This weekend started off badly for the South African teams but came good with the Sharks and Cheaters. The Stomers victory over the Worrytahs has shown SA teams have found it relatively easy in Australia, but we have struggled in NZ, and are getting beaten comprehensively. At least opposing teams have struggled in SA.
Once again the same old errors haunt SA rugby. Silly mistakes, too many penalties and not enough straight hard running into space. Why are we the only ones to get penalised in attacking situations? Whilst the aussie and kiwi refs are not great we also need to play to their interpretations. Still the Sharks are the only unbeaten team and equal the crusaders as the only team to ever win their first 6 games in the competition.
Super 14 Log
Sharks 25
Blues 23
Farce 21
Bulls 18
Crusaders 17
Cheaters 17
Islanders 16
Lions 16
Brumbies 14
Horrorcanes 14
Stormers 14
Chiefs 12
Worrytahs 8
Reds 6
Farce thrash sad Reds
Has anyone worked out why Queensland are the reds when their tops are maroon? Maybe red tops would have stopped them getting hammered 38-3 by the farce in Perth, but then again they are both Aussie teams so who really cares?
Farce 38: Tries: Chris O Young Cameron Shepherd, Digby Ioane, Penalty try. Conversions: Shepherd (3). Penalties: Shepherd (4)
Reds 3: Penalty: Andrew Walker
Chiefs tame awful Lions
The Lions got a gold old ass whipping 34-7 by the chiefs in Hamilton. The Lions picked up where they left off and continued to gift turnover ball which lead to the Chiefs getting their first win of the season. Still the Lions won’t be disappointed with 2 wins from 4 on tour and if they can pick up some points back home can hope for a mid table finish which would be very credible for the season.
Chiefs 34: Tries by Stephen Donald (6 min), Marty Holah (21 min), Donald (48 min), Liam Messam (76 min) and Tane Tu’ipulotu (79 min). Stephen Donald kicked a penalty and a conversion and Dwayne Sweeney 2 conversions.
Lions 7: Try by André Pretorius (72 min). Pretorius kicked a conversion
Brainless Bulls embarrass their blue jersey
The Bulls were an embarrassment to their supporters in going down 32-10 to the Crusaders. In resting their captain Victor Matfield they showed they did not have the belief to win this one. Whilst they have gotten enough points from this tour it is exactly this mindset which killed them in this game and stops them from being title contenders.
Conservative tactics makes them predictable allowing opposition to feed off their mistakes. A team like the crusaders doesn’t need many opportunities. And when The Bulls have ball in hand they are not prepared to have a go, and as a result have no idea how to run the ball. If they are going to lose, they may as well run the ball and learn how to score some tries. And what is with coaches who decide to rest players putting them on the bench. Playing 20 minutes is not resting a player!
Crusaders 32: Tries: Johnny Leo`o, Rico Gear, Tim Bateman, Scott Hamilton. Conversions: Stephen Brett (3). Penalties: Brett (2)
Vodacom Bulls 10: Try: Wikus van Heerden. Conversion: Derick Hougaard. Penalty: Hougaard
Stormers once again confound logic
After losing last week and being written of the Stormers once again showed they defy the form book and win the games they are expected to lose. The problem is they simply can’t win the games they need to. Although the Worrytahs are a team on the decline and look like they will have a close battle with the Reds for the wooden spoon
Stormers 16: Try by Luke Watson (59 min). Peter Grant kicked a conversion and three penalties
Waratahs 10: Penalty try (74 min). Peter Hewat kicked a conversion and a penalty
Cheaters run Brumbies ragged
The Cheaters thrashed the Brumbies 38-20 In Bloemfontein on Saturday. They scored 5 tries to 3 and dominated the game. The Cheaters should be commended for a willingness to spread the ball and use the width of the field and run the ball. However too often they simply shoveled the ball across the width of the field not straightening the line. This limited their effectiveness against a team to awful to even tackle players behind the advantage line. Neither of these teams will be semi final contenders
Cheaters 38: Tries by Falie Oelschig (33 min), Gavin Passens (36 min), Richardt Strauss (51 min), Philip Burger (59 min), Juan Smit (71 min). Willem de Waal kicked five conversions and a dropped goal.
Brumbies 20: Tries by Adam Ashley-Cooper (63 min), Mark Chisholm (66 min), Patrick Phibbs (81 min). Julian Huxley kicked a penalty and a conversion
Feeding frenzy at the Shark tank
The Sharks were hungry for tries at ABSA stadium on Saturday night. They scored 4 in a solid victory over the Horrorcanes. A willingness to run the ball from all over the field paid dividends and got them their first 4 try bonus point. However silly errors, poor scrumming technique and general lapses in concentration kept the Horrorcanes in the game especially in the first half. Someone must teach JP Pietersen how to kick, because for all the great things he does, he is also a liability at times, usually with his boot. Francois Steyn is an immense talent and runs things from the back, proving that good enough is old enough. Sharks have it within them to finish in the top 2 now.
Sharks 27: Tries: JP Pietersen, Johan Ackermann, Jacques Botes, Warren Britz. Conversions: Butch James 2. Penalties: Butch James.
Horrorcanes 14: Try: Anthony Perenise. Penalties: Blair Stewart 3.
