Super rugby week 10

When I first heard about the whole conference system for Super rugby, the jury was out. I thought to myself, lets give it a try and see how it goes. Now i know, i dont like this extended Air New Zealand Cup/Currie Cup/Aussie derby thing. In as much as logistically and financially it makes sense but I am now more convinced more than before that the Super Rugby needs to be whittled down to 12 teams again. Which will be a bit tough because there are some quality players sprinkled in the struggling teams. I think OZ can only realistically field a maximum of 3 competitive teams. SA struggles with 2 of its teams as well. Cheetahs have however been competitive, great spectacle of a game on saturday, bummed for them that they lost, but chuffed for the Canes that they won.

South Africa
I think the coach and the powers that be's insistance on giving national contracts to selected 'key' Springbok players wasnt the smartest idea. Players such as Victor, Pierre, Bryan and John have been average at best, actually thats very flattering, they have been pi ss poor. Victor's deficiency as a captain is clear for all to see especially when his team is behind on the score board. These players are/were great players, and there is no denying their effort, but lets be honest they are toilet at the moment and there are players playing a whole lot better than they are, Andies, Alberts(even if he isnt playing at 8), Bjorn and Bismark are in some of the best form I have seen them in. What message does it send to players that are on form and delivering?

The Bulls are as usual playing to their strengths but currently their strength is pretty weak. The bully boy up and under tactics that they have employed so well over the past few years once again has been ineffective because its easy to defend against and also for it to be effective, it has to be executed precisely and the opposition hasnt allowed them to play their game. But then again we all know that the Bulls dont travel well historically, so they can still turn their season around. We all know how hard they are to play at Loftus, but they have to develop a game plan thats more than bash bash up and under!

The Stormers learnt against the Reds that in as much as you can win games through defending, but one also needs to score tries to ensure you win games. And the Stormers can.The best centre combination in the country if not the world, enthusiastic and exciting backs in De Jongh, Aplon Duvenhage, forwards with flair and grit who lay a perfect platform for the backs to shine...there is no reason for them not to be scoring tries.

The Sharks are currently, in my view of course, SA's most balanced side. Alberts and Bissie are styling at the moment. The backs arent rockstars but they are very good at what they do and they work as a unit. the whole team works for each other and thats the best kind of team to be a part of. They have the right attitude on defence and attack.

The Lions, shame my Lions!! Depth was always going to be an issue for them, one or 2 critical injuries and its game over. I like what Mitch is doing with them though but the lack of depth and experience as well as the playing style being foreign to some of the players is hamstringing them. I do however believe that they should stick to their plan and keep at it because they can only get better and benefit from it in the next year or 2.

Cheetahs, another team i enjoy watching. Just because of their heart and their never say die attitude. Sarel Pretorius, any other country and he would be penned in for national honours. They are a great provincial side though, but i dont think they will ever challenge for the Super rugby title. But they do entertain.

Australia
Reds are definiitely the pace setters in this conference. Not just any team comes here beats the Stormers, fly back to Oz and beat the former champions. I dont want to hear any stories about travel and jetlag. Because the Reds didnt show any sign of that. I guess they are team that is just enjoying their rugby without any national expectation of success and they are playing some good football. What they have done is shored up their tight 5, they have a very large yet skillful loose forward trio. Genia and Quade are styling, they have their grove back. Good centres fast and skillfull back 3. And the big plus for them is they have built a squad that is deep. Unlike previous years, one or 2 injuries and its game over.

Warratahs
They have had some injuries which has slowed them down. They have also realised that Al Baxter is a liability come scrum time. Barnes' absence has been felt. Even though Beale has stood in well, his explosiveness from the back has been missing. The Warratahs have a good side. In my mind Australia's most balanced side with true grit which comes from the hard-nosed never say die, combative personified through their leader Waugh.

Brumbies
A perfect example of what too much player power does to a team. at the beginning of the season i thought they would be up there, but they look to have lost their way. They, dont seem to be the Brumbies team of old. And now that Adam Ash is leaving they are benching him, i mean wow, you bench one of the star performers for the Wallabies the season before? Think this season is dead for them.

