Friday night’s two Super Rugby matches were remarkably similar; the two losers, the Melbourne Rebels and Moana Pasifika, doing good things on attack, but because of skill errors, breakdown deficiencies and ineffective first-up tackling, providing far too much leeway for the opposition attack.
Compared to other, more attractive grounds, Palmerston North’s Central Energy Trust Arena, its playing surface ringed by a dirt speedway track, resembles the brother in The Corrs. And, befitting the speedway environment, the scoreboard was racing at speed in the first half; the Hurricanes out to a 33-0 lead without expending a lot of effort.
What appeals about the Hurricanes this year is their balance. Always a contender, they have in the past been let down by one key area of weakness; say in the tight five, or discipline or goal-kicking.
This year, it feels like all bases are covered, including squad depth, with talented players like Aiden Morgan, Harry Godfrey and James O’Reilly relishing a rare chance to start. And what side wouldn’t relish the luxury of being able to call in vastly experienced players like TJ Perenara and Brad Shields?
For the fourth time in five matches the Rebels got run over early. After enjoying the opening phase of the match on attack, their next meaningful possession didn’t come until the 15th minute, where they immediately conceded a breakdown penalty in the attacking half.
Their first red zone attack didn’t come until the 35th minute, where the ball was spilled on first phase, and it wasn’t until the 38th minute until the Rebels were able to mount multiple phases in the attacking 22; from which Angelo Smith scored.
The speed at which the game is currently being played means that no side can concede large chunks of territory and possession, for long periods like that, and not expect to be loaded up with fatigue and points against.
Rebels players look on in disappointment during the round five Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Melbourne Rebels at Central Energy Trust Arena, on March 22, 2024, in Palmerston North, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
First-up tackling and increased competitiveness at the breakdown are essential, if both the Rebels and Moana Pasifika are to be genuine finals contenders. But even more so, they must eliminate the simple handling and skill execution errors while in possession, that serve as pressure valve releases, which prevent them from building and loading the same kind of stress back onto their opponent.
The Rebels duly finished 28-54 down to the Canes, with a special mention for Carter Gordon, who played with far more assurance than any playmaker in a side shedding 54 points has a right to. Moana Pasifika meanwhile, fared even worse, 21-60 away to the Brumbies.
For their part, the Brumbies looked the most convincing they have all season, connecting nicely between forwards and backs, and throwing in a couple of thrilling breakout tries for good measure.
It feels like it’s written into Fijian constitutional law that every Drua home match must be filled with high drama. Saturday afternoon’s 39-36 win over the Waratahs was right up there with the best of them.
Battling their way through stifling heat and humidity, the Waratahs will rue Tane Edmed slamming what would have been the winning drop goal into the crossbar in extra time, but I suspect they will identify a first-half gift try to Frank Lomani at a line-out, as a key, preventable failing.
Quite what Angus Bell was doing standing still, pointing at space while Lomani got busy scoring, one will never know. Lomani also got his trademark wide pass working for Iosefo Masi’s third try and, out to 26-10 at half-time, the Drua looked to be well on the way to a resounding victory.
But the Waratahs had brought their own set of line-out tricks, scoring four smart tries from that set piece themselves and, at 36-36, both sides had ground themselves into submission.
Tane Edmed of the NSW Waratahs passes the ball during the round five Super Rugby Pacific match between Fijian Drua and NSW Waratahs at Churchill Park, on March 23, 2024, in Lautoka, Fiji. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)
It wasn’t just the players who were cooked; match caller Greg Clark annointing the match a draw, before belatedly realising the teams weren’t headed to the showers after all. I suspect a draw remains the popular option amongst fans, with extra-time applying only for finals, but for better (the Drua) or worse (the Waratahs) to extra-time it went.
Inexplicably, Drua replacement halfback Peni Matawalu offered himself up for a yellow card by needlessly slapping an opponent in the head, which set Edmed up for the drop goal that wasn’t.
