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Another round of Super Rugby has run its course and after seven rounds the likely playoff contenders are becoming clearer.
The Australian Conference
The Rebels kicked off the round for the Australian teams against the Hurricanes in Wellington, and after the first half there was hope they could become the first team to knock over the Kiwi conference leaders after taking a 12-10 lead into the break.
The Rebels controlled possession well and for long periods, feasting off the Hurricanes’ errors and ill-discipline, but simply did not have enough variety or penetration in attack to breech the Hurricanes defence. The greater firepower of the Hurricanes team shone through and eventually ran away with a bonus point win in the second half.
The Rebels have a very competitive forward pack that can put them in positions to win games but they appear toothless and directionless in attack and will struggle to foot it with the better teams unless an answer is found. The playoffs look a bridge too far for this young team.
The Reds were playing on Friday night, hosting the Lions in Brisbane. And despite welcoming back some pivotal personal they suffered a one-point loss to the South Africans.
The Reds appeared to go through the motions during the game and it wasn’t until Greg Holmes was introduced in the front row during the second half that the Reds started to look the part. Yet it was too little too late, with an error-ridden match costing them in the end.
Coming off the bye and with a number of players returning from layoffs, a bit of rust would be expected but they lacked any real cohesion and at times looked rudderless, particularly on attack, with a discernible game plan hard to distinguish.
There were some positive signs in the second half, showing the value of a good tighthead for any team, but the Reds are now in the official role of spoilers for the rest of the season.
The Waratahs were at home to the Blues on Saturday night and secured a win to carry on their momentum. They forced their way into the top six and second overall in the Australian conference, a mere two points behind the Brumbies.
After an excellent performance in their win over the Brumbies last weekend, they will not be overly satisfied with their performance with a number of errors and poor options taken during the match. In dominating territory they were unable to convert a number of opportunities and the coaching staff will be drumming in a need for consistency. They do look the strongest of the Australian teams, however, and look headed for the playoffs.
The Force wrapped up the Australian conference in Durban on Sunday morning with another frustrating loss to an undermanned Sharks team.
Dominant in many areas, the Force failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities and let themselves down badly in defence. Although they only had to make 48 tackles in the match they missed 12 of those, which proved costly. The Force lack direction with ball in hand and an answer does not present itself readily. For this season, it is too little, too late.
The Brumbies had the bye and are back in action next week in Canberra.
The New Zealand Conference
The Hurricanes continued on their unbeaten run with a second half blitz on the Rebels in Wellington. Resting a few of their All Blacks with the compulsory rotation policy, the Hurricanes struggled with their timing and gelling of their new combinations, conceding a two-point deficit at half-time.
The second half was a different story, however, as they ran in two tries before repelling the opposition for a 20-minute period with stubborn defence before adding a brace of tries in the last few minute to capture a bonus point and seal the victory.
The Hurricanes have a three-point lead at the top of the New Zealand conference with a game in hand and a seven-point lead over the closest team from outside their conference. They are in an excellent position to push on for conference honours and a pole position come the playoffs. Their fate is securely in their control.
The Chiefs returned home from their South African tour and managed to hit the ground running in securing a bonus point win over the Cheetahs in Hamilton. The Chiefs really did make hard work of this result, with ill-discipline and an inability to adapt to the referee during the match of major concern for the coaching staff.
Still, they find themselves within reach of the Hurricanes and should still challenge for the playoffs from here.
The Highlanders recorded a stunning result at home against the Stormers, running away with the match against the former South African conference leaders. Promoting an open match, the Highlanders were clinical and superb in their execution, scoring five tries in the process and securing 100 per cent of their own rucks.
The Stormers simply had no answer. It was an important win for the Highlanders, who now have their second bye this weekend and have kept themselves in the race for the playoffs. Although their run home looks very tough and they are yet to start their All Black rotations, which could prove decisive for their season.
The Blues headed to Sydney in search of their first win of the season but were unable to prevail, going down to the Waratahs in a gutsy effort. The Blues fought hard in this match and scrambled well in defence, making life difficult for a misfiring Waratah team. But in the end all that defensive work took its toll and the Blues were forced to play too much football down their end of the field.
Unfortunately the unforced errors are still prevalent in their game and they still lack for cohesion in the backs. There is little comfort ahead for the Blues with a trip to Hamilton next week and their playoff aspirations will have to wait until next season.
The Crusaders find their season balancing on the edge after a loss to the Bulls in Pretoria in a strangely lethargic and error-filled performance. A slow start cost the Crusaders, and they were chasing the game from 12 points behind early on. And while they fought their way back into it, errors and penalties nailed their coffin shut and they now head to Durban to face an equally desperate Sharks side.
The Crusaders are more than capable of getting their season back on track, however defeat to the Sharks this weekend would see them with four losses already. With a number of derby matches still to be completed, along with the strongest Australian sides away from home, another loss may leave them with too much to do.
The South African Conference
The Lions completed an incredible tour for the often maligned franchise with victory over the Reds in Brisbane by the narrowest of margins, giving them three wins out of four on the road, a franchise record.
Again, based on the back of a tenacious defensive effort and led by their impressive loose forward trio, the Lions pressurised the Reds into plenty of errors and feasted upon the scraps. They head back to South Africa full of confidence, and with the remainder of the season in the Republic they are likely to pick up a few more wins and leave a few more fancied teams with egg on their face.
The Cheetahs offered a far more resilient performance against the Chiefs in Hamilton after their capitulation in Christchurch the previous week but again could not match it with their opponents for the full 80 minutes. Once again they fell away after conceding a yellow card, this time to captain Heinrich Brussow, which the Chiefs fully capitalised on.
Discipline remains a key area for improvement, particularly around the scrum where the better teams are simply dominating them. With no easy answer in sight, they will be doing well not to finish bottom of the South African conference.
The Stormers visited Dunedin and were well and truly beaten by a dangerous Highlanders side and have now relinquished top spot in the South African conference after two losses on the trot either side of their bye.
I felt the Stormers were sucker punched into playing an unstructured style against the Highlanders and ignored their obvious strengths in favour of an open game, which suited the Highlanders. A return to a more controlled and territory based game plan would be well advised, particularly with the Hurricanes next up.
The return of Duane Vermuelen will also provide a substantial boost to the team and while they are still in a reasonable position, another loss this week will place them under considerable pressure with only half their tour completed.
The Sharks secured an important win over the Force at home, particularly after resting a few of their bigger names for the match. It sure wasn’t pretty though as they stumbled and fumbled their way through the match, being dominated for the most part by a more committed Force team.
The difference proved to be fullback SP Marais, with a try and a hand in setting up the other. They will welcome back some of their more prominent players next week and they will be needed with a disappointed Crusaders team visiting next weekend in what shapes as a big match.
The Bulls turned in their best performance of the season and in doing so highlighted themselves as the form South African team. Playing with width and endeavour, they shocked the Crusaders from the get go, forcing the South Islanders to chase the game from early on and creating a number of errors which the Bulls capitalised on.
Particularly pleasing was the response after such a lacklustre week before. The Bulls are right in the hunt for the playoffs and have possibly the form first five in the competition in Handre Pollard.
So I see no change from the likely teams to challenge for the playoffs with the same nine from last week’s wrap.
For this week, I am focussing on plays. My play of the week was an intelligent bit of work from Aaron Smith, who seized the moment to dot down at the base of the post where no defender could get near him and I can’t help but wonder why we don’t see more of this.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.