Week 13 proved lucky for the Brumbies and Rebels, who have opened up a gap at the top of the Australian conference with finals action only six weeks away.
The Rebels found the Reds more difficult to shake second time around, the Queensland line-out keen to make amends for the toweling they received in their Round 7 loss.
But with the Reds losing on-field leaders Samu Kerevi and Scott Higginbotham to the sin bin, the Melbourne outfit posted tries in each of those periods to ensure an important 30-24 win.
If it wasn’t entirely pretty, the Rebels could take heart from their improved energy over 80 minutes, typified by the efforts of both starting props early in the second half.
First, Jermaine Ainsley raced back 50 metres to help defuse a dangerous situation, then moments later, Tetera Faulkner raced forwards 50 metres after a scrum, to be the final player in support of a bust by Reece Hodge, to score a memorable try.
The Rebels were also well served by the high work rate of Matt Philip and a fine all-round performance by captain Dane Haylett-Petty. Anyone would think that the Wallabies fullback jersey was up for grabs.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
There were some nervy moments in the final quarter, Will Genia overplaying his hand after Quade Cooper was concussed in an attempt to tackle Kerevi, after stopping him effectively on two previous occasions.
Interestingly, Cooper was utilised on the front line in defence – not as a ploy to out-muscle Kerevi, but because the Rebels – anticipating a long kicking game from the Reds – wanted their three best runners in position to run the ball back.
The Reds got great value from the back as well. Replacement fullback Isaac Lucas impressed not for the first time this year. His interchange with Taniela Tupou to create a try in confined space was pure class.
The Reds’ improvement this year is obvious. They have bothered all sides with their tenacity, yet putting too many eggs in the Kerevi basket is not sufficient against the better defensive sides.
In the opening match, desperate goal-line defence and superior finishing power ensured a 22-12 win to the Hurricanes over a plucky Blues outfit in what was a willing, physical encounter. With that win comes a stranglehold on a home final.
The Blues’ season looks cooked – a disappointing outcome for fans hoping for a rare finals visit, but the prognosis remains positive.
No team wins Super Rugby matches just because they want to. Rather, it requires a whole raft of factors to be aligned, the steady building of experience within the group, and development of a winning habit.
The Crusaders were quickly back on the wagon, scooting to an easy 45-13 win over the Bulls at Loftus.
Somehow the Bulls forgot everything you’re not supposed to do against good New Zealand sides – kick aimlessly long and run up in a ragged, uneven defensive line – so they were shredded to pieces on multiple occasions.
It is not unheard of for the All Black selectors to pick a bolter on the wing in a World Cup year, and Sevu Reece is making every post a winner in 2019. His hat trick was impressive for the variety of skills on display.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
It could have all been so different.
Late last year, with Reece contracted to Connacht for the 2018/19 UK season and on John McKee’s radar for Fiji for the World Cup, his contract was torn up after he was involved in a domestic violence incident in Hamilton.
Instead he finds himself offered a lifeline, and potentially an opportunity to test the mantra that better people make better All Blacks.
Both the Highlanders and the Chiefs remain in finals contention after their hard-fought wins, 32-27 over the Jaguares and 29-23 over the Sharks respectively.
The Jaguares’ youngsters showed plenty, but they fell foul of referee Ben O’Keeffe late in the game, allowing the home side to close the game out more comfortably than what their patchy performance may have deserved.
In Hamilton, it took the Sharks a long time to engineer the arm wrestle they desired, and once they got what they wanted, they edged ahead in the final quarter with all of the momentum their way.
But two minutes of Chiefs magic – including Brad Weber’s second try directly from a kick-off plus the long arm of Tyler Ardron – got them home.
In the wash-up, Fox Rugby’s Greg Martin pointed his finger towards nepotism as the cause of the Sharks’ failing.
Instead, the cause of their woes is a skills and ball-handling deficiency in their pod forwards, as well as the inability of their backs to run straight, commit defenders and create space for their outside flyers.
