While there have been fewer matches this week with none of the South African conference playing, there have still been some great games and plenty to talk about.
So much in fact that it’s easy to pass over topics such as the Crusaders still looking unstoppable, the Blues sad demise and the Rebels still being in contention for the finals.
With those glossed over, let’s get into some of the bigger talking points of the weekend.
When is a punch not a punch?
When you’re Julian Savea apparently. The Kiwi winger was saved from potentially serious punishment thanks to the cameramen at the ground being far too focused on where the ball was than where the action was. It does raise an interesting question though – what happens if the same thing happens at a key moment in a key match? In a time when we’ve got so much technology at our fingertips is it still possible that we don’t have complete coverage of matches in Super Rugby?
The ‘Tahs have got to be tougher in defence
The Waratahs versus Reds clash was a hugely entertaining game and the atmosphere looked incredible. It was a good win for the ‘Tahs who are getting closer and closer to winning the Australian conference. They scored some great tries and their attacking mojo is definitely back.
However, attack does not win competitions and leaking 41 points against a side who have only managed to score 247 points in the previous 12 rounds (average of 20 per game) is not exactly the signs of a top team.
And while we’re talking about this clash, just one quick thought…
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Reds have to be Maroon
Nothing to do with the rugby but it was awesome to see the Queensland side in maroon this weekend for their Origin style clash and they really should wear it every week.
Ireland have go to buy some stilts
It’s not a new story – Folau scores try after soaring above opponents to take great catch.
But Irish coach Joe Schmidt must be looking at his back three (average height several centimetres smaller than Izzy) and wondering if he can get his guys some sort of stilts.
The real question, however, is not about whether Izzy will out jump his opposition. The question is can Bernard Foley deliver the aerial bombardment to give Izzy the chance? It’ll be interesting to see how the Irish defence look to pressure Foley to make sure he doesn’t have the time or space to put up those high kicks in the first place.
Hurricanes? More like a strong gust of wind
The Canes have looked fantastic all season long having added a real defensive wall to their attacking flair. But in the last couple of games that attacking flair has gone walkabout. In the first 14 rounds of the competition they were racking up scores of 30+ week in and week out but in the past two rounds, they’ve limped to 13 and 14 points and back to back losses.
Now, of course, this could just be a temporary blip and they are still one of the favourites to make the final. But we’ve seen this situation plenty of times before with other sides – an impressive start sweeping all before them and then a stumble later in the season when things really matter. Once we’re into the finals one poor game is all it takes to end the entire season earlier than expected.
The Canes have got a relatively straightforward run into the Finals with two of their final three games being against the Brumbies and the Blues. So there’s plenty of time to get their rhythm back. But that does need to happen because at the moment the all star back line is not clicking like it was earlier this season.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
What does the future hold for the Brumbies?
A good win over the Sunwolves today should not distract anyone from the underlying issues in Canberra. They’ve had a terrible season and the expectations of both players, fans and pundits have not been achieved with the Brumbies right down the bottom end of the ladder.
With their final three games being against the Canes, Chiefs and Tahs it is quite likely that they won’t pick up another point this season and will limp into the offseason. During that downtime the club will have a lot to do including sorting out the coaching set up – with so many stories about the lack of alignment between playing group and coach there is definitely room for improvement.
It’s going to be a great few weeks of international rugby!
So many top teams are hitting good form in the Super Rugby competition and the top talent is about to go head-to-head with some of the best from up North. There are so many intriguing stories including how the 6 Nation champions Ireland will go against a Wallabies side desperate for form, or can Eddie Jones’ England get out of the rut they’re in or can a resurgent French side stand up to the might of the All Blacks?
