The Super Rugby semi-final honours on Saturday night were shared by Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd and his Highlander colleague Jamie Joseph, who combined to snuff out the Australian campaigns of the Brumbies and Waratahs respectively.
From the Australian fans’ point of view, both games were painful to watch.
The table-topping Hurricanes steam-rolled the Brumbies 29-9 at Wellington by playing entertaining and attacking rugby and in the process starved the travel weary Brumbies of possession and territory.
The Highlanders’ gave the defending Waratahs a 35-17 lesson at Allianz, thanks to a pack that didn’t have one member of the current All Blacks squad, yet they skilfully out-thought and out-played the all Wallaby Waratah forwards, while the Highlander backs ran rings around their elite Waratah counterparts.
So for the first time since 2006, when the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes 19-12, the Super Rugby title will be decided between two Kiwi sides.
And it will be the Highlanders’ first Super final since 1999, when they were beaten 24-19 by the Crusaders.
But there will be a lot at stake for both the Hurricanes and the Highlanders, as neither franchise has ever won a Super title.
New Zealanders have dominated the 19 titles to date with 12. The Crusaders won in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2008, the Blues in 1996, 1997, and 2003, while the Chiefs were successful in 2012, and 2013.
Australian teams have won four – the Brumbies in 2001, and 2004, the Reds in 2011, and the Waratahs last year. The Bulls are South Africa’s only success, winning in 2007, 2009, and 2010.
So history apart, what pluses will Wallaby coach Michael Cheika take out of the two Australian losses as he settles on his Rugby Championship squad?
Open-side flanker David Pocock, skipper-hooker Stephen Moore, and prop Scott Sio were outstanding for the Brumbies, as were Israel Folau, Michael Hooper and Wycliff Palu for the Waratahs.
The Hurricanes’ scoreline would have been a lot bigger had it not been for the tireless Pocock, who is right back to his world class best after missing the last two seasons with knee reconstructions.
Moore must be the Wallaby captain-in-waiting, and he too was tireless as he valiantly tried to get his weary troops to lift.
Canberra to Cape Town to Canberra and Wellington in a week saps the energy out of the fittest footballers, and the Brumbies are very fit.
Sio will play a huge role in both the Rugby Championship and the World Cup and will be a first choice prop for many years to come.
The disappointments were half Nic White and inside centre Matt Toomua, who never got out of first gear. Why White box-kicked when possession was at a premium was one of the games more mystifying moments, while his service was ponderous.
Toomua seemed so be somewhere else at a time when he should have controlled the midfield, despite limited opportunities. Folau tried everything in his vast box of tricks, but he rarely received any support. His handling of the high ball, and he was peppered, was exemplary as usual.
Hooper made the best bust of the game, and was in the thick of everything, but he couldn’t stem the Highlander tide. Palu had the same trouble, but he tackled his big heart out, especially in the first half, and made telling metres in a side that left their best in the shed.
Especially the halves Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley. Waratah fans could be forgiven for thinking both were on triple valium.
Phipps’ first pass of the game went long to no-one, and he was far too often called on by referee Craig Joubert to “use it” as Phipps stood over the ball as if transfixed.
Foley’s first penalty didn’t find touch, and apart from a perfect chip kick that ended up in Rob Horne’s hands for the first try of the game, Foley’s general play and kicking was well off cue.
As for the Waratahs’ performance, Sherlock would have summed it up as: “Elementary my dear Watson”.
The Waratahs made a right royal hash of rugby’s elementary musts, like missing 23 tackles, making 19 turnovers, passing to nobody, and losing eight line-outs on their own feed.
As I said, it was painful to watch.
But full marks to the Hurricanes and the Highlanders, both very deserved winners. Their final clash next Saturday night at Wellington promises to be a belter.
Muzzo
Guest
@ Chook Thought Marto, was a little bit out of whack when he started calling Julian & Ardie, surveyor's.
Riccardo
Guest
Ah mate. That's a great post OJ. Very funny response to a glaringly biased post paraded as "relevant scrutiny".
Tinfoil hat
Guest
I think you will find a swinging arm to the head is always foul play. Being close to the line or low to the ground does not give a player a free pass to attack the head of another player.
