Sanjay's Rugby World

The Bulls became the dominant team of Super rugby for the last few years when they demolished the Chiefs by 61-17 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria in the Super 14 final.

The scenes were unBULLievable as the stadium was packed with a sea of blue – People dressed in blue, painted in blue, blue flags etc. There was drama as the lights went out, Eskom does have it’s problems in South Africa, but thankfully the delay was not too great. The Chiefs were given a rousing Loftus welcome, and then the Bulls ran out to an amazing reception.

The Bulls had a great start to the game, dominating territory and possession. I thought Kaplan unfairly penalised us in the first 2 scrums, the second of which allowed the Chiefs to get out of their territory, put pressure on Kirchner and his poor kick allowed Masaga to score a try against the run of play. At that stage, the Bulls were under pressure, the game could have gone anywhere.

It is a testament to this Bulls team the way they respond to pressure. They are unBULLievable. Guts, character, spirit and masses of confidence. These are the qualities the Bulls have exhibited in bucketloads over the second half of the season. Firstly Du Preez, then Du Preez again. Then Habana. Once they got on a roll, the Bulls machine was irrepressible. However the Chiefs then got a bit more possession and territory and started to threaten the Bulls line. It was simply unBULLievable defence that repelled attack after attack, and that led to Bryan Habana intercepting another try right on halftime. … at halftime, and the game was effectively over.

The Chiefs had to score first after halftime, and they started throwing the ball around as they tried to run the Bulls around. Eventually their possession and willingness to attack gave them a faint sniff of it at 34-14. However once again the Bulls responded with a pressure, pressure and more pressure.

Another penalty, and then Kaptein courageous Big Vic, scored a superb try from the base of the ruck. His vision all season has been superb. And the way he surveyed his options before scoring was awesome. The fact we’ve only lost one game all year with Big Vic at the helm, is testament to the inspiration of Big Vic. And that was only a 3 point loss when he was coming back from injury and didn’t look himself at all. He does so much work that goes unnoticed. He cleans out every ruck, and secures the ball, he scans the field and directs play so well and his try was just reward for a great season. He’s one of my top 3 players of all time, a great guy, and a true role model.

After that it was simply a bit of Bulls fun. The result was never in doubt, the urgency was gone from the game and the Bulls were dominant. Olivier try was beautiful, Pretorius butchered a chance on the goalline, and then Spies capped off a great season with a superb intercept effort and sprint for the line. Once again it was Matfield scanning the field and tapping quickly that led to Roussouw’s try. A fitting finale to the game.

Overall we dominated everywhere on the field. The set pieces were great, Matfield and Botha reigned supreme in the lineouts. 7 wins on opposition ball. The scrum was backpedalling the Chiefs.
At the breakdown we dominated the collision points. Kuun, Potgieter, Stegmann, they won almost every battle. Our kicking was almost pinpoint. We drove the Chiefs deep into their half. We chipped and chased and scored. We pressurised and contested in the air. There were no weaknesses anywhere. This Bulls side has simply gained in confidence every week. There is no side that would beat them in their current form.

At their pre-season camp in George last year, the Bulls set a goal of topping the log and winning the Super 14. They achieved that. It’s a great lesson to other SA rugby teams. What you focus on becomes your reality. When you talk about how difficult touring is, it is difficult. When you talk about how great defences are and how hard it is to score tries, you won’t score (ie Stormers especially). The difference with the Bulls is they offer no excuses and create their own destiny. They believe in themselves and the confidence they have exhibited has gone from strength to strength as they build their legacy.

They were the only team to win all of their home games, 8 in total. They became only the fourth team (along with the Crusaders, Blues and Brumbies) to win the Super rugby competition more than once. They became the highest points scorers in a final (61). The highest points margin in a final (44). The best looking fans, the best crowd, the best looking players, the best ground, the best cheerleaders…where does it end!The Bulls were simply the Best! Go Bulle Go!