Force
They have a few gems, but this season will be more of the same, bottom half of the table finish

Rebels
Also, a new side, some good experienced players, not a team to be taken lightly but their season will end in the basement half of the log as well

New Zealand
Highlanders
Perfect example of bringing together a group of able and willing people, letting them buy into a concept and then going out there and delivering on the park. Look at that side, not one single superstar. All guys that are there or thereabouts, but their results and their enthusiasm when they are playing is providing some pretty decent results. They are making themselves superstars. Adam Thomson, definitely breaking down the door to AB selection. BIg Jamie Mc is leading the team well. Jason Rutledge is shining more than his bald head. Loose trio on song. Jimmy is playing well so too his deputy...they dont have a settled flyhalf and bummed for Colin breaking his jaw again but whoever they put in 10 isnt deficient at all. They just have a solid side, a proper example of the whole being better than the sum of the parts. Everyone is waiting for their bubble to burst, but i am not too sure it will come. looking forward to their game against the Saders this weekend.

Saders
Speaking of which. They lost their first game, lost their home stadium, drew their next game, yet look at them. Table topping, playing some silly football. Class act. and all this without Captain my Captain Richie and the general DC. it must be allowing some of the die hard AB fans at least some sleep at night to know it is possible to win without DC and Richie. I mean the Saders v Bulls last week was largely the ABs v Boks and we know the result...They have superstars, but they have a system that the players adhere to. Matt Todd, Read...forwards bombastic, then the backs superstar galore Ellis, DC, SBW Robbie, Maitland, Zac, Dagg, i mean you would have to be a random team not to be winning :)

Blues
yaay my Blues are finally showing some sort of consistency which isnt consistently being inconsistent :) Its a little early to start speaking i know because things could easily regress (yes i of little faith) but i am enjoying the way they are playing. They have always had the players, but just their insistence on running everything from everywhere was killing me, because a knock on here, turnover there and game gone! but they seem to be reading the game a whole lot at the moment. I like Benson Stanley, but Matthewson, Brett, Luke and Jarred are on song, at the moment, playing some good football. Jarred Payne in my view is one of the most underrated rugby players in NZ and its a pity he is heading off to Ireland. the Iceman is firing hard. Running meters, tacklles made, kicking, tackle busts etc. He is justifying the faith the 3 wise men have placed in him.

Canes and Chiefs
I will lumpm them together because they both just bore me at the moment. So much potential, talent etc and what do they deliver? There are a few rising starts though, Vito is playing some good rugby but I am liking the look of Jack Lam of the Canes. Hosea, still has it, Andre Taylor is one for the future. Ma' a seems to be going into his shell a little which is sad because i wanted him to be on top of his game to give SBW a run for his money, btu i guess the early disciplinary issues are weighing him down some. The Chiefs, nah man, thats all i can say, there are no positives i can find for their performance, other than next year (if it comes ;)) is another year, because i dont know and its not like they dont have the players!

Upcoming games of interest
I have this feeling that the Blues might under-estimate the Rebels and they could upset them at home this weekend but i am trying not to think about that though. The 3 games of interest for me this weekend are:
1. Highlanders v Saders - This is a true test of where the Highlanders really are. I am sure the odds are stacked highly in the Saders favour, but I think it will be tougher than most people think, well i hope it is. I like where the Landers are heading with their style of play and as a team, but a big loss could break them a little, because in as much as they say they are grounded, its pretty hard not to believe the hype. It will be an evenly matched contest upfront, i would even go as far as suggesting that the landers may win the arm wrestle up front, but out back now thats where the chasm will be. 10-15 all Saders if i had to pick a fantasy team from the 2 teams. My call would be shoo i honestly dont know, head says Saders, but gut is saying nah man there is something about this Landers team, but thats the kind of game i enjoy watching.

2. Reds v Tahs - Reds want to make the statement of we are here, Tahs want to let the Reds know who is the real boss! Very interesting tie it could be, hopefully not a boring 3-3 affair. These games tend to be a bit of an arm wrestle, but i doubt it will be this year with the players on display, Genia, Cooper, Higginbottam, Ioane, Harris, Davies, Beale, Mitchell, Turner, Burgess...Hoping the exciting Reds prevail, but if Phil Waugh is back look out Reds.

3. Force v Bulls - not in so much as the spectacle it could be, but the mental resolve of the Bulls, because they are up against it now and they have to win. The Force on the other hand want to continue their winning ways...at home nogals. it will be a niggly affair. Bulls have lost to the Force before. I see more of the same from the Bulls, forwards to set up a platform for the backs to kick up and unders :)

Ok tired of writing

Take care

Y