Tinfoil hat
Guest
I what way am I trolling? RT is the one making unsubstantiated declarations. Merely asserting that the ref was terrible and the other side che@ted does not make true. Asking for supporting evidence is trolling? If that's the case, why not shut the troll down by providing the evidence supporting the claims?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well last year he was dishing out penalties he ended up apologizing for. Between Phipps and Backman the calls were correct so its a bit much asking to be consistent with things he actually got right. You as a fan might want to 'have a look' but that's not his role. Being right or holding up the game to be 'proven' right is really just slowing the game down for nothing.
Tinfoil hat
Guest
Here we go. A reprisal of peterk's "kiwi's are coached to che@t, but the innocent Australian lambs never do anything wrong, intentionally at least. Offside, tip tackles, swing arms... How could anyone think that stalwart Australian men could do such things with intent? The kiwi's on the other hand...
Frisky
Guest
The Brumbies played dumb, dumb and timidly. A brainless box kick into the opponents 25 when they had scarce ball lhad me scratching my head. The worst decision by by Moore when he elected to take the 3rd penalty, instead of kinking into the corner to use their most effective attacking weapon , the rolling maul. A seven pointer may have given them some heart and confidence. They were never going to win 3 points at a time.
Garth
Guest
SH solidarity.
Garth
Guest
Don't rule out Argentina. They will be after another scalp (or two).
Garth
Guest
You laugh at "fush & chups", we laugh at "pewel" (pool). To paraphrase an old song: Toma(y)to, Toma(h)to.
Garth
Guest
Not selecting Deans as AB coach was the right decision, despite what many thought at the time. Deans was part of the coaching team that screwed up the RWC2003 campaign & his actions at the time were remembered.
Muzzo
Guest
@ JibbaJabba Totally agree with that mate, & why Ardie has not been selected in the All Black squad makes one wonder, as it was only after Ardie went off in the 50th minute, that Pocock started to reign supreme. Ardie Savea's speed & work over the park was outstanding. Hopefully he will be O.K. for this week encounter.
Muzzo
Guest
@ Chook, In truth mate, I was surprised, but they virtually won the game the darn near the same way they won the first encounter this year. Closing down, those big rampant forwards, by tackling them around the legs. As we know & always say, you can't run without legs. I actually thought that both Cheika & Gibson, would have made the necessary adjustments, after the knowing what had happened previously. Surprisingly, no. At the half time break, there really wasn't that much in it, but it was noticeable Skelton's line out skills, need plenty of work, as at test level he will be badly shown up by both Eben Etzebeth & Brodie Retallick. In all a great win for the Highlanders, condolences mate, but we still have the all star Hurricanes to beat. My mates over the ditch, think we can win it, but I still have my doubt's knowing the special motivation the Hurricane's are enduring. Along with that I did predict, very early in the piece, that the Cane's will go all the way. But still Go the Highlanders.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Ardie Savea 'owned' pocock while he was on the field.... quicker, stronger and more enthusiasm....
Muzzo
Guest
@ Ra As we know Ra, Zinny was Aaron Pene's bench warmer, back in the day. Then again who can ever forget the abilities of Wayne Shelford, to click the forwards into another gear. Around that particular era New Zealand rugby were certainly blessed with great No.8's. It's so much a shame that we never really saw the continuation of Buck's time, all due to that dressing room hanging up of !!.
Hazel Nutt
Guest
Was there much difference between Beauden Barrett's rucking and Nic Stirzaker's stomping in round 1? Stirzaker received a yellow card and 1 week suspension, so surely Barrett should be feeling nervous, right? Both NZ teams were significantly better than their Australian opponents, but I really wish the Canes had played a cleaner game to win. They're far and away the best team this year and really didn't need to resort to some of the tactics they were using, like Nonu laying in the middle of every second defensive ruck for the first 10 mins.
soapit
Guest
no, i'm saying if you see someone is definitely going to score (ie trotting around to improve the position you could go after them befor e they put the ball down as long a its not yellow worthy. not sure exactly how it would occur in practice so perhaps not an issue.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Back to school for you then !
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Thankyou :)
Buk
Guest
Ditto - great review/analysis of tactics