Although the results for the Australian Super 14 teams equalled those of last week, two wins and two losses, the quality of the wins was not as impressive in the second round of the 2008 season.
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Way ahead of any of the other performances was the win by the Western Force over the Cheetahs playing at their home ground. The most disappointing result was that recorded by the NSW Waratahs. They squandered a good performance at Sydney against the Hurricanes with a lacklustre, defensive and ultimately defeatist approach against a nervous, error-prone Chiefs side.
Cheetahs 15 – Western Force 16
The Western Force maintained their excellent record in South Africa (only one loss in three seasons) with an on-the-bell victory over the Cheetahs. The most impressive aspect of the win was the fluid, flowing style of play the Force showed. Most of the plays revolved around Matt Giteau who transfixed a strong Cheetahs defence with inside passes, long cut-out passes and double-arounds.
There is nothing new in rugby. The double-around which released Giteau for a sizzling try under the posts was an old Randwick ploy used by Mark Ella in a the glory days of Australian back play. With Ryan Cross on the wing and Scott Staniforth playing at outside centre, the Force had more power and pace at the edges of the field to capitalise on Giteau’s slick playmaking.
The outstanding play of James Stannard at halfback suggested that Mat Henjak’s automatic selection for that position in the past was based more on what the Western Force had paid for him rather than his actual performances on the field.
You need luck to win away from home in South Africa, unless you are the Crusaders or the Blues. The Force received and converted a penalty for the Cheetahs running on a substitute without telling the officials. This is the first time I’ve ever seen this offence punished in decades of watching rugby. And at the end of the match the Cheetahs missed two relatively easy penalties that would have won the game for them.
But the Force used their luck. The final Cheetahs’ missed penalty was run out from behind the posts. In phase after calm and effective phase the Force moved the ball relentlessly and successfully into the Cheetahs half. Finally the Cheetahs conceded a full-arm penalty and a nerveless Giteau goaled from about 40m out.
This was a tremendous and well-played victory to the best Australian side so far in the 2008 Investec Super 14 tournament.
Hurricanes 23 – Queensland Reds 18
The scoreline flattered the Reds. There is no doubting their enthusiasm. Coach Philip Mooney has hit on a shrewd psychological ploy, too, in returning the side back to the old maroon, no-collar jersey. Too much tradition has been thrown out with the advent of professional rugby 10 years ago.
The Reds under the enthusiastic Mooney are a much better team than they were last year under a somewhat world-weary Eddie Jones. But some of the faults of last year remain, particularly the obsession with kicking the ball away. Against a team like the Hurricanes, with runners of the calibre of Jerry Collins and Ma’a Nonu, the tactic should be to keep the ball away from them, hold on to it, and not kick it to them.
Despite the raves of the Queensland media, Rodney Blake remains a problem for the Reds. He is ineffective at scrum time and is finding it difficult to maintain his pace around the field with the free-flowing game that is evolving under the ELVs. The Reds resorted to what seemed to me to be the cynical trick of taking him off after about 30 minutes and then returning him to the field with about 20 minutes of play left when his replacement left injured (?). Legal but smacking of gamemanship, I would think.
With seven Wallaby forwards and five Wallabies in the backs (compared with the Hurricanes seven All Blacks in the forwards and three All Blacks in the backs), the Reds should be played more positive rugby than they did. It was noticeable, for instance, that they opted for scrums with short arm penalties rather than tap-and-run plays, even though their scrum isn’t really very strong.
Chiefs 20 – NSW Waratahs 17
The Chiefs were ripe for a second defeat in 2008 but the Waratah didn’t really go out to win the match as much as try to stop the Chiefs from piling on too many points. There was far too much kicking, most of it aimless and often stupid. The occasional times set moves were put on, the Waratahs made gaps and scored tries with ridiculous ease. Why wasn’t the ball kept in hand more frequently?
The South African referee Marius Jonker wasn’t tolerant to the tactics of slowing down the ruck and maul, either. He gave 10 consecutive penalties in the first 20 minutes against the Waratahs. This bonus to the Chiefs enabled them to establish a 12-point margin at halftime.
The Waratahs negative frame of mind, when compared with the positivity of the Force, was highlighted when with seconds left to play the Waratahs had the ball inside their 22 and needed a try to win or a penalty to draw. The ball was booted into touch on the full by Sam Harris, even though it had been taken back into the 22.
Pathetic.
