Three teams sit on top of the NZ Super Rugby table, with the number 37 trending as the Crusaders still lead on that ‘slender’ points differential. Their victors from Friday night jump up to even with the Chiefs, though the Highlanders now sit out a Bye round (with the Hurricanes) That may give their opponents a chance to set a small gap over them, but with this equity in bonus points and in overall wins, our Rugby South department still find it difficult to judge the conference winner.
These results also reinforce a gap to the chasing group, as the Waratahs and Brumbies secured vital wins across the Tasman, and the Lions and Sharks captured much needed wins. The Blues just couldn’t handle the pressure, and in their second worst defeat ever must now keep their heads from dropping for one more week before they can return to their own beds. Professional rugby is not always champagne and paparrazzi.
RESULTS: Friday 13 May – Highlanders 34 Crusaders 26 | Saturday 14 May – Hurricanes 29 Reds 14 | Lions 43 Blues 5 | Chiefs BYE
Sportsman can be suspicious people, a few believing that luck or avoiding bad omen’s will help their cause. Some find routine to be a key, so in post-season when they saw the Round 12 draw (and if you were a Highlander, Crusader or even a Rebels or Brumbies player) you would have gulped to see this date ‘Friday the 13th’. It could rattle some before the ball was even kicked off, but the quality of the Highlanders v Crusaders game would tell me that all 46 players ‘came to play’. Black Friday or not.
Read the full match report here, and while two tries were called back by the referee that will have changed the game essentially, the TMO was spot on with each ruling. Even though in any provincial/regional games and pretty much any club games, they would be accepted, the finer detail and scrutiny by fully paid professional referees means these days the Crusaders were called back. No ‘spilled milk’ here though, no need to protest about the clarity, this maybe one subject where Super Rugby are consistent [see recent match rulings]
The intensity of play is consistent too. It’s high class, and the pinnacle of the game you might agree. Local derbies across all conferences are built that way, and all will play a key to the final standings–your 6 derby games are possibly 30 points to each Kiwi side which is a good reward and teams like the Chiefs and Highlanders have really maximized their totals from here. Chiefs with 12 points and the Landers gained 13 out of a possible 20 points, so very valuable gains.
That Forsyth-Barr Stadium was SOLD OUT shows the popularity of the competition and that factor was sorely missing in the Saturday night fixture at the Wellington Regional Stadium. With some controversy this week, the apparent apathy that Canes fans show was clear for viewers to see. It was not a warm evening but it is rugby and with local promotion Last Word On Sports thought this draw would have seen more locals on-hand.
They would not have been entertained with the usual ‘razzle-dazzle’ that a Hurricanes match has been known to be though. It was only punctuated by several tries at the end to raise the final scoreline 29-14, but with 65 minutes to go the Queensland Reds team had their opportunity to run the home side close.
In Rob Simmons 100th game, he and his mates saw a possible chance to flip the Canes and he was commanding in his role so hats off that champion player. His scrum was up in the oppositions face but like their game against the Crusaders a week earlier, they moved the ball and had multiple phases but really didn’t promote the ball. Kicks only lost possession, did not amount to much attacking play.
Two key moments in each half meant the Canes left Westpac Stadium with five points. Firstly, when Reds player Hendrik Tui was seen by the ref to infringe as a Canes maul reached the redzone. He may have been one of a few Reds players attempting to pull down the maul, but with that player off, the Canes used the same ploy and with one less forward defending, Dane Coles found something to smile about [after a hellish week–read more]
Without the suspended five, new wingers had to work hard and in the first half, ex-pat South African Wes Goosen received a pinpoint upfield kick from Beauden Barrett to score. That gave them a good start and on the other wing, Jason Woodward was brought in and tried very hard to make up for that last minute knock-on against the Chiefs. One or two dropped balls kind of mimicked the sloppy nature to the game, but Woodward’s second half interception secured the win, denied the Reds any points and showed his outright speed.
Negatives would be injuries, with two concussion related injuries to Coles and Michael Fatialofa, but when Vaea Fifita left with an ankle strain, the pressure went on. Gladly they did not panick, and with a Bye round up next before a run of four key games that could see them potentially finish at the top of the NZ Super Rugby table–this is not a prediction, but still possible.
And that has been the attitude of the Blues for many seasons now. Due to poor results, anything is possible so fans and analysts both felt that the side had a decent chance, bolstered by there recent winning form. Something you don’t normally associate with the Auckland side, but they had a chance against one of the clear favorites in South Africa, the Lions. What occurred was less then satisfactory though.
They could not make any dents in the Lions team, unforgiving rain made it bloody hard going and the unpleasant taste from this match was clear when captain James Parsons nailed it in post-match comments “we couldn’t set a platform to get our game started”. He and his team will not enjoy the long haul flight to Perth, en-route home.
The Lions scored early and stunned, the Blues did not adjust and made mistakes that fulltime professionals must do better at. If you give away the ball, the likely attack will mount and when you cannot defend against a smart kicker in Elton Janjies, he peppered the line and they looked the bettered directed side. One to benefit was centre Lionel Mapoe who scored a hatrick, and the Lions fans were ‘singing in the rain’.
In a seven try hammering. Warren Whitely demanded a big turn around from their 50 point hiding the Lions felt when the Hurricanes blew into town, and Whitely got what he asked for. He enjoyed a try himself to set the tone for the match. They hit hard and took no prisoners, the sign of a team who could top their conference. Good news for South Africa, as the Stormers lost and the Sharks only-just beat a staunch Jaguares side.
When the Blues arrive in Perth, they will be kicking themselves and even if they do gain the right result there, it will still highlight some limitations and a mental step that needs to be crossed. Winning away from the comforts of home is hard, don’t let the Crusaders and Chiefs lead fans to believe it is mandatory. The Sharks have won only half of their away matches and the lost opportunities will certainly count in the end.
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- Top placed NZ Super Rugby side 1# Crusaders 37 | 5# Chiefs | 6# Highlanders 37 | 7# Hurricanes 36 | Blues 25
- Top placed South African side (Conference 1) 3# Stormers 31 | Bulls 28 (Conference 2) 2# Lions 32 | Sharks 26
- Top placed Australian side 4# Waratahs | #8 Brumbies 29 | Rebels 23
NZ still hold 4/8 places in the probable qualifying place winners and then the rest follow them in total competition points. That is not boasting, it is just mathematics and in the rugby world, fans and commentators realize that many of the most exciting games emerge from this nation. The Sunwolves game was super exciting, and you would have cheered loudly if the ‘liitle guy’ had got up to beat the Stormers, so credit to Mark Hammet and his charges.
Every team will now be close to completing their second bye weekends, as The Hurricanes, Highlanders, Cheetahs and Brumbies all rest up sore bodies. Especially the Highlanders who have had a long mid-season, so must refresh the squad and look to put everything on the line in matches to come.
Next weekend, we will be starved of the prized local derby in New Zealand and fans will have to make do with the Crusaders hosting the Waratahs, the Chiefs host the Rebels (which LWOS will be reporting from) while the Blues must raise their spirits to counter the Force. Another slip-up could all but end their hopes of any qualification to the finals, so all teams need to stay very focused from this stage on.
The best sides will prove their worth over the next two weeks.
“Main photo credit”
