Super Rugby is back for real! We’ve had a full round of matches this weekend and had a chance to see all the teams play other than the Sharks (bye) and there’s plenty to talk about.
Twitter is already on fire with concerns over Brad Thorn’s Reds and Chiefs’ fans are angry about how it can be classed as a high tackle when the player is practically on the ground.
So what are the big talking points from Round 2…
Yellow and Red cards are killers – unless they are not
There were plenty of cards pulled out by the refs this weekend – seven in the first four games of the weekend alone. In two of those games those cards really impacted the result.
The Highlanders scored 14 points against the Blues while the Blues had a man in the bin and in Melbourne the Rebels were able to put seven tries past the Reds who had Higginbotham sent off early in the game and then also went down to 13 men for 10 minutes.
However cards don’t need to be the defining moment of a game. The Tahs and the Crusaders both came away with wins in their matches despite being down to 14 men at key times.
The Crusaders were even able to cope with having two players sin-binned and still got the win, while the Tahs actually “won” the 10 minute period while they were a man down 3-0 against a powerful Stormers side.
Some of these cards are coming as a result of firm officiating on new guidelines/rules around competing at the breakdown and high tackles.
The latter could cause some real issues during the season – it seems very harsh to send a player to the bin whose arm goes above the shoulder in the tackle mainly as a result of the ball carrier diving for the line and being about 30cm off the ground at the point of impact.
Lachlan Boshier suffered from this in the game against the Crusaders and it really changed the game against the Chiefs.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Tahs must go to the air more
The Tahs showed great spirit and commitment to keep battling away against the Stormers and their winning try after the hooter earned them an important home win.
But it really did feel like they made things a whole lot harder for themselves in some of their tactics.
Folau had a very good game and the Stormers defence had no answer for him. He scored a classic Folau try as he leapt above the defender to take a high kick cleanly and then raced away to the line.
There is hardly anyone in the rugby world who can compete with this man under the high ball, especially when he’s the attacker.
So it continues to confuse me why the Tahs don’t use this move more. They seem to get their one try from it, tick the box on the To Do list that says “Score from high kick for Izzy” and then move on to other things.
Sure you don’t want to be a one trick team but when this trick is very, very effective it’s ok if you use it a few more times during a game.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Sunwolves not going to be an easy win for opponents
While the Japanese team are not going to challenge for the finals, they could well cause a couple of upsets to traveling teams during the competition.
Against the Brumbies they played well for big sections of the game and really made the Brumbies work hard for their win.
The Rebels, Tahs and Reds will need to make sure that the trip to Japan doesn’t become a missed opportunity they come to regret in the final fight for finals’ places.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images for Sunwolves)
Kiwis looking worryingly good already
It’s only Round 2 so let’s not jump the gun but the Kiwis are already looking very good. The Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders played with great pace and skill in their games and the Blues looked like they could beat most other sides in the comp despite losing again to Kiwi opposition.
The Crusaders really do look unstoppable and despite having two players sin-binned they romped home to a good win over the talented Chiefs.
If one assumes that teams are only going to get better as the season progresses, then South African and Aussie teams have a lot to be worried about.
But some All Blacks stars out of form
Sonny Bill had a very average, if not poor, game against the Highlanders. He never really looked interested and there were some poor choices and pieces of execution.
The ABs coaching team might start thinking about a Crusaders centre pairing led by Crotty as the best way forward for this year’s Rugby Championship and give it chance to embed ahead of next year’s world cup.
McKenzie at No.10 for the Chiefs isn’t as good as McKenzie at No.15 for the Chiefs. He seemed to force things a bit too much in this weekend’s game and while he always looks dangerous with ball in hand in broken play, it didn’t feel like he was really in control of the Chiefs or the game.
JP
Guest
Seriously !! Reds are atrocious !.Come on !
jeznez
Roar Guru
That is my take as well Fin. I thought he hit it with his palm directed toward his own tryline.
Jacko
Guest
Yeah Andy Mounga looked great walking off for 10 mins. Rhys DM has already cut the mustard so what are you on about?
Country Boy
Guest
@Fionn, the Tahs beating a poor Stormers side in overtime is cause for concern. Tahs only won because of several brain dead moments from the Stormers.
Phil
Guest
Did you see the games from SA?Even worse than Oz,I think,and that's in a supposed rugby mad country.
PiratesRugby
Guest
I agree that Folau was great but Genia was clearly the best and most influential Australian player of the round. His passing, kicking, running and general decision making was brilliant. I look forward to watching him play for us this season. Go Rebels!
