The Waratahs clash with the Melbourne Rebels was the last game of Round 5, and it was a round of intriguing results. Upsets, close calls and standout individual performances were the order of the round.
So… who shone? Who failed? And who’s making headlines this weekend?
Here are five things we learned from Round 5.
The Bulls have left eight points in the Tasman
Travelling on the road is always a good test of a side’s mettle. For the Bulls, they would’ve come on their tour of New Zealand and Australia with some confidence after their Round 2 victory over the Hurricanes.
That confidence has been shut down however, by two close losses in games they could’ve, and probably should’ve, won. Against the Reds, they were dominant in the first half, before fading late to hand Brad Thorn’s men a gritty win.
Their game against the Chiefs was probably the game of the round, and again for John Mitchell’s side, it was a case of “what could have been.”
An unusually attacking oriented game plan was working wonders against the Chiefs, and the Bulls held a 28-14 lead at oranges.
After the break, however, they went back to a more conservative style of play, trying to protect their lead, and that is so many sides kryptonite against counter-attacking NZ outfits. Duly, the Chiefs scored 28 unanswered points to win by 13.
The Bulls have proven they’re a danger team, and they have genuine weapons in fullback Warren Gelant and outside centre Jesse Kriel, but they need to learn to close out games or they’ll finish further South on the ladder than they’d like.
The Sunwolves are not the easy beats of yesteryear
If you looked at the Super Rugby ladder, this statement would make little sense. The Sunwolves are last in the Australian conference, with zero wins from four starts.
They also have a point difference of -57 in that period. However, they are a completely different outfit from their previous super rugby campaigns.
One need not look further than their heroic efforts against the Brumbies in Round 2, or against the Lions last night to realise that.
A two-point loss to last year’s finalists, in Johannesburg – is a performance that almost no other team in the competition can boast about having.
Even more remarkable was that in the corresponding fixture last season, the Lions piled on 94 points against a hapless Sunwolves side.
So, what is the root of this seismic shift? Their line speed is impressive. While not the biggest side in the competition, time and time again they rushed the Lions attack, and shut Elton Jantjies down at first receiver.
They have recruited well in the off-season and have a core group of players in Ryoto Nakamura, Ed Quirk and Will Tupou who play with a level of energy and passion that is consistently pushing teams to the brink.
Yes, they won’t feature at the pointy end of the competition – but they will cause at least one major upset this season.
Could their upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand be the scene of one? We shall see.
Dan McKellar flipped the coin – and called correctly
A horribly misfiring Brumbies side needed a change, and coach Dan McKellar swung the axe ahead of their fixture with the Sharks this weekend.
Kyle Godwin was dumped from the 23-man squad, with Christian Lealifano shifting to inside centre to allow Wharenui Hawera to start at five-eighth.
Chance Peni and Tom Banks were dropped for Andrew Muirhead and Lausii Taliauli, while Folau Fa’aingaa came into the front row for Josh Mann-Rea.
In the back row, Tom Cusack started after a superb NRC campaign, and Blake Enever replaced the injured Sam Carter.
With a completely new-look side running out at GIO Stadium against the dynamic Sharks, no-one really knew what to expect.
80 minutes later, and a lot of the concerns surrounding the Brumbies recent form was put to bed. Hawera and Lealifano combined beautifully in the midfield – and there was certainly more direction in their attack.
Cusack, Enever and Isa Naisarani carried hard, and Joe Powell had his best game of the 2018 season.
While there were still errors, and they probably should’ve won by more; this was a much improved performance from McKellar’s men.
Tom Decent from the Sydney Morning Herald noted this week that the Brumbies were paying $14 to win the Australian conference.
With four of their next five games at home – it’s probably worth a lobster or two.
Brad Thorn is allergic to losing
It’s remarkable what momentum and a collective never-say-die attitude can do to the long-term prospects of a rugby outfit.
Brad Thorn made national headlines when he dumped Nic Frisby and Quade Cooper before the season kicked off, and he attracted even more critics after their first-round drubbing at the hands of the Melbourne Rebels.
Since then, the Reds have won three straight games for the first time since 2013, and they’re making a habit of squeezing the life out of their opposition with a previously unsighted defensive tenacity and pressure.
Their forward pack looks unremarkable on paper, but is kicking goals where it counts. New hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa has been one of the finds of the tournament, and is a rock at lineout time.
Veteran prop JP Smith is like a battle-hardened father to young counterparts Taniela Tupou and Sef Fa’Agase.
In the backs, Filipo Daugunu and Aiden Toua are genuine speedsters; while journeyman Jono Lance is the no-nonsense rudder who gets things done. Like any good team, the test will be how they go over the length of the season – but the early signs are supremely positive.