The Bulls are home at Loftus Versfeld, against the Chiefs, in a battle of the 2 heavyweights of this year’s competition. Just how will this titanic match unfold…

Neither team will want to deviate too far from what has got them to the final. For the Bulls it is centred around an excellent kicking game, which has allowed them to dominate territory against almost all opponents this year. For the Chiefs it will mean moving the ball wide at every opportunity to use Callum Bruce, Masaga, and Muliaina as they try and outflnk the Bulls.

The Bulls were shown last week what can happen when they are starved of territory, possession and the ability to influence the game with their key kickers Steyn and Du Preez. That they were able to adapt their game plan speaks volumes of the character of the side, and one could see once they got the lead they adjusted back to what they do best. They’ve been behind in their last 3 games, but they will not want to have to repeat their heroics again. Rather they’ll want to start well and strangle the Chiefs into errors. The return of Wynand Olivier should give the midfield more solidity and greater thrust in attack. I feel that the brilliance of Habana could once again bring the trophy back home to Pretoria.

The Chiefs on the other hand have to produce one last mamoth forward effort. If they can get parity they’ll be happy. They should achieve this for the first 50 minutes whereafter the altitude and Loftus factor may affect them. They’ll need to score early, and go wide at every opportunity, otherwise Lauaki and Messam will need to punch holes through the middle. whilst they’re always dangerous, this Bulls team has a mission to achieve and no Kiwi team is going to stop them.

The Bulls will be helped by having a South African ref in Jonathon Kaplan, although he is often tough against the Bulls. Still it’s better than a Kiwi or Aussie. It’s going to be an awesome atmosphere at Loftus, but at the end of the day the Bulls have been ultra consistent, have the reliability factor, massive game breakers and the experience of Super 14 and World Cup winners to continue the lagacy of the BULLS!

Two contrasting semi-finals saw the two form teams of this years competition advance to the final in what will be a clash of the titans.

Chiefs (14) v Horrorcanes (10)
As predicted, this game was relatively even. Both teams play a similiar brand of rugby, but on this occassion I thought the Chiefs showed greated belief in their ability, and were the more aggressive team. They mixed this with smart rugby and kept he Horrorcanes pinned in their half. In greasy conditions this proved to be the right tactic as mistakes would inevitably come. This allowed the Chiefs to be able to turn these mistakes into vital points and get ahead on the scoreboard.

This proved decisive as the Horrorcanes became desperate with 10-15 minutes remaining and looked the more threatening. However playing catch up rugby in these sorts of conditions ultimately proved their undoing as they simply couldn’t produce enough brilliance for a match winning try.

The Chiefs now travel to Pretoria, with a few injury concerns. They can be guaranteed a hostile reception and remain the one team that can potentially beat the Bulls with their strong backline and match winners accross the park.

Bulls (36) v Crusaders (23)
The game of the year so far. It shows the benefits of playing rugby during the day, in good conditions where the ball can be given some air.

The Crusaders started off particularly well, aided by ref Bryce Lawrence. The first scrum in Bulls territory saw a wheel and turnover, before Steenkamp was unfiarly penalised. This put the Crusaders 3-0 ahead. The Bulls temporarily drew back with some beautiful running from Habana who cruised through a gap to put the Bulls back ahead.

Then we saw some dodgy reffing, and the Crusaders taking full toll.
I question whether there was a forward pass as Whitelock scored in the corner, and then a terrible piece of
reffing saw Derrick Kuun penalised for being offside at the ruck. At this stage I was wondering if Bryce Lawrence was going to end up winning it for the Crusaders. They then got a lucky break as Kieran Read scored from an up and under, and the Bulls were 20-7 behind. A break from Whitelock could have really knocked the Bulls, but a fantastic piece tackle from Zane Kirchner really changed the momentum of the match.

At this stage the Bulls were really not imposing themselves, and up stepped Kirchner, Du Preez, Spies and Steyn. This Bulls team deserves to be the champions because they display courage, commitment and the mindset of champions. They took the game by the scruff of the necks and in 10 minutes scored 20 points. They were absolutely magnificent as Stegmann and Kirchner combined to put Ndungane away in the corner. Steyn kept the momentum going with some inspired drop kicking and then the runaway Bull Spies went on a bullocking run straight down the middle of Loftus Versfeld in one of the most memorable runs of the decade! At this stage the Crusaders were defintely saved by the bell as halftime arrived.