ACT Brumbies 22 – Highlanders 20
The Brumbies were fortunate to get out of this match with a win. They were awarded a penalty try for a dangerous tackle that prevented a try. Yet their own head-high tackles escaped the notice of the the assistant referees (touch judges) and the referee. Then when the Highlanders launched their a final attacks they were saved once by a brilliant ankle tap by Stephen Hoiles and a second time by a knock-on by the Highlanders halfback right in front of the Brumbies posts, after another break-out right on time.
The Brumbies could easily have been penalised at this ruck as they scrambled back to try and prevent a try or a drop goal.
However, a win is a win. When teams start a tournament poorly as the Brumbies, the Chiefs and the Hurricanes did, they must win their next match or see their season begin to wither away.
The Brumbies owed their win essentially to Hoiles, a reject from the Waratahs. Hoiles made the ankle tap that stopped an inevitable and winning try. He also scored a critical try for the Brumbies with a storming run that took him over the line with Highlanders hanging on to him like limpets. This is the sort of try that Phil Waugh can never score, and a try that George Smith now seldoms scores. I’ve argued for a couple of years that Hoiles is the best number seven in Australian rugby.
A backrow of Wycliffe Palu, Rocky Elsom and Stephen Hoiles would be a damaging force for the Wallabies, if someone had the gumption to select this trio for the Wallabies (sigh!)
The Australian Player Of The Round
Matt Giteau
(Agree? Leave a comment with your Australian player of the round below.)
hanzo
Guest
i was glad spiro mentioned the gamesmanship with the reds front rowers. I picked the "injury replacement" would happen in the 2nd half when blake left the field after 30 mins. I guess its in the rules, but still......
Mike
Roar Rookie
from what i know of the greeks, get JO'N and Deans over to his place for dinner.... after a feast of home made dolmades, succulent lamb shanks, and baklava, there'll be no looking back!
TimO
Guest
how can we get Spiro into a selectors roll the only jurno who knows whats going on
Mike
Roar Rookie
Hard to say Darryl, early days of course. But being that everyone touted the Highlanders for the spoon, they have so far looked much better than that despite having close losses to similarly "weaker or weakened" teams. I must admit, I think the Brumbies are looking the worst I've ever seen them, however, to get away with a tough win missing many of their top players, shows more promise than a wooden spooner could conjure. The Lions/Cats, Stormers and Cheetahs have recently proved to be easy pickings on the road, and I think this factor will decide the wooden spoon. If they get a couple wins on the road, it may well be the Horses who finish last. The game in Canberra this weekend against the Reds will be telling also, as far as who is going to be the lowest finishing Aussie team. Making a trip down to Canberra this weekend myself and am excited, always love going to Bruce, but it just doesn't feel right to be heading down and firstly wondering if they can beat the Reds, and secondly, realising that the loser will most likely finish up Australia's lowest place team. That said, if the Tahs continue as they did last week, they'll be heading for the spoon... but we have already seen that they are better than that, and I do expect them to find the defensive form they had in the first game again. Cats for the spoon.
Darryl
Guest
Having watched the Brumbies scrape home against the Highlanders, I wondered whether I was looking at a wooden spoon contender. I saw very little dynamism from the Brumbies pack (Stephen Hoiles apart) and lots of lateral movement from the backs. I know they have excuses with injuries and players moving on but they really didn't seem to show much ability to think both game plan and on the field. Contrast that to the Western Force who seemed to fully understand the way to play under the ELV's.
Harry
Guest
I agree with ADH's point in that so few players seem to run to break a line these days, or make a gap. One of reasons seems to be that if you make a half gap but then go to ground the wrong way or without support there is a high chance of a turnover. It seems players choose to go the ground more easily to keep on controlling possession. If you look at Lote's try n the weekend (and Hoiles' one) they hit the line hard and ran with real purpose for the try line.
Bulldog
Guest
Totally agree with Spiro - Force by far and away best Aussie team so far. Although they were lucky to get away with the win they played fantastic rugby. That is why John Mitchell is second best coach in the world. Thankfully the ARU hired the BEST coach in the world for the Wallabies....... Not only will Robbie Deans be a breath of fresh air in terms of skill and strategy but he will also pick a Wallabies team based on merit and not on political lines and reputation. Link Mackenzie needs to be retired to pasture given the cattle is has at his disposal, and if Dunning plays for Wallabies again I will definitely revert to supporting NRL exclusively.
