With the 2015 Rugby World Cup just around the corner, the Super Rugby finals were set up perfectly with the Brumbies meeting the Hurricanes in Wellington and the Waratahs hosting the Highlanders in Sydney. This is what we learnt.
The year of the Hurricane
With the Hurricane’s dominant performance over the Brumbies, they will start hot favourites when they line-up against the Highlanders in next Saturday’s Super Rugby final.
The question is, can the Highlanders snatch a maiden title from their grasp or will they simply be blown away?
I have never seen a Super Rugby team with the attacking flair that the Hurricanes of 2015 possess. Ardie Savea has taken his game to another level this year and was at his dangerous best against the Brumbies. Many in New Zealand were surprised about his All Black omission and he definitely came out with a point to prove.
Julian ‘The Bus’ Savea doesn’t stop for no one and had Brumbies halfback Nic White doing his best Mike Catt impersonation. The Hurricanes brand of rugby is great to watch and hard to defend. It is the Hurricane’s title to lose.
The puppet master
The Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph and his coaching staff delivered a tactical masterclass against the Waratahs.
The Highlanders dominated territory in both halves through Aaron Smith’s perfect kicking game. Their lineout was far superior, winning four against the throw, and Bernard Foley’s kicking game could not get the Waratahs out of trouble.
The Highlanders don’t have the same attacking flair as the Hurricances, however they do know how to grind out a win. Waisake Naholo showed his lightning speed and skills once again for his 13th try of the season and Smith is on his way to becoming the All Black’s greatest ever halfback.
Take a bow Highlanders, you stuck to your game plan and it worked.
No one wants to be a referee
You don’t stay the world’s best rugby referee for very long. Craig Joubert went from hero to zero in the space of 60 minutes during the Waratahs versus Highlanders game. Joubert went from being named the world’s best referre by former Wallaby Rod Kafer to being slammed by Phil Kearns for having a shocker while ANZ stadium chanted “you are a waiter” or something similar.
Although I did not agree with the yellow card given to Jacques Potgieter, the way Phil Kearns carried on in the commentary box was embarrassing. It’s time to go Phil. Does that make Glen Jackson the world’s best ref, Kafe?
wardad
Guest
Kudos mate ,kudos !
Garry Edwards
Guest
Referee's! Hell Aust can't even offer a referee so live with it. And Stevee I totally agree with you Kearns is a dill and so too Kafer.
kiwigold
Guest
Kearns is turned down in this house - so biased, has extreme difficulty in acknowledging good rugby by an opposition team, particularly nz. He should be cut loose from the commentary team, just ruins it, I would suggest he listens to Graeme Martins commentary on the Hurricanes game, he was very balanced in his praise or otherwise of both teams players.
Dave Hooper
Roar Rookie
No offence Frank, but Naholo's tackle is far from cynical and intentional if you ask me. If you watch the replay, first contact is clearly made below Horne's shoulder and his arm then slides upward due to the momentum of the tackle.
peter hannam
Roar Rookie
I wish that fox sports would get rid of phil kearns after that performance as for sending over another aussie commentary team to nz please especially when 2nd rate the tahs were completely out played it doesn't come down to pure brawn it comes down to using your brain and that chieka didn't have on pottigiter has been using that forearm all year he lost out this time best 2 teams win and meet next week tahs were lucky they should of travelled to the semis
Frank_the_tank
Guest
I would say that Naholos tackle on Horne was cynical and intentional, yet no yellow card. It's the lack of consistency that annoys me For those who missed the tackle, http://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bcfb8932fedbeabe06910f945564b18f370d5551/428_412_2200_1320/2200.jpg?w=620&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&s=6a5f5b40c264c8fa2eef66c21f5e13f5
Rugby Tragic
Guest
OJ, I was with you on that one ... in fact posted on the blog 'can the Highlanders keep this up for 80 mins'... when in fact they finished the stronger.
Dave Hooper
Roar Rookie
Thanks Rob, it will be a great exhibition of running rugby that's for sure. Will be great to watch.
Je Geniko
Guest
Kearns should take over Alan Jones' slot at 2GB. He seems to be a ready-made replacement.
Vadar
Guest
you're clutching at straws Keansey.
Stevee
Guest
Glad Australian rugby supporters see Phil Kearns failings. Confirms it's not just us Kiwis in a tizz. Everybody respects and likes different commentators but I'm sorry, Phil Kearns doesn't bring any qualities to the table when he's in the box. His playing experience certainly doesn't shine through, he's not engaging, he's bias and doesn't inform the audience of the lesser-known rules - like a good commentator of the modern era should. The man surely has to go. While you're at it maybe get rid of Kafer too.
mace 22
Guest
Yes one more for glory. HURIIICANES HURICANES, HURRICANES HURRICANES.
RobC
Roar Guru
Yep! Its going to be at least 60 points on the board next week.
Red Menace
Guest
....or third time lucky for the Highlanders.
Red Menace
Guest
Well done Dave, good first write up and then being quoted in the NZ press. Move over Spiro and Lordy.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Dave. Welcome to the Roar. Nice article. Canes beat Landers twice this year already. So the third should be foregone.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
The mistake wasn't the Pottgeiter decision, but the lack of penalty on Naholo a couple of minutes prior when he caught Foley around the side of the head in the same way Moggy did last weekend. Penalty NSW, no five metre scrum, no try. That's the thing about bias in a ref: it isn't what they penalize, but rather what they let slide. As Craig kept saying to Dave Dennis, "I'll have a word to them." However, next time the Highlanders were under heavy pressure the big diving offside play came from Aaron Smith, and Joubert didn't have the bottle to give him a yellow card. Still, plenty will give him a pat on the back because the Waratahs were due some "goes around comes around".
wardad
Guest
As I have said before RE: Kearns , making fun of a WALLABIES fan with a disability shows a distinct lack of character .
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I agree. Not a great game but a good game. Is he in charge next week?
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Personally I was surprised that the Waratahs finished ahead of the brumbies who IMHO always looked the more capable team. I thought the tahs wouldn't make the top 6 It certainly was a big ask to go from Canberra to Africa then back and to the Caketin for the Brumbies and so it proved. I know that things are changing this next year yet the conference system as it was has been poor. Let's hope the final is a good match