As is the Bulls way, once we get in front we simply play the percentages and grind the opposition out of the game. An Andy Ellis drop goal reduced the deficit before Steyn kicked a drop from in front, and then the dropkick of the year from almost halfway. With a 13 point lead, the Bulls were never going to lose. The Bulls brought on Chiliboy, Danie Rousouw and Pedrie Wannenburg and boy did they make a difference. I thought Wannenburg was awesome, getting over the gainline, and really tested the Crusaders defence which was just hanging on for dear life.

The professionalism and accuracy of the Bulls was evident as they wound down the clock and simply did not allow the Crusaders any ball in the final 5 minutes.

This Bulls team showed just how much pride they have in the blue jersey, how mentally they are the best team in South Africa and do not fear losing like most other SA teams. This was most evident in the second half when Steyn was back near his goal line, instead of the safety first option, he showed tremendous confidence in his ability to step and pass before they booted the ball upfield.

The Bulls have shown when it’s time for a hero to step up, each individual puts his hand up to produce something special. I thought Pretorius and Delport did their jobs magnificently, although we will definitely welcome back Olivier for the final. For the final it’s going to take more moments of brilliance to bring the trophy back home to Pretoria! Go Bulle Go!

Chiefs v Horrorcanes – Hamilton

This game will be evenly contested as both teams are very similar. On their day they can run hot, and equally they are prone to making mistakes and running cold when they get it wrong.

The pool game 2 weeks ago proved how close it will be, but this time i’m favouring the Horrorcanes because they will have less pressure on them, have greater experience and should be able to relax into their game plan a little more. It could come down to individual brilliance, a piece of magic here or there, and who can gain the momentum. A close one but i’m picking the Horrorcanes by 8.

Bulls v Crusaders – Loftus

A repeat of the 2007 semi-final. I’m hoping for the same result, although the disruptions to the Bulls midfield leaves them slightly vulnerable in the backs. I’m not expecting the Bulls to deviate from the tactic they’ve used all season of playing for field position, and utilising the up and under. It allows us to play to our strengths of a strong pack and keep it away from the Crusaders pack.

However this year the Crusaders backs have looked pretty ineffectual. They lack Carter to run the ship, and don’t have any one to set them away in midfield. The Bulls could gain the upper hand out wide by utilising Habana, Ndungane and Kirchner. In all areas we look to have the measure of the Crusaders, except maybe the Richie McCaw factor. Stegmann has a big job to do, and whilst i’m confident he’s up to the challenge, the big factor could be the interpretation of referee Bryce Lawrence.

While the Bulls should be the stronger team and will be looking to avenge the loss in Christchurch this year, the Crusaders will also have to overcome the travel, altitude and the “Loftus” factor.
We don’t lose very often at Loftus, especially not in finals. Bulls by 10.

This is my analysis of the Currie Cup and Super rugby for the past 5 years. It shows who is the dominant team in South African rugby, and by how much!

My ranking is based on the following:
Log position
1 = 10
2 = 8
3 = 7
4 = 6
5 = 4
6 = 3
7 = 2
8 = 1
I weighted it so that top of the log gets slightly more points/rewards. And semi finalist get more rewards than missing out ie 5th.
The teams that make the final get 2 more bonus points, and the winner a further 3.
Super 14 and super 12 get similar rankings, for the 2 years the Cats played, I gave the Lions and Cheaters the same points.

Here are the final standings:

As many predicted, the Super 14 log came down to the last game of the competition. But by and largethe results and excitement never reached great heights. Sure the results have been unpredictable at times, but in reality the rugby has been way below standard. Still the Bulls have been the best of a bad bunch and i’ll take that anyday.

It’s great that no Aussie team made the semis, but disappointing South African teams are mostly at the bottom of the log. The Kiwis showed they still lead the way, but i’m confident the Bulls can come out tops!