Nick
Guest
I agree with ADH about the Chiefs. There has been a lot of comment about injuries to many of the teams, the Chiefs back line was badly affected in the second half with Liam Messam (backrow) having to play in the centres at one point. This was admittedly exacerbated by Ian Foster selecting 5 forwards and 2 back reserves. The Cheifs fell away and let the Tahs back in, IMHO. I think the Tahs are looking good for mid table at best at this early stage. Lions to beat Cheetahs, Brumbies and Highlanders for the spoon.
ADH
Guest
The Chiefs appeared to have the better running game. From the set piece the Waratahs looked OK, but even when Jacobs scored, for a moment, he looked like he didnt know what to do with an open try line in sight. Compared with Sivivatu's try, where he brushed off the whole Waratah back row (although the try was dubious) he seemed to run with the try line as his goal, not just the advantage line. Which begs the question: with all this fire power out wide, why do the Waratahs struggle to even break the advantage line? The Chiefs played with more urgency for mine.
Mike
Roar Rookie
Gits was very good, but Hoiles was the man of the week for mine. And nit picking, but the Force have lost twice in SA, both times to the Sharks. Still an excellent record so far. Wonder if the couple hour's timezones less has something to do with it. I personally felt they were unlucky not to have won by more. They absolutely dominated that first half.
Rabbitz
Guest
Benny, You are not far from being right.... Rabz
onside
Guest
From what I have seen todate I struggle to imagine a RWC being played under the new rules. It must be very hard for players in that at this level ,rugby is instinctive. If a player has to think he will loose. And all players now have to think. A lifetime of practice and playing can now count for little. How will the Wallabies perform when they have to play a test match under the 'old' rules after a season of the 'new'.
Benny
Guest
Rabbitz said about the Waratahs - "Most importantly they do not deserve my support." Pick up your bottom lip and go and support the Crusaders instead, will make your weekend less stressful.
Nick
Guest
Watching the games over the weekend there seemed to be quite a lot of inconsistency with the application of this law, both between games and within games. While you could argue that it doesn't really matter whether ref interpretations differ between games, as long as they are consistent within games (a la the calling of wides in cricket), this does lead to confusion for the viewer, and undoubtably for the players. It's interesting that the 'informed' TV commentators have not picked up on this so far... I'd like to see more consistency across all referees in general, but especially around the ELVs.
Yikes
Guest
The explanation is that there is a difference of opinion between Aus, NZ and SA refs on this issue. Playing the ball on the ground is a free kick offence. However, if the referee deems the offence "intentional" or "repeated" he can penalise, as this is considered "foul play". The SA refs are only moving from free kick to penalty if they deem the offence cynical enough to also warrant a yellow card. The Aus (and NZ refs) are willing to penalise (full arm) an offence they thought was deliberate, even if they are not also going to yellow card the player. (Hence full arm penalties during the weekend for some playing the ball on the ground). I agree SANZAR should sort this out, but at the moment each thinks their interpretation is correct. Only rugby could make the game "simpler" by making it more complicated. And only rugby could "remove" referee involvement by increasing referee involvement and interpretation.
Rugby Follower
Guest
Can somenody please explain why some referees are giving long arm penalties for playing the ball on the ground and others are giving free kicks. My understanding is that only offside and foul play are now lomg arm penalty offences under the ELV's. Irrespective of whether I am right or wrong , can SANZAR please sort this out immedialtely? Best Player ? M Giteau Best Matches? France vs England; Ireland vs Scotland
Rabbitz
Guest
Spiro, I heartily agree with your assessment of the Waratah's effort. Do they not understand the ELV's? Do they have no imagination? Can they not tackle? Throughout the game there were several instances where there were NO blue jerseys in the rucks, none, zero, nada. So even with 15 players available to defend, they still fell off tackles. It seems that MacKenzie has instilled into the Waratahs that there is no point competing at the breakdown, so why commit players? On the one occasion, late in the game that there was some resolve shown in a ruck, the ball was turned over, yet the "defense" didn't seem to comprehend and didn't move into attack - This shows that there is no instinct to try and turn the ball over. With all the upper body work they have done, have they forgotten they have legs? Legs that should be used to drive into and over rucks? As a long time follower of NSW I hate to admit this but I was glad they lost, they did not deserve to win, nor did they deserve the bonus point. Most importantly they do not deserve my support.