Allowed his opportunity at the other end, Kemu Valetini showed how it was done, and the Lautoka crowd was once again left to celebrate all that is wonderful about Super Rugby, with everyone else left grasping to understand how that simple, cynicism-free attitude towards the game can’t be transplanted into the Australian and New Zealand environments.
The Chiefs did it easy early in Hamilton, up 21-0 at half-time, and 28-0 after 54 minutes against the Highlanders. The visitors weren’t helped by losing Tanielu Tele’a, who was sent off for an untidy, reckless, high cleanout on Josh Ioane.
While matters were handled well enough by the match officials, once again the question must be asked why the player suffering direct contact to the head – described by the TMO as being of “a high level of danger” – wasn’t automatically removed from the field and required to undergo an HIA?
The Highlanders are nothing if not tenacious, managing to claw back to 21-28, and having multiple phases inside the attacking 22 after the siren, with a chance to send a second consecutive match into extra time. Alas for them, it wasn’t to be.
The Blues’ 26-6 win over the Crusaders in Auckland was all about the redemption of Stephen Perofeta. Coming off what might kindly be called a ‘muddled’ performance against the Waratahs last week, Perofeta demonstrated strength of character and no little skill, kicking six from six off the tee and running strongly all night.
At 9-6, the match was tight at half-time, but the Blues went full Michael Caine and ‘blew the bloody doors off’ straight after the break, when Willi Heinz was in the sin bin. It really should have been more, with multiple chances spurned, but coach Vern Cotter will be much more pleased this week with the power and clinical accuracy of his pack.
As for the Crusaders, there’s not really a lot to say other than they’re working hard but, with the players at their disposal, aren’t quite good enough for the better teams in the competition. Things don’t get any easier, with the Chiefs due in Christchurch on Friday night.
Another favourite Michael Caine film is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, where Caine plays conman Lawrence Jamieson, in the process impersonating, to hilarious effect, psychiatrist Dr Emil Schaffhausen.
The final match of the round, in Perth, was a con job to match the best of Caine’s Jamieson; the Force conning the Reds into believing they simply had to turn up to win, and the Reds conning themselves into believing the hype that they were the competition benchmark.
In any event, the 40-31 win to the Force was a result nobody saw coming; not just the scoreline, but the comprehensive manner in which the way the home side not only disrupted the Reds’ fast recycle game but, with centre Hamish Stewart playing an important role, created and clinically finished off their own opportunities.
Nic White of the Force passes the ball during the round five Super Rugby Pacific match between Western Force and Queensland Reds at HBF Park, on March 23, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
The match also featured one of the more remarkable tries of the season; Harry Wilson fumbling a kick-off receipt like a hot potato, straight into the arms of an advancing Bayley Kuenzle.
So, where does all of that leave us after five completed rounds? There is just one team, the impressive Hurricanes, at the top, undefeated; three teams, the Chiefs, Brumbies and the Blues, with only one loss, and everyone else falling in behind from there.
The Crusaders? File under stone motherless. At least for now, and perhaps next week as well.
Stone motherless, lonely and self-reflective is also where much of the world’s press and social media commentators should be this week, after revelations from Catherine, Princess of Wales, that she is suffering from, and is in the midst of treatment for, a form of cancer.
There’s an argument to be made that if Buckingham Palace officials had been more forthcoming about the princess’ absence from public duties, there wouldn’t have been room provided for all of the wild, conspiratorial theories to fester.
There’s a stronger argument that an absence of factual information is never an excuse for people to fill in the blanks with speculative and hurtful nonsense.
One eye-opening element of the Rebels’ saga in 2024 has been the propensity for rugby fans – almost all of them secure in their anonymity – to jump into the debate with hard-formed opinions that have clearly been forged without any knowledge of the actual facts.