Picks 5/7

Chiefs (10) v Brumbies (7)
The Bulls will happy the Chiefs were not able to manage a bonus point over the last 2 weeks. The Chiefs looked slightly vulnerable at times, are starting to get injuries, and are not experienced at this stage of the season. Will they adapt their gameplan come semi-final time? The Brumbies like many teams this season simply lacked all round class and individuals to counter one of the better teams.

Lions (33) v Worrytahs (38)
Another game the Lions lost that they could have, and should have won. The y do so many good things, yet throw it away with the silliest of mistakes and the softest of tries for the opposition. They have some great players, Ludik, Vermaak, Sephaka, Rose yet have not performed as a team. Now is the time for some major changes, starting with a strong dominanting coach. The return of Jake White?

Blues (13) v Crusaders (15)
A pretty awful game, surprisingly the Crusaders never made it theirs when they were the only team with anything riding on the result. They are the only team to win the Super rugby competition from 4th place, but I have a feeling this years side won’t have the required attributes.

Reds (28) v Horrorcanes (37)
A good free flowing game of rugby. The Horrorcanes did their job to put pressure on the others and remain in contention for a home semi, but in the end it wasn’t enough. They will be reasonably confident travelling to Hamilton, and if they can win, thanfully they’ll be quite tired when they reach Pretoria for the final.

Farce (33) v Islanders (28)
A dead rubber that started off with a hiss and a roar, but lacked the stars or the quality of individuals to waste time watching. Farce have to recruit strongly for next year or they’ll struggle.

Cheaters (22) v Stompers (28)
Once again the Cheaters blow hot and cold after the previous week’s performance, and the Stormers do exactly the opposite of whatever I predict!! They were my inital pick for the season, how it all fell apart! The Cheaters meanwhile performed above my expectations in managing 12 log points for the season, and they deserve to be replaced by the Kings!

Sharks (26) v Bulls (27)
What a fantastic game. The result was close, but that was largely due to some extremely biased reffing from Craig Joubert. JP Nel was unlucky to be carded, for a tackle that was unfortunate as opposed to malicious, and Deon Stegmann did everything right and was penlalised and carded whilst the Shars player held onto the ball. That resulted in a Sharks try that should never have happened.

The character of the Bulls, more than anything else stood out. 9 points down, the momentum against them, they stood up and took charge. Matfield turned down an easy penalty goal to go for the win. It showed me the difference between the Bulls and the rest of the SA sides. The Bulls have LEARNT to take a risk to achieve their goals, whilst the rest of the sides risk little and therefore gain little.

In the battle of the individuals, the Bulls came out on top. Other than the front row where the Sharks had the edge, Matfield was awesome all over the field, Stegmann and Potgeiter completely shaded Deysel (was he even on the field) and Daniel. Spies kicked Kankowski’s ass…you could see the difference in the workrate, Spies is a workhorse, Kankowski goes missing other than when he has the ball in space. Du Preez shaded Kockott, Steyn was better than Pienaar, our Ndungane was better than the Sharks Ndungane, and Kirchner was better then Terblanche.

I think the biggest mistake the Sharks made this season was not making Smit captain and not having him on the field the whole time. He never gained momentum and he showed he is a workhorse, makes little mistakes and gives you go forward and direction. The Sharks end as the biggest disappointments of the year, whilst the Bulls showed they are the premier team in South Africa.

With 2 games at Loftus, i’m feeling fairly confident the Bulls will rise again!

The last round of the Super 14 still has much to play for. 4 teams are vying for the last play off spot, and home ground advantage for the semis is still to be determined. What’s interesting is in some of the games that don’t count, coaches still don’t rest their top players who now have the international season to prepare for. Is it not worth giving a youngster or someone who has warmed the bench a go?

Chiefs v Brumbies 
The Chiefs are supremely confident and will be hard to beat in Hamilton. I need the Brumbies to ensure the Chiefs don’t get a bonus point, so i’m hoping for the Brumbies to go one better and win by 7.

Lions v Worrytahs 
The Lions have played some enterprising rugby at times, whilst the Worrytahs don’t do much other than defend and strangle the opposition. I’m picking the Lions to be more relaxed, throw it around a bit and win by 8.

