It was another week of Super 14 tipping horror, as four teams won away from home. It also continues the run of close matches, with fifteen of the 21 matches played so far being decided by less than seven points.
In terms of Tries Scored, the Bulls lead the way, but are chased by six teams that have scored nine.
Blues: 9, Brumbies: 9, Bulls: 12, Cheetahs: 4, Chiefs: 5, Crusaders: 9, Highlanders: 8, Hurricanes: 9, Lions: 3, Reds: 9, Sharks: 8, Stormers: 6, Waratahs: 9, Western Force: 8
Penalties per team continues to drop, no doubt due somewhat to the implementation of the EVL’s and free kicks. So far the Hurricanes are the holy team of the competition, conceding less than 3 penalties per match.
Blues: 11, Brumbies: 9, Bulls: 15, Cheetahs: 22, Chiefs: 16, Crusaders: 15, Highlanders: 13, Hurricanes: 8, Lions: 19, Reds: 15, Sharks: 18, Stormers: 16, Waratahs: 14, Western Force: 21
However, free kicks conceded per team, shows a willingness by the alleged “top referees” on the controversial non neutral panel to ping teams via free kicks, with most teams conceding close to ten such stoppages per game.
Blues: 28, Brumbies: 28, Bulls: 31, Cheetahs: 22, Chiefs: 19, Crusaders: 30, Highlanders: 32, Hurricanes: 21, Lions: 29, Reds: 16, Sharks: 29, Stormers: 25, Waratahs: 30, Western Force: 35
Hurricanes vs Crusaders, 30-24
This was only the second time the Hurricanes have beaten Crusaders at home, the first time was in 2001.
This continues a trend of the Crusaders (7 time champions) having very different year to year results. In 2000 they won the title, but then slumped to tenth in 2001, before coming back to win the Super title again in 2002.
In 2007 Canterbury recorded their second worst start going 1 win 2 losses in the first three weeks, before coming back in 2008 to go the first nine weeks unbeaten before winning the title. This year they have made the same start as 2007.
Waratahs vs Highlanders, 34-16
The Waratahs win was their ninth consecutive win at home. This is still a while away to match the tournament record, currently held by Canterbury (2004/07) with 26 wins followed by Auckland (1996/98) at 20 wins.
It was the Otago based franchises first loss in three matches at Sydney football stadium.
Sharks vs Chiefs, 22-15
After another traditional slow start, the Chiefs are still not on a par with their 2007 performance, where they went the first five weeks without a win.
The Sharks as both a Super 14 and Currie Cup team are currently on a 15 match winning streak. In 2008 the franchise went the first nine weeks of the competition unbeaten.
Western Force vs Brumbies, 25-16
The win was the first win by the Force in Canberra, and the first time they have beaten an Australian side away from home.
It was only the Brumbies second loss at home to an Australian team in Super rugby history.
Bulls vs Lions, 16-9
Morne Steyn leads the Super 14 with points scored, having registered 44 points. Likewise Bulls number eight Pierre Spies is co leader for most tries scored (4). The Bulls now head the table with the Waratahs but boast a healthy +53 points aggregate.
Andre Pretorius scored six points to take his Super rugby points tally to 556, making him the highest South African points scorer taking over from the Stormers Louis Kuhn.
Blues vs Stormers, 14-8
This continues the Auckland based franchises excellent record against the Stormers, losing just once in Cape Town.
This was the second loss in three games at Cape Town, last year the lost their first two at their alleged rugby fortress.
Reds vs Cheetahs, 22-3
The Cheetahs terrible record in Australasia continues. They have never won away from home.
While the Reds win was actually their first win since beating the Force at home in April of last year. After that match they suffered three losses in a row to end their home record.
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