For the first 60 minutes, the Lions-Waratahs match was a comedic farce. The Lions simply refused to exit their 22 in a conventional way, and both sides were reluctant to employ players in cover defence.
Such was the madness, if Waratahs lock Rob Simmons had been required to undergo an HIA, the exchange might have been something like this.
Doctor: “Did you make a scything 35-metre run through the centre of the ground in the first half to score a try untouched?”
Simmons: “No, I’m not capable of doing that.”
Doctor: “Absolutely. OK, you’re good to go back on.”
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Because the score remained close throughout, the match developed some intensity and tension in the final quarter, and was all the better for it. The home side eventually squeaked home, 29-28.
How much that was due to the assistance of referee Egon Seconds can’t be quantified, but the penalty count of 11-2 to the Lions – added to the 20-1 count in the Rebels vs Lions match – speaks to the legacy of former Lions coach Johan Ackerman.
A deeply religious man, Ackerman successfully instilled a culture whereby the Lions’ playing group are not mortal rugby players at all, but winged angels.
In a year mostly free of refereeing controversy, this was not a good weekend for SANZAAR, with Seconds and O’Keeffe accused of refereeing one side only. But to assume this might be because of bias is another thing altogether, as are demands to use neutral referees for all Super Rugby matches.
If, at their reviews, Seconds and O’Keeffe are found to have got too many things wrong, by all means turf them back to club rugby for a week or two, or get them back into intensive schooling.
But do it because their refereeing performance is deemed not up to standard, not because of what’s on their passport.
The round finished on Sunday in Canberra, with the Brumbies far too organised and professional for an outgunned Sunwolves, running out comfortable 33-0 winners.
Two factors stood out for the home side: five tries run in from distance with Folau Fainga’a drawing a rare blank on the scoreboard, and efficient defence which kept the Sunwolves scoreless, a rare feat in Super Rugby.
The much anticipated heavyweight championship of Europe was decided with Saracens emerging after a fierce physical battle played at Test match intensity, 20-10 victors over Leinster.
The match was of high interest to Southern Hemisphere fans for a number of reasons, including a powerhouse performance by Springboks prop Vincent Koch, and another showing at the top level by impressive ex-Waratah Will Skelton.
But it was another Saracens star, Billy Vunipola, who reminded us of the inextricable link rugby maintains across hemispheres – not because of his imposing performance, but because of the boos that came his way from the crowd in response to his support of Israel Folau.
It is fascinating that while no player in Super Rugby has been publicly castigated in a match for either supporting or opposing Folau – as should be the case – this is clearly not true on the other side of the world.
Here’s hoping the panel conducting the code of conduct hearing bring down their sanction this week and that the matter is allowed to move along more quickly.
In the meantime, with hell a central location in this whole sorry saga, it was no surprise to find fire and brimstone at the forefront of the arguments framing Folau’s plight in terms of religious oppression.
Never one to embrace nuance or subtlety, Alan Jones went full-on flamethrower in his weekly column in Friday’s The Australian, writing: “And all this began when the world watched as the Cathedral of Notre Dame burnt, while a firestorm engulfed a gifted young man for articulating everything that is symbolised by the great cathedral.”
Spare us.
Folau as Joan of Arc, anyone?
More like the little boy who played with matches.
Homer Gain
Guest
To be clear, the booing of Vunipola came exclusively from Irish fans, who also roundly booed referee Garces for every decision that went against Leinster. Typically, Irish journalists have pointed to the failures of the referee and to the RFU's lack of action against Vunipola as excuses for Leinster's defeat. It is one of the sad paradoxes that whilst Irish rugby players over the last 20 years have been an impressive mix of intelligence, skill and professionalism, the Irish rugby press is increasingly characterised by mean-spirited carping and petty-minded nationalism. Here's hoping the fans don't go the same way.