Blues v Crusaders 
The Crusaders currently sit in 4th spot and can be masters of their own destiny. The Blues have been awful in the last 2-3 weeks. Crusaders by 10.

Reds v Horrorcanes 
At home in Brisbane, the Reds have only had the 1 victory this year. The Horrorcanes will be wanting to ensure they regain their momentum leading into the semis. Both teams like to play enterprising rugby so it could be high scoring, but the Horrorcanes should run away with it. Horrorcanes by 15.

Farce v Islanders 
Nothing to play for in this game. Both teams don’t have the stars to entice you to watch. Should be fairly dull. Farce by 8.

Cheaters v Stompers
This is a game both coaches should be using to give their Springboks a rest. Once again brawn will dominate brain and they’ll be hell bent on trying to destroy one another. The Cheaters have been pretty good against South African opposition this year, and i’m picking them to win by 12. And still take the wooden spoon!

Sharks v Bulls 
The Sharks have shown they have the players but lack the mental ability to win a Super 14. In my mind questions nee to be asked of John Plumtree. The Bulls meanwhile may be boring at times, but mentally they back themselves as evidenced by the number of goalable kicks they turned down last week in aid of tries. They’ll be helped by knowing exactly what they have to do to remain in number 1 spot. And they’ll be better for having played last years Currie Cup final at King’s Park. Bulls by 10.

A fantastic set of results saw the Bulls move back into first position, and masters of their own destiny. For the Horrocanes and Chiefs, they’ll both battle for the second home semi-final spot, with the Horrocanes most likely to be kicking themselves for now facing the possibility of having to travel away. The Sharks now look to be gone, whilst the Crusaders somehow may sneak into familiar territory at this stage of the competition.

Picks 6/7

Crusaders (32) v Reds (12)
The Crusaders were finally able to string together some tries and keep their play off hopes alive. As a team who are use to playing the big games they will still be fairly confident heading into the last weekend

Lions (27) v Islanders (22)
A dead rubber, with the Lions showing the greater intensity and desire when it mattered most. Unfortunately Earl Rose blotted his claims for a Springbok position with a massive error that conceded a try, but that is the way he plays and he will make the odd mistake. His try and the one scored by Vermaak however were of great quality. There now seems to be support for Eloff to stay as coach. I fear that nothing will change for the Lions very quickly.

Chiefs (16) v Hurricanes (8)
This was semi-final intensity rugby. For all the South Africans who consistently talk about the travel factor, how is that the Chiefs can travel back from South Africa and win against a team that only had to travel a couple of hours? The Chiefs certainly didn’t lack fitness in the final quarter, which just goes to show how important state of mind makes. The Horrorcanes just couldn’t get anything going in attack, whilst I thought the Chiefs were very smart in playing the second half down in Horrorcanes territory with some smart kicking from Donald and Bruce. They look to be the team to beat. In the end it was the perfect result for the Bulls with neither team getting a bonus point.

Brumbies (37) v Blues (15)
Stirling Mortlock became Super rugby’s highest points scorer, and the Brumbies convincingly beat the Blues. They still have a shot at the play offs and can do me a massive favour by beating the Cheifs, or at least denying them a bonus point.

Sharks (12) v Worrytahs (16)
The Worrytahs don’t do much with the ball. The Sharks do even less. The Worrytahs defence won them the game, but the Sharks looked awful. They are clueless. For the first 40 minutes they lacked any intensity, and whilst they did become more desperate in the second half, they simply don’t construct anything worthwhile. There is a lack of straight, hard running. Often when Jacobs gets the ball he moves sideways, which is not necessarily a problem if he has wingers and a fullback that can straighten the line. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen, and lack of crisp, clean passes in front of players unfortunately leads to the Sharks moving sideways and not forward.