If there does happen to be people today, who are feeling a wee bit sheepish about firing off half-cocked about Kate Middleton, might the same apply to those whose so-called understanding and commentary around the Rebels situation is equally ill-founded.
The daily news cycle and access to social media and a keyboard provides all of us with the ability to learn things quickly and shape our thoughts and opinions almost instantaneously.
It does not guarantee that the source information is true, or represents all sides of an issue. As has been demonstrated so vividly this week, sometimes the wise choice is to wait for events to run their course before passing comment.
GusTee
Roar Pro
The arguments against the “golden point” are noted but in the past draws have seen both sides gutted. I suggest that if you get to full time unbeaten then you deserve to take home at least 2 points as would have happened in the past. Then if you are good enough to score in extra time, you get 2 more points. In this instance, the loser does not get a BP for being within 7 points.
Jazz
Roar Rookie
Thanks Bentnuc, he is on my 2nd tier and i would liked to see his improve and see what happens
Jazz
Roar Rookie
Thanks Colvin, hopefully after a few more rounds and see if a few more have jumped out in my books
NotKev
Roar Rookie
Good stats !!
Rolando
Roar Rookie
Jones initially denied having discussions about the head coaching role following Tom Decent having said there was a zoom meeting which was an interview for that job. Jones later says that that zoom call was with a recruitment agency to discuss his previous experience in the job, which would help the JRFU frame their search for Jamie Joseph’s successor. “The first interview I had with Japan was in December and that’s the only interview I’ve had.” No-one has presented evidence that contradicts Jone’s account. I think it’s reasonable to assert that Jones zoom call with the recruitment agency didn’t remove him from the frame for a possible future interview for the coaching job. The first interview directly with JRU was in December. Remember, the SMH said Jones was interviewing for the job back at end Aug 23. Since then almost everyone has called Jones a liar for denying that. I think the mischief done by the SMH was in characterising the zoom call as a job interview. I also think that if Jones had reason to suspect that his position with RA wasn’t secure, in spite of his stated commitment, that he was entitled to keep his options open for other future coaching positions. It is a common enough train of events for many coaches. So, referring back to this article’s author’s statement that (the daily news cycle) «does not guarantee that the source of information is true…. », unfortunately many on the Roar accepted a journalists first report as ‘true’ and subsequently decided Jones was a liar. I think that Jones was presumed by many to be guilty based on a journalist’s heresay report, and that that is not just.
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Toole is leading the whole comp on tries and line breaks, 3rd defenders beaten and 4th on run metres. That's pretty 1st Tier???
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
So he didn’t get interviewed or talk to them before the RWC. They just gave him the position without talking to him or do you think he only spoke to them post RWC. Secondly, not just roarers believe it, but players, commentators and various administrators also believe that what was reported was accurate. Thirdly, the Japanese refused to confirm or deny so no transparency or desire from them as an organisation to provide clarity. Fourthly and not least, Tom had his sources which he is not required to provide (in much the same way JRU aren’t obliged to), but to suggest it was just hearsay and that Tom did not corroborate is in itself misleading. The reason EJ had for not being open about it, was because he knew it would undermine his whole loyalty campaign and be a particularly bad look. The fact he said he was out after the RWC which he then backtracked on when there was a public outcry against RA and the situation, suggests to me that Eddie was telling it as he saw it and was forced to say different when it became a small firestorm. And if he what he initially said was true there is every reason to believe he was talking to people about his next gig. When you say one thing and then try to spin a different way, you are not going to earn too much credibility and people are going to think you are pretty loose with the facts. I think Eddie was forced to backtrack it by HM and co. Now you can twist it how you wish because Tom doesn’t reveal his sources but it doesn’t make it fact. I believe there was a zoom meeting with people from Japan and don’t believe it was a made up story. They may have only been talking about the weather but that doesn’t really add up. Remembering too Eddie denied there was ever a zoom call and he didn’t talk to anybody from Japan, yet by my understanding Tom got the details from someone who was either in that zoom call or very close to someone in it, hence why he wouldn’t and nor should reveal his sources. Not sure how you so lightly dismiss it as rumour or hearsay.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
If you say so Jacko.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I'll disagree. The articles I have been reading and the discussions I've seen around this is that there is far more importance being put on this that you are allowing for. They arnt there for guesswork and rnd 1 proved beyond doubt that they can, and have, forced doctors to act. They make no individual decisions but they are part of the process. Of that there is no question.