The Tahs burst the Rebels bubble
At 20-3 in favour of the Melbourne Rebels with three minutes to play in the first half, you’d be forgiven for thinking two things.
1) The Rebels are streets ahead of the rest of the Australian conference.
2) The Waratahs are incredibly frustrating to watch
What happened in the next 20 minutes was nothing short of remarkable. The Tahs scored 38 unanswered points, including tries to Curtis Rona, Mitch Short, Rob Simmons, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Bryce Hegarty, as the Rebels let the floodgates open.
For the first time this season, Dave Wessels’ men were tested – both in attack and defence. The ease with which the Rebels were getting over the gain line in recent weeks was gone as the Tahs threw throngs of people into the breakdown to slow down the ball Will Genia was getting at the base of the ruck. Gone was the Rebels side that attacked at will, as the Tahs did a Rebels, to the Rebels!
Matt Phillip scored a try in the 63rd minute to give the Melbourne side a sniff – but Bernard Foley’s 73rd minute penalty put the game out of reach – in the process taking his personal tally to 19 for the afternoon.
Naiyaravoro finished off a stellar performance, scoring his double in the 80th minute with an outstanding run down the left edge, bumping off three defenders in the process.
A 51-27 win to the Waratahs a scoreline befitting the immense attacking effort that the NSW side showed in a blistering 25 minute period either side of half time.
The Palace Lads
Guest
"The Rebels Can't Lose" - Nick Kelland pre match
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Hahahaha, you are giving the same excuses you told me I was going to give when I wrote that the Tahs would end the Rebels run Mr. Checkmate!!!! The game was not even close.
Londoner
Guest
I agree. Tbh The Jaguares right now don't seem to be helping argentine rugby much.....surely it would be better for some of these players to be playing for other super rugby teams or in Europe? Don't you have 3-4 very good scrum halves but only one starting jersey for the Cats? The whole picking the same players for Argentina as well as the Jaguares seems counterproductive as it make the player Base too small.... I also feel a few kiwis would really help the Jaguares.... As at times a different approach does wonders.
Armand, I think if we had to rate any Springboks of 2016-2017 there will not be any glowing report cards. For the most part it was just horrible and best to be forgotten. I agree Whiteley should not be seen as the Messiah, but I am a believer in selecting your fore squad from the team that has shown the way forward, this might be a bit before your time, in 1992 when we went back to international rugby, it was first John Williams and then Ian Mckintosh who failed miserably until Kitch Christie selected a squad consisting mostly out of Transvaal. At that time they won the Lion Cup, the Super six, the Currie cup and were the form team in SA. Francois Pienaar was the captain and there were mixed opinins n whether he was the best player, yet his captaincy of the main squad was what made the difference. Incidentky, I rate Jaco Kriel as a top notch player
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
All good points. I don't actually have any problems with Whiteley personally, but I do find the romantic notions of him particularly disturbing. For instance, Vermeulen was far and away our best player for the better part of 4 years. It took only 2 below par games against Ireland for the public to turn on him and worship Whiteley. With this came an adoration that comes close to being obsessive. Due to his efforts with the Lions, everyone finds it to be just dandy to mask his limitations, of which he has plenty. He's been marked as the messiah, but as I previously pointed out, he was about as anonymous as Spies was in 2016. Much is said of his leadership, and although he was not officially the captain, none of it showed that year. Etzebeth was crucified for the 57-0 loss and the loss against Ireland, but Whiteley also enjoyed 180 minutes of a 57-15 drubbing by New Zealand and a horrible defeat to Italy. Neither his play nor his leadership showed in any capacity. The 2016 end of year tour was another indication. He was nowhere to be found against the Barbarians. Parisse had a field day against him in Padova. Apart from Goosen's consolation try at the end, he was nowhere against England. Finally, I hardly think that Wales felt him in Cardiff. Neither his leadership, pace, handling, nor his smarts helped him. He conceded metres in contact like clockwork despite completing the tackle. You might say that he can't be judged on 2016 performances because the whole team went belly-up, but then that would also concede that we shouldn't hold 2016 against anyone else either, which would include Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana and Damian de Allende. Finally, if I had to choose any Lions players for the loose trio, I'd much rather have Jaco Kriel.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
It was Bloody hot. We are only just out of summer, Who schedules these games in the mid afternoon? The UV index was so high, the players would have needed sunscreen. Not saying that they stand a chance but the heat slows games down and as we saw with the Rebels, fatigue cripples teams.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
What did Foley do? Conversions, Penalties and a couple of cross field kicks. Beale did a couple of the too. Not a lot of 5/8thing What did Hooper do? I barely saw him. What was he doing when the rebels were counter rucking for turnover? His hair? His Socks? I did see him make one pilfer in an undefended tackle late in the game. Folau is the best under the High Ball but has never proven to be an effective 13, they need to be able to defend. What was Wrong with Rangi's performance? Maddocks is a good player but he will be competing for Folau's #14 jersey or Beale's #15. Off the bench he will be up against Hodge for the utility Back spot. - Big Call.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
You recon? The Tahs were woeful for 40 Minutes, like normal. A depleted (DHP) and fatigued (40 degC) team faded, and took the boot of the Tah's throat. Who then dusted themselves off and with Foley and Beale Unlocked, the Rebels leaked Errors and Penalties, rained tries down. The Rebels lost it, with their performances so far, the Tahs are not a side that can win the conference. Leaving the Rebels with the best Scorecard so far, making them the most likely to win the conference. That Said the Reds are recovering well and the Brumbies are still a strong side.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
If you watched Noholo, he recognized that he was doing something bad and pulled out to reduce the impact. The Ref ruled, "Not with Force" so a fair result in by book.