In the forwards, no one stuck their hand up. Bismarck Du Plessis tries hard, but makes too many errors, Sykes made some ground, Muller simply runs straight into the opposition and in the loose forwards, Deysel was inconsistent, Botes doesn’t carry the ball forward, and Kankowski hides when the game becomes tight. I thought Smit tried hard, tried to be direct and got over the advantage line when he came on, but why would you play the national captain even less than some of your other front rankers? It doesn’t make any sense. Plumtree may have won a Currie Cup, but he has done little else. What disappoints me most is the Sharks look to be regressing rather than moving forward.

Bulls (29) v Cheaters (20)
What intensity at Loftus. The Bulls were behind for 65 minutes and showed great character. The sort that will win them the Super 14.
Why don’t the Cheaters simply play with that sort of effort and commitment every week? They’d then be in the top 4, not last on the log. Their defence was outstanding, and they were fortunate to be able to get some tries from individual brilliance and opportunism that kept them in the game.

Meanwhile the Bulls played some great rugby, showing the Sharks how to run straight and hard. It gets you over the advantage line and unfortunately the Bulls simply couldn’t finish and weren’t helped by a very stubborn Cheaters defence that refused to give in. Habana showed how dangerous he can be when he gets the ball in midfield and has some space to move. His ability to swerve and set up Ndungane for his first try was brilliant. It doesn’t have to be made difficult. The rest of the backline were all solid and look to be playing with great confidence at the right end of the season.

In the forwards, Spies showed he is the best number 8 in the country by a mile. His workrate is awesome, his ability to break tackles brilliant. Stegmann was useful, the locks were good, and all the front rankers did their job. The only thing i’d maybe change is to put Wannenburg starting ahead of Potgieter, as Wannenburg has greater skill and looks to step around players more.
Now it’s down to Durban where we have to put the Sharks away and get top spot on the log. At least we will be in the position of knowing exactly what he have to do to achieve that.

Stompers (25) v Farce (24)
Once again the Stompers prove that just when you think you know what they are going to do, they do the opposite. The Farce simply looked flat and
blew a great opportunity to challenge for a play off spot. Two of the Stompers tries may have been controversial, but in the end they deserved their victory.

Week 13 sees a crucial weekend for determining the makeup of the semi-finalists and just who will earn a home semi-final. I’m hoping for a massive favour and the chiefs beating the Horrorcanes so my Bulls can get top spot. I also believe it’s a “final” for the Sharks. In my mind they haven’t constructed much this year, and Jacobs has been influential in getting them tries from turnover ball. Pienaar will be the key. If he can’t produce a miracle, I think the Sharks are gone. My semi-finalists at this stage: Bulls, Horrorcanes, Chiefs and …Worrytahs or Farce.

Crusaders v Reds 
Crusaders are still in with a shot, but have to travel back from South Africa. The Reds have nothing to play for, but do surprise. They had a bad game last week, so they may get up for this. Even without McCaw, i’m picking Crusaders by 9.

Chiefs v Hurricanes 
A tight one. The Chiefs are putting alot of focus on this game and both teams are very similiar. They have average packs and lots of speed out wide. Neither team will be afraid to throw it out wide, so it should be free flowing and open. I’m backing the Chiefs mostly because I need them to win more! Chiefs by 8.

Lions v Islanders 
Oh dear…will anyone follow this game? A win to the Lions would be useful for final log position but in reality it doesn’t mean much. Islanders haven’t looked that good in the last few weeks, I think they’ve run out of puff and ideas. Lions by 8.

Brumbies v Blues 
The Brumbies have to come good to do me a favour in the last week! Unfortunately they don’t look as stable at the back wihout Gerrard. The Blues have been awful for the last 2 weeks, and could so eaasily have had a semi-final spot. The Blues defence has been almost non-existent. Brumbies by 10.

Sharks v Worrytahs 
The Sharks forwards last week showed they can dominate the opposition and create the platform for a decent victory. However the backs and tactical appreciation o the players has been the worst i’ve ever seen from them. Not even Pienaar can save the Sharks. The Worrytahs are borng and dull but play smart. Worrytahs by 9. Goodbye Sharks.

Bulls v Cheaters 
The Cheaters don’t even belong on the same field as the Bulls. They may have produced the odd upset at Loftus, but never again. Look for a massive forward battle, but greater consistency from the Bulls backs. Bulls by 10. Cheaters go back to Bloem!