There will be many, many stories over the coming months that talk about how teams are tracking towards the World Cup and there’s still time for nations to improve, but these matches are important in each team’s plans.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Morsie! I remember you from another Blog site on rugby and you penned crap then and it appears you're still doing it ~ try talking sense mate ~ vindictive rubbish like that achieves nothing!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Isn't this game sugar coated and lollipop type stuff enough as it is, ~ good on Moody, and good on Savea for both getting off two trivial charges! ~ The good old Boys must be laughing like hell ''down there'' the way the game has been ruined as it is today! It's over adjudicated as it is, to the point of being ridiculous, to the point the players themselves don't know what they're getting pinged for! Sighhhhh! for the good old days!!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Foley is a very good kicker for goal but there's people blogging on here that absolutely rubbish him as a player, but there's no one else in Aussie as good as he, and I would imagine he's scored more points via the boot for the Wallabies and the Waratahs than both those teams have scored crossing the chalk,~ the amount of times that guy has got those two very teams out of the crap would be almost unbelievable, except it's true!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Agreed! ~ No lie mate it was a shocking Kiwi team they played!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
That game in New Zwaland was only against the Blues whodidn't even play a game at all, they seemingly said to the Tahs Skipper " just go for it we won't stand in the way" and they didn't, ~ Not worthy of a mention, ~ Any team whoever it was would have beaten that Blues side on the weekend! I would imagine the NZ Rugby powers that be will step in there as I'm sure they won't be putting up with any more of that rubbish. The President of the Blues sacked himself this morning and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tana doesn't get the shove by them if he doesn't resign himself! It's all over this Season for the Auckland Blues so watch this space!! ~ Remembering also that New Zealand Representative teams are expected to play rugby, not lie down like this current lot did 90% of the Season! ~ NZRFU won't wear any more of that nonsense ~ interesting much! Good on the Tahs but it's only a pity you guys playing well, had virtually no resistance at all!
Morsie
Guest
Yep probably, just thought it was worth asking the question. Savea's punch is ignored, ANOTHER forearm to the throat from Moody is ignored....... protected species comes to mind.
The latter
Guest
The latter, kiwis need him for the June Tests...
cuw
Guest
isnt that what the Waratahs thought leading crusaders by like 20 odd points? if at all - they have shown the inability to shut out games when leading comfortably . that could perhaps be due to switching off mentally and/or not knowing how to control the game.
Joseph
Guest
Fionn, Cheika's request for the Bumbies players to be rested had nothing to do with catching the plane. The Sunday before a Saturday test is usually a rest recovery day for the players before team training on Monday. Pocock and Co now just dive into training Monday without the proper recovery.
Joseph
Guest
Morsie are you crying conspiracy? Give it up.
cuw
Guest
disregarding stilts - it will be interesting to see what tactics Irish will employ against Folau in air. from what i have seen their defence is very structured and works with the NH style of play. as most 6 nations play similar - it is easy to deploy and excel.
cuw
Guest
I think a hell of a lot happened at that ruck and most of it was not looked at. first of all there was a forwards pass by TJP. well noone cared ( perhaps correctly ). then the Squire arm / shoulder that connected with Savea - which has been excused by citing / hearing. then there was a shoulder charge at someone by Rikki. partially visible before camera follows the ball. there is also the punch by Savea minutely visible before camera follows the ball. am just wondering - what is the role of those cameramen who run along the touchline. it can be assumed that the fixed high cameras follow the play from the higher elevation from a wider angle. shud the running cameramen stay with the action close to them and let a distant camera cover the ball?
Morsie
Guest
Any further result on Moody's elbow to the throat of a Chiefs player 5 meters off the ball (again), or is it another case of "nothing to see here, moving right along"...........
Phil
Guest
I think when a team is leading 40-19,then we can usually say they are comprehensively winning the game.Credit to the Reds for the late surge,which certainly made for an entertaining spectacle.
Phil
Guest
Yes,MHO1,amazing how so many people criticise the Oz derbies as being dour affairs(correctly,I might add),then when we get a good one it's criticised for being lousy defence?I especially noticed quite a few Kiwis commenting about the poor defence but how many of the very entertaining Kiwi derbies are high scoring games,and we all love them?How about giving credit to good,attacking rugby.
Phil
Guest
So I guess, Rebellion,you are privy to the news that Michael Hooper is injured and replaced in the squad by Higgers,is that correct?
HayMrDj
Roar Rookie
And with the rebels win, aussies teams combined have now overtaken the sunwolves for wins against NZ teams since the start of the 2017 season
coldturkey
Roar Rookie
From what I saw of the Reds versus the Waratahs, it wasn't that comprehensive a win by the Waratahs. Foley had his kicking boots on that night and the Reds kickers couldn't hit the side of the barn from 2m. If the Reds kickers had put away all the points on offer the game would have been all tied up.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Fair enough it was against the Blues, but I said somewhere else an ugly win is still a win. Rebels did well to execute what they started, Blues created chances and didn’t execute. A win is a win and keeps the Rebels going. For the fabled fortress of NZ rugby I have to say the crowd and atmosphere at the ground, from what I saw on TV, was pretty disappointing. It’s turning out to be the real fortress of NZ rugby is a temporary ground that starting to fall apart down in ChCh.
Agreed
Guest
Agreed. But if it were the Tahs breaking the drought they'd be a full blown article sbd analysis. Critics will say it was against a struggling Kiwi Blues team...