pm
Roar Rookie
I do realise that, but on the TMO it seemed like he just decided to let it go in this match. Incidents that'd usually get pulled up (compared to in other matches) didn't. I was watching it on replay so i could take a second look at how late or high stuff was.
PaddyBoy
Roar Rookie
He also seems like the kind of guy who will reprimand himself for that sort of lapse. He’ll put in a big shift next week.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Hi BF I wouldn't rely on anything that Ruck says, they are very click oriented and have a lot of history crying wolf. I've not seen anything concrete anywhere else, although I've not read everything. I don't think that there's much difference in experience compared to 2020, further back I would agree.
PaddyBoy
Roar Rookie
Ripper start to the season. Every weekend I’m checking next week’s matches, mulling over the ladder, trying to get a gauge on how things are shaping… Awesomely unpredictable this year. Please make it longer or give us an SR Aus in Aug-Oct, anyway, I digress. The Tahs I feel for (can’t believe I’m saying that). It’s a test of will now for them. If they can get more from their backs they will click. They should absolutely rinse the Rebels. If they don’t, I won’t feel sorry for them for another 12 months. Sorry Rebs. Force were kinda due, and the Reds have travelled a bit in the last few weeks, good on them for punishing a pretty sloppy display. Hopefully it’s a big confidence booster because they have to travel to Fiji next week. Who knows what will happen over there in the wild pacific? Reds v Brumbies is massive. Enough said
Decoy
Roar Rookie
Agree about the pecking order Muzzo, I'd rather have Jacobson, or Grace, or Blackadder before selecting Sotutu, but it's good to see a man respond so strongly after going off the boil.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Has there been something happening about the Princess of Wales? Can anyone provide a link?
Rolando
Roar Rookie
« It does not guarantee that the source information is true, or represents all sides of an issue. » Precisely! If Tom was decent he would have reminded his readers that what he was delivering was heresay. Without that a great mischief was done and plenty of Roarers were satisfied that Eddie was interviewing for the Japan coaching role, pre RWC, and then covered it up by lying. No first hand evidence. Mr Jones himself said he wasn’t interviewing for the coaches job. That’s the only first hand evidence we have. One would have thought that Eddie is innocent of what he was accused of till proven guilty.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
The Hurricanes depth in their squad is looking very good. They made 14 changes and that included Shields, Perenara and Jordie Barrett coming back. They have an abundance of loosies and their tight five is much improved. The Blues is win as an important marker despite being against a depleted Crusaders team. They have struggled with the Crusaders for a number of years and I was worried the Crusaders would play well and get themselves back into form. A worry for the Crusaders is where they go from here? They lost Strange and Crotty before kick off and Havili during the game. Their development system is definitely getting pressured. Thanks Geoff.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Thanks for the nomination woodart, but it's not really my go...
Geoff Parkes
Expert
No maybe's about it Jacko. Super Rugby's head injury process is not determined by the mouthguards or information from them. They are a new tool introduced to assist the doctors. The technology is not advanced enough to provide any definitive information.
CPM
Roar Rookie
When amateur bloggers like Roggo use big words like “ball in play” without even understanding the meaning one just laughs. The fact is that there is more BIP in EPCR competitions than SRP, this despite the fact that the majority of games are played wet winter weather. Yes even the 6N has more BIP than the Rugby Championship so I wonder what the excuse is for the Eastern hemisphere to have less BIP than the Western hemisphere, AKA EPCR nations.