Stompers v Farce 
Now the Stompers have been demolished, outplayed and have no chance, their team is breaking down left, right and centre. It seems fairly appropriate, and nothing is being laid down at this stage for next year. Farce by 12.

This weekend saw the SA teams slip down the log and face the real possibility of having to travel away for semi-finals. I think the Sharks will miss out with the 4th spot up for grabs between the Worrytahs, Crusaders and Brumbies.

Picks 4/7

Horrorcanes (45) v Blues (27)
The Blues were awful at the cake tin. Whilst they looked threatenting with ball in hand, they lacked the neccessary patience and accuracy to put the Horrorcanes under pressure. The Horrorcanes were extremely patient and took their opportunities clinically, helped by some very porous defence. A poor result for the SA teams leaves the Horrorcanes in a fantastic position to claim top spot on the log.

Lions (20) v Crusaders (32)
Not much riding on this game. Lions were awful. Crusaders aren’t that much better, and simply dont have much of an attacking game without Carter. Eloff will probably be fired at the end of the season. Could Jake White step in?

Cheaters (10) v Worrytahs (18)
The Worrytahs still have a chance of making the semis. A pretty bland game of rugby. The Cheaters are totally inconsistent and simply lack the mental application and skill to compete at this level. Check out this article to see me illustrate my point that consistency is a problem in SA rugby.

Reds (13) v Brumbies (52)
The Reds lost their playmaker Berrick Barnes just before the game which disrupted them. However it is still a sorry excuse, and the Reds were completely disappointing. The Brumbies still have an outside chance, and i’m hoping they can beat the Chiefs in the last round!

Sharks (23) v Islanders (15)
The Sharks were sensational in the scrums and for once this year broke the advantage line with ease. Their handling was atrocious! It was embarrassing, and Bismarck Du Plessis, Rory Kockott and Ryan Kankowski were the main culprits. For all their good work around the park, they let themselves down to often. In fact Kankowski’s poor defensive effort allowed the Islanders their second try. Kankowski simply does not man up in the tight phases for my mind.

The Sharks had the ability to put the Islanders away in the first 30 minutes of the game. The fact they were only 2 points ahead at half-time, shows you need to take your opportunities.
They may be an expansive team, but the Sharks have earned very little in the way of bonus points, and simply do not score enough tries.

Rory Kockott had a moment of madness and was red carded towards the end. He deserves a 6 week ban in my view. This could severly impact the Sharks semi-final hopes. After having a great draw all set up for them, I don’t think they are going to make it now.

Bulls (32) v Farce (29)
This was an intense game and ruined by referee Stuart Dickinson. He allowed the Farce too many 50/50 calls, and the Bulls meanwhile were penalised quite heavily. Why at the end did he blow the whistle as soon as the Farce knocked on, when a bit of advantage gave us a chance for a bonus point? Why was Valentine not carded for his shoulder charge, yet Morne Steyn got ten vital minutes in the bin for his minor offence?

Refereeing aside, the Bulls forward pack stuttered a bit. At times we were dominant, and at times we let them back into the game through lack of intensity and poor execution. The backs looked reasonably sharp, and I think JP Nel must play ahead of Jaco Pretorius who blunts our attack. Habana showed what he can do with a bit of space and how good he would be as a centre! However with 3 tries after 42 minutes we should have gotten the bonus point. We are now in danger of missing out on home semi-final status, and I really think we do need to finish top of the log. Let’s hope luck goes our way!

Stompers (14) v Chiefs (28)
The Stompers suffered 2 major injuries which will impact SA rugby this year. Whilst I wouldn’t have picked Jantjies in my Springbok squad, I have a feeling he was firmly in De Villier’s plans. The injury to Schalk Burger was more serious, although again I would have dropped him! Injuries aside, the Stompers are simply not up to Super rugby standard. Citing lack of depth and injuries is clutching at staws.
Why do SA teams always concede bonus points right at the end of the game?!! This one could really help the Chiefs out.