larkham will not enjoy reading his sides statistics. They do not count in the contact point, the players desire and technique does. That said, early in the game Jack Wilson was guilty of a poor tackle that was judged a ‘head high’ and he was sent from the field.
A a high pressure game with valuable points on offer for either side, facing only 14 men the Brumbies needed to score and frustratingly, they only secured a penalty. Such a poor return only added to the visitors poor execution. Kicking was vital on this night, hometown boy Sopoaga made his count and by the 70th minute, even substitutes did not help Stephen Moore’s men close the gap, ending the game meekly at 23-10.
The only disappointment for the Landers franchise was the fact no bonus point was claimed but Ben Smith seemed extremely happy with a return to winning rugby. You could tell by his wide-smile after he scored his try and that brought a smile to every fan who had braved an early sign of the oncoming winter.
HURRICANES BLOW AWAY LIONS PRIDE
Before the Jaguares put the sword to the Kings, this game had been the highest scoring of the round. Played at Ellis Park, the crowd on hand believed their ‘Pride of Lions’ could hold out the NZ side. Nobody informed the visitors though and a whirlwind blew through the stadium, as the guest worked the ball through the hand to show their flair and creativity. Scoring at a point a minute for the opening quarter, Lions fans were left bewildered by the lack of response from their men.
Not all bad, Elton Jantijes guided the backs and Jaco Kriel pushed his pack but up against them were a very well drilled team from Wellington. In a points scoring mode, they intended to take the game to their hosts and it was proving successful. Beauden Barrett found the still conditions to his liking, kicks were made today and before they knew it the score ballooned to 5-36. Some great tries, none better than ex-pat Reg Goodes who found a wide gap and ran the tramline, set his sights on the corner flag and would not be denied. Impressive, they blitzed their opposition and were making fans of the South African commentators.
@PonekeFC‘s own @ReggieGoodes laying the smack down for @Hurricanesrugby. #SmashEmReggie #LIOvHUR #SupeRugby pic.twitter.com/bz7xNNVFQw
— Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) May 1, 2016
The type of match where all the hard work is done in the opening half, but after the hooter they concentrated on defence. Only letting in three tries, the rugby purists might have found the second 40 minutes a better game, pressure at the breakdown told and when Jantijes left injured, much of the Lions chances did too. Kriel scored a try, so fans held some hope until Vince Aso continued the Canes assault. Their counter-attacking is well respected but in this game it was about resolve. Not to allow the home side back into the game will please John Plumtree and Chris Boyd most.
Julian Savea scored his second try right at the death and this game reminded fans of the wonderful effort in 2015 where they claimed a full haul of points while on tour. Can they do this again? Some would say so, but in the republic you progress one-game-at-a-time. Coach Chris Boyd told media after the game, “The area that we were very unhappy about last week was the sting in our defence. This week we put a lot of emphasis on our line speed and our physicality.” They certainly redressed many issues in this game. Game, set and match.
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- Top placed NZ Super Rugby side 1# Chiefs 37 | 5# Crusaders 32 | 6# Hurricanes 31 | 8# Highlanders 28 | Blues 20
- Top placed South African side (Conference 1) 2# Stormers 29 | 7# Bulls 28 (Conference 2) 4# Lions 27 | Sharks 22
- Top placed Australian side 3# Rebels 23 | Brumbies 21 | Waratahs 21
WINNERS AND LOSERS
While you can take this quote literally, the Stormers and Brumbies were the major losers of this round. Many have highlighted the moment Leolin Zas was sensationally sent off in the 56th minute after an awkward high ball challenge. You must underline the phrase ‘awkward’ as he clearly slipped and was in a poor position that put Foley in a very dangerous position. Last week’s Jason Emery incident was far worse, but the refereee saw the worst and they were reduced to 14 men [SANZAAR this week banned Zas for two weeks] after this incident the game was in the balance and Michael Hooper barged over right on the buzzer.
The loss will hurt these sides. Of course the Cape Town side still leads their group and can rest during their bye week until they travel to Tokyo, so it is not all bad–not as bad as how the team from Canberra will feel. The Australian conference is now cluttered and falling well back on the four strongest NZ teams and three African teams. It will take a lot for them to claw back into any form of contention.
Next week will see a huge match in Hamilton. The Chiefs will be wary of the Highlanders, wary of the reigning champions who have beaten the Chiefs on previous occasions. Wary but not afraid and Last Word On Sports will be present at FMG Stadium to witness and report on the conclusion. The Brumbies v Bulls clash is critical, as is the Sharks v Hurricanes match. Some good matches to prepare for.
Enjoy those clashes and more. There are still four rounds until we hibernate during the International window (returning July 1st) All the top ten sides will be planning on good results over this month, so enjoy the coverage from LWOS Rugby South.
“Main photo credit”