Fox
Roar Guru
Good point Geoff and I think they have bitten off more than they can chew and are about to find that out - big time - but they cowered to a hypercritical sponsor and to typically vocal special interest groups who demanded another sacrifice at the alter of political correctness and the now hideous human crime of offending someone or some group, with identity politics at the root of it while others deliberately throw around inflammatory and emotionally charged words like 'suicide' to have another postmodern heretic silenced - but I think they are about to uncap a volcano and it might be a minor or major eruption - I suspect the second.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Am I supposed to go into the Russian archives and get the sources recording Stalin turning to relgion after Nazi Germany invaded? You’re obfuscating. You obviously think those historians who subscribe to this view are wrong, which is your wont. By the way, Hitler was probably a Christian and from what I’ve read Pol Pot was almost certainly a Buddhist. There’s no one for sure to know each of their religious views, but the weight of evidence suggests that probably none of them were atheists, and two were likely Christians.
Ralph
Roar Guru
I can't possibly have said I don't believe the evidence you posted - you haven't posted any.
Ralph
Roar Guru
A historian who can’t post evidence is like rain clouds that drop no rain.
CUW
Roar Rookie
well u produce more than u can consume so its only fair others take some but im sad that RAYASI guy has not played he looked so quick and awsome for auckland
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Yes, and Pocock too :)
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
No...I’d just suggest he knows a lot more about it than you do.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
David Pocock.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
I agree wholeheartedly and I lay blame directly those High performance guys who are supposed to be able to identify talent. It goes without saying that not every franchise can have a Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga etc but we could have retained some of the stars of the future. Take a look at Josh Ioane, learnt his trade at Kings College in Auckland. By all accounts outstanding, yet we let him go, but this applies to many, not just No 10’s Call me s fashion but I love to see those raised in the catchment area succeed within that franchise. Though I also realise that the population base is going to have influence on numbers of talented players
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
There's plenty of historical evidence though, that's the thing. Plenty of historians with greater access to Russian archives and Russian sources than myself or very likely yourself (unless you have some contacts in the Russian Government giving you preferential access) have determined that that weight of historical evidence supports Stalin turning to Christianity at key points when he was under immense amount of pressure - such as when Hitler first invaded the Soviet Union. Your only retort seems to be 'he doesn't act very Christian' or 'I don't believe that evidence'. Well, I suppose there are plenty of historical interpretations, but you're certainly subscribing to less recent scholarship and a more traditional view. I suppose that fits better with your religious beliefs though.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
Stalin was sent to a school which trained priests but quickly lost interest in the gig and declared himself an atheist and stopped applying himself – he was quickly removed. He remained an atheist to his dying day. The way the Orthodox church was persecuted in Russia and most of the rest of the Soviet Union (not so much Armenia – which has different polity) displays a very personal antipathy. Crucifying priests on the doors of their own churches isn’t simply about structural deconstruction. The relaxing of religious persecution during the war was an accommodation – arguably a tacit concession that Dialectic materialism didn’t (and can’t IMO) salve the spirit under fire.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Yes, I have never looked into where anti semitism really is rooted, but it makes no sense on the surface from Christians. Mind you, as evidenced elsewhere the definition of what being 'Christian' means is so wide and loose the Devil himself qualifies.
Minz
Guest
And yet, Fundamentalist Christians tend to be somewhat antisemitic. Belief is a weird thing! Which we all have, of course, in some way...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not sure saying "I believe" something is BS. I literally said, I'm not sure - this is what I think. Not stating it as a fact.
Tander
Guest
More BS train. Folau's dad started the church he attends. He has also started 1 up in Brisbane from all reports
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The Vodacom Rugby App provides stats from Opta.
jeznez
Roar Guru
ESPN Scrum, Fox Sports most sites that provide detailed stats on the game have the penalty counts as well.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Hi jeznez, unfortunately I wouldn't know where to start looking for these types of stats. But it sounds like SANZAR should be doing something like this as the calls for neutral refs heats up. They even might be able to show that it mightn't make significant difference who refs, and thus save themselves some coin.
Minz
Guest
My take on Folau was that he was deliberately breaching his contract, probably had had enough and wanted to head back to league. Then league said "Nup!", and so he's fighting it. Will end up playing in France for sure...