Week twelve of the Super Rugby competition showed that brilliant flyhalves like Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga will win you matches. This week’s matches also proved that under performing flyhalves will cost you matches.
In one of round twelve’s most exhilarating matches, Beauden Barrett showed why he is one of the most exciting flyhalves in World rugby with a decisive display against the Crusaders. As well as having a very solid kicking game, Barrett proved once again that he is not afraid to go for the gap instead of kicking or solely relying on the rest of the Hurricanes’ dangerous backline. When Barrett is afforded some space he often catches defenses napping with his deceptive pace and movement. Barrett made 184 running meters against the Crusaders and as well as scoring a try he also contributed heavily in the build-up to some of the other tries. He has been instrumental in keeping the ‘Canes at the top of the table this year and the Wellington faithful will be hoping that the injury he picked up towards the end of the game isn’t too serious. As a precautionary measure he may be given a rest when they take on the lackluster Sharks next week.
The poor Sharks may have thought that they had enough to worry about from the likes of Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo but they also felt the full force of an in-form Lima Sopoaga. The Highlanders sharp-shooter has been in red hot form this season with the boot and he kept this momentum up with one penalty and five conversions. He also created a try by expertly chipping the ball over the Sharks’ defense for an onrushing Naholo to gather and score in the corner. His domination from start to finish allowed the Highlanders to play with fluidity and confidence and sets them up nicely for their upcoming games in South Africa.
Sharks’ and Stormers’ fans will not be happy this week after the poor performances of Fred Zeilinga and Kurt Coleman respectively. In the week’s opening game, Zeilinga had a game he would rather forget. On the few occasions that the Sharks managed to get ‘go forward ball’, Zeilinga opted to kick it away. Playing for field position is not a bad idea when you are under pressure but when the majority of his kicks went straight down the throats of the dangerous Highlanders’ backs, they were most pleased to charge forward at the Sharks’ broken defensive lines. Apart from some aimless kicking, Zeilinga also had little effect in igniting an admittedly poor Sharks’ backline. The Sharks are undeniably missing the experience and composure of Patrick Lambie but Zeilinga has sadly failed to impress when called upon.
In Bloemfontein, the Stormers were left shaking their heads after the dismal place kicking of replacement flyhalf Kurt Coleman. The Stormers had most of the second half momentum and had Coleman converted a couple of his four kickable penalties they could well of come away with the win. Adding to his earlier missed penalty kicks, he missed another one with the last kick of the game which denied his team a bonus point for losing by seven points or less. The Stormers were not at their best but still had their chances to pull off an ugly win. Unfortunately for the team from the Cape, poor quality at flyhalf ultimately cost them. They will be ruing those missed kicks and only time will tell if that will cost them a playoff spot.
Every player in a rugby team is important but this week has gone to show that in a game of small margins a missed penalty can ruin all the hard work done by the team while an outstanding, all round performance from flyhalf can lift that team to another level. The Hurricanes, Brumbies and Bulls will look to cement their positions at the top of their respective conferences when week 13 of Super Rugby commences and it comes as no surprise that their flyhalves have all been on song.
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