Fin
Guest
Baylion, it the Leyds decision I found odd. Like you, I thought it may have gone backwards, and would have be happy if it was called that way, but once Gardiner decides it's gone forward surely it has to be a PT and YC.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the link. I like what Wessels was doing at the Force and he just could be the difference for the Rebs this year. I like the fact that he's not afraid to learn, from anyone even different codes
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Die hard, "I was wishing Quade was there tbh. I was wondering if he might of made enough of a difference." That comment will be on repeated this season I suspect, and if the Reds dont hit form, it will also be ringing in BT's head in the middle of sleepless nights.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Maybe I am but rather than bleating along like a sheep I try to figure out whether there is logic to a ref's so-called "controversial" decision and whether his decision is based is the law. And more often than not there is and it is as these guys are elite level refs not some fan or commentator or journo who don't bother with what the law actually states
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Baylion , you are in you own world , If care to go to the tips of this round in where the panel gives the tips and the whys you will see that Nobes ( thats me) tipped Lions over Jaguares. If care to go to the comments below you will see that I made a one about Jaco Payper officiating Jaguares again. So pls give it a brake.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Of course they look at who would have received the ball. If it was a prop or lock, like in the case of Kolisi's penalty in the Tahs Stormers game the PT wouldn't have been given and wasn't. And Angus Gardner considered it Let's take the last try by the Jaguares, which shouldn't have been given btw, but let's assume the wing was behind the kicker. The scrumhalf kicks the ball into space from the 10m line with no opponents covering at the back. If someone had interfered interfered with the wing in his kick chase on, say, the 22m line, wouldn't it have warranted a penalty try? Of course it would have. It is about whether a try would probably have been scored.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
The next step will be to clock every player to the 100 meters mark so the TMO cand decide if the defender has enough speed to catch and stop the ball carrier. come on?
Fox
Roar Guru
I agree - they bought well in the off season strengthening the pack with some experience and Joseph has bought through some very good young Japanese players from within their own clubs which have coaches like Robbie Deans among them and have some good overseas players in there now as well - mainly from SA and NZ and they definitely have the best coach in the conference and they were not at full strength in the weekend either. Championship Coach with Highlanders and when he coached the Maori AB's they beat England and Ireland so he is easily the best coach in the conference. He has got some good assistants as well this year. They found a lot of holes on the Brumbies flanks which won't have gone unnoticed by other sides as well. Some very poor D out wide and some very good play by the Sunwolves. Joseph clearly saw a weakness out there for the Brumbies. Brumbies fought back well though and credit to them.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
I don’t think the ABs will be pinning their hopes on DM at 10 or 15. He is too small for an international 15 and makes silly decisions under pressure, which makes it hard to see him as a 10. Another great SR player who can’t cut the mustard in tests, me thinks.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Dirty rumour from the NRL is that he's heading to Roosters after this season's Super Rugby. Not connected to this round's performance but just another potential twist to the SBW story.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Highlanders, Crusaders and Lions looking the goods. Tahs, Stormers, Brumbies, Chiefs, Blues and Reds we will see. Maybe we need to give the Ponies some credit. Was that the first away win of the year? I think so? It seems like everything has tightened right up. Not too many wins on the road for teams? I am going out on a limb here, but I am calling the Rebels to top the Aussie conference. I am a fan of Mr Dave Wessels. You don't get the attention of Jake White and Eddy Jones that easily. Dave in my opinion, is a very underrated and humble guy. Folks don't realise that he out-coached Heyneke Meyer's Uni team, while working part time as a journo. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/rebels-coach-dave-wessels-on-bizarre-circumstances-that-led-him-to-melbourne-20180223-h0wj9r.html Good interview by Georgina Robinson.
Eduardo Kawak
Guest
McKenzie had a mixed bag, some great moments and some not so great. I feel he would have had a much better game had Ngatai been outside him instead of Faauli.
Fox
Roar Guru
SBW had an excellent game commented on by his coach and by commentators - superb in the D and some great runs and off-loads so I don't agree with you at all there. And McKenzie is of course better at 15 at the moment he has only taken on the 10 role this year so early days. Still made some beautiful inside balls and runs with some costly mistakes but lets judge after a few more games.
Fox
Roar Guru
No they didn't did they Peterk - lots of holes in the first half like a block of cheese - Sorted out in second half more but too late. But they lost badly in the first game to the Brumbie then became champions and they missed Barrett B early on and Jordie B and Milner-Scudder , Dane Coles and Tumaga-Allan as well. So early days. But they looked lost at sea in the D in first half. But the Crusaders look ridiculously good and that is a worry this early on and still missing key players like Read and Dagg. Crotty organises that D so well that he is vital for them in that backline in attack and defence.