First up, the battle of the capitals. Canberra and Wellington have about the same number of residents, but one has prettier girls (I am not allowed to say).
The lumbering, least-bumbling, scarcely-penalised, law-abiding, no-woman-no-try, blunt force trauma Brumbies welcome the breezy, errant, impulsive, positively-absolutely line-breaking Hurricanes to the only real inland city in the island continent of Australia.
It’s parliamentary procedure versus artistic license. It’s the 89-try waves of the Barrett and Savea brothers and the Ngani-gainline bullet in the midfield; smashing into the resolute Rorke’s Drift defence of the 40-try Brumbies.
Conversions? We don’t need no stinking conversions, say the Canes. It’s too windy for tees and kicking off tees in Wellington. Trade a three for a five, every time. Run 7.4 metres per carry; spread the ball, because forwards are just big backs and backs are just small forwards.
The home team will bash smash crash dash with manly virtue; but the visitors will woo the ball and romance their way into the semis.
The South Island derby is another classic clash of styles. The Highlanders kicked 148 more times from hand than the Crusaders this season. The Highlanders have kicked more than other team in Super Rugby for the last three seasons.
The only other team who came close to them in kicking is the Sunwolves, this year (but they just have to exit, constantly). The Crusaders kicked less than anyone except the manic-ball-in-hand Cheetahs.
As you might expect, the Crusaders are pass-happy. Not as pass-addicted as the Waratahs and the Lions, but close. Unlike the Tahs, the Lions and Crusaders stick their passes.
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
This should be a fierce game; Kiwi derbies are much more physical than non-Kiwis tend to imagine. I think it will be a war – the Landers’ howitzers and grenades against the guerrilla forays of the Crusaders, with just a little too much beef by the home team to stave off the wizardry of the Smiths.
The Lions-Sharks redux is an even starker ‘boxer versus puncher’ battle. If the Lions play well, they’ll win. If the Sharks; big, nasty, fast, and lethal pack can make the Lions play poorly, the Sharks will keep it close for their big-matchwinner Curwin Bosch to steal.
The problem for the Sharks is too many things have to go wrong for the Lions for them to win; but we just saw the other Lions outplay a better team at home, so, this might be the shocker of the weekend. Still, the 79-38 try-scored margin is just too indicative of what these teams do under pressure.
The closest match might be at Newlands, where two attack-minded teams staged one of the best games of 2017 in Round 7. Linebreakers all over the park, a lightning-quick Stormer back three with linking forwards; the Chiefs are one of the best counterattacking machines every built.
Similar stats on offloads, line-breaks, penalties conceded, and attack numbers, but one thing leaps out to me: dominant tackles. The Stormers have made this into an attack weapon. 321 dominant tackles by the Stormers this season; 232 by the Chiefs.
The Stormers are the hardest-tackling team in the competition. Siya Kolisi (33), Pieter-Steph du Toit (30), Nizaam Carr (27), Bongi Mbonambi (21), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (18), and Eben Etzebeth (17) load up on carriers.
Not sure about the last quarter-final. At the beginning of the season, the current flyhalf for the home team was 19 and fifth on the depth chart.
But, probably the Capetonians by a whisker.
piru
Roar Rookie
Really felt like several players took exception at being told what to do - solution, get rid of the coach! That seems to have worked
Fionn
Guest
To be fair Deans actually got a lot of leeway with getting rid of Wallabies he thought were past their used by date (George Smith, Waugh, Mortlock, Giteau!). The problems only appeared after the RWC when the team collapsed, lost faith in him and he seemed to run out of ideas. If he had left at the end of the RWC like he should have he would have been remembered as a pretty good coach who was reasonably well liked by the players and media, but who failed at the last hurdle.
piru
Roar Rookie
There was nothing wrong with Mitchell as a coach - it wasn't till it became former All Blacks coach vs O'Connor and Giteau that there were problems Much like at the Wallabies with Deans
MitchO
Guest
John Mitchell was the Force's first coach. We thought we got a bargain and eventually found out why he was available.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Harry Most amusing Thanks for the write up! Cheers KP
Jacko
Guest
No the gap may not be as large as some believe but the SA sides had 2 garranteed qualifiers and got 2 qualifiers. The NZ sides were garranteed 1 qualifier and got 4...Also the 5th ( Blues ) scored more points than the Brumbies ( Garranteed qualifier) anyway so if it was a points decision it would have been 5 NZ sides in the finals in positions 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8
Jacko
Guest
Wasnt he NZ coach at the 2003 WC with Deans as an assistant?
Harry Jones
Expert
Will you change your tune if the Stormers beat the Chiefs? And what if the Lions and Stormers are in the grand finals? I would still say NZ is ahead of us, but I'm not sure you can be sure its miles and miles.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Hey there Muzzo, and how's it going for you Cuz'? ~ you're exactly right mate when you mention the two Kiwi sides you have,~ and that's exactly my point because every Kiwi game is a hard one, ~ interesting for sure this weekend, being at Addington, middle of the trotting track Muzz? intriguing!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Harry! The guy below this post has just answered your query, saved me the effort! You guys have only got the Lions (realistically) to hang your hat on, so admiration to y'all for that. Us Kiwis have a rack full of coathangers!
CHUCKED
Guest
The Lions may very well win against the Sharks, but their lack of Fierce Hard Local Derbies will see them fall to one of the Kiwi teams in the Semis. There is NO substitute for hard match time, and the NZ Teams have had that in abundance, with the local derbies being so far ahead of the other conferences it wasn't funny..throw in the titanic battle against the Lions and once again (like last year) the Lions will be underdone ..and done.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Badoom-Tish There were 2 Timbo's last year and we pretty much had polar views on Rugby, it got very confusing very fast. Of course, My view is right, no I mean Left. no, I mean Correct. He was here first so I adjusted,
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Hate the Game not the player. It is curios that a nation that prides itself "playing in the margins" would find it unfair when a team plays within the rules. If all you have to do is stay in front of the sides in your conference, why beat yourself up - Cruse through 17 rounds and: Blam-O you have a well rested injury free side to enter the finals. * Takes off tinfoil hat
Digby
Roar Guru
Decision making and execution, particularly in the halves.
taylorman
Guest
Whew luckily the AB's are out on their own then Carlos...we wouldnt want all that with another team up there with them would we... :-)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Oops... I've just reread my comment and fear it may have brought offence. If so, this was not intended... apologies. Just wee crack at the 'quota system' ;) Geez... it's been a shocking week for this little chicken.
taylorman
Guest
Yeah agree, Lions get home games, get a good work out for the first match, settle in at home with family and friends and a bit of a kick around or two with the boys for the next two, while everyone else buzzes around the Southern Hemisphere in and out of suitcases, packing and unpacking, sleeping on strange beds with even stranger room mates... Lions to win with a good ol' cigar, sitting on the balcony looking back at a good years work...easy peasy!. :-)
taylorman
Guest
aaah...the Crusaders motto... :-)
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Yes but mate, ... they have been afforded a second chance this year... :)
Muzzo
Guest
Hahaha Kirky, the Saders have yet to get passed the ever improving Landers this weekend, & I wouldn't be worried about the home factor either, mate, with the game being at Addington. Lol. Cheers.