Super rugby week 3

Ok let me be the first to admit that i was totally and absolutely wrong about the Bulls. Bloody hell were they impressive, yeah its typical Bulls rugby, bullying into submission but you cant fault their execution. I will also add that they can score tries too. Just from their display against the Cheetahs, 20 or so minutes which was with 14 players, they are SA's team that have a clue about what they are doing and depth aplenty. They lose a few stalwarts and speedsters and boom its like nothing ever happened. Its not like the Cheetahs were poor (well a few handling mistakes aside), they just didnt have any super higher grade questions for the Bulls. They were asking higher grade questions of the Bulls, but the bulls had all the answers, its like they bought the examiners :) no well done to them, pretty impressive, still dont like their rugby style, but they definintely know how to make it work for them. Chilliboy, is the truth. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he is the truth, he is a very smart and hard footballer, hopefully they dont make him second fiddle again, tired of seeing that! Stormers on the other hand were pretty dissapointing. For a team with so much promise and talent, their inability to put away teams astounds me as well as their error rate, yes its early season yet but i'm not particularly impressed. I like the look of that no 4 of theirs, Bakkies, step aside, there is a new