Stu B
Guest
Hi Nick,after watching Landers and Saders on Fri ,from a rugby perspective the Tahs Rebs game wasn't that good. I don't have skin in any of those four,still support the Force and do like what is happening with the Reds.
Markus
Guest
Thank you, I have really been struggling to come up with the same positivity that some others here have on the Brumbies game on the weekend. Lineout was a mess, lots of missed tackles and handling errors, and discipline poor again with two yellow cards. The attack looked to go wider but still aimless at times. Hawera's goal kicking being absolutely on point was ultimately what stopped another loss.
Harry Jones
Expert
67 tests for the Boks as a tighthead lock, about the same number for the Stormers, and plenty for WP and Japanese club Red Hurricanes, .... and only one yellow card (for not rolling away) and not one punch thrown, ever.
Harry Jones
Expert
@Celtic334 1/ Eben Etzebeth is not a thug in the eyes of his peers, the refs, or the citing panels. 1 YC in his whole career, despite being a full-blown enforcer lock. 2/ He has turned down millions of Euros/Pounds to stay in SA. He is consistently rated by the top talent scouts and coaches in Europe and UK and Ireland as world class. If that kind of loyalty is overlooked, who WILL the SA clubs keep at home? 3/ Yes, he is physical, but he's also got a very high work rate, and passes more (and better) than Lood and Mostert. Mostert hits more rucks, but EE plays first receiver in 1-3-3-1 pods, and is making better and better decisions. Lood is the better ball carrier, but is not as good at the offload or the scrum. 4/ EE is consistent. He was a primary ballcarrier for the Boks from 2014-2017. In 2014 he missed one tackle. One. In the World Cup, he made 75 tackles (3 misses), and 58 carries with 4 offloads. In 2016 Super Rugby, he made 17 lineout steals. That's ridiculous. He had 3 missed tackles in 102 attempts, and 80 carries. In the 2016 RC, he missed one tackle in 48 attempts, and a lot of those were super hard hits. In 2017, he broke 10 tackles in the Rugby Championship, the most in the competition. He made 7 offloads, so it wasn't all tank-driving. In 2017 SR, he had 117 carries, 51 passes, and 5 offloads. I think you are describing some other guy.
I think you are a bit harsh armand. He isn,t the perfect player, he isn't as physical as Vermeulen, but he is the perfect fit for the type of rugby we need to play. He has pace, hand skills, great line out option, can even grubber if needed, intelligent, high work rate, great defender, and inspirational. Who else gives you all that at 8?
Carlos The Argie
Guest
You give them too much credit.
DavSA
Guest
The Argies are aiming for the world cup. Superugby is just the vehicle . I would do the same in their position.
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
That doesn't necessarily translate to him being a world class captain though. Being the best at anything in South Africa doesn't mean as much as it once did. Then there is also the question of whether he's actually the best of all our options. I don't believe that he is. He's been around since 2015 and I've yet to see him put in a standout performance. He was fairly anonymous in 2016 despite playing most of the year.
Jacko
Guest
If it was Naholo then it must of been 1 kiwi on another kiwi so which Kiwi got it easy with the ref? The tackler or the tackled?
Whiteley has not had the opportunity to “build” his qualities towards the players in the Springbok group due to injuries. He is far and away the best captain in SA rugby currently.
I disagree on the thug judgement, that is simply untrue. I do agree on him being overrated, have said that much myself on a number of occasions. Big physical athlete, but apart from his line out prowess (and as Harry reminded my his newly learnt offloading skills) he is too upright when he carries ball in the tight, it is easy to bring him down, he doesn’t have much in the way of deceiving the defender. He is a good defender though. Problem with guys like him is you see what you get. No subtlety, just tackle hard, jump hard, drive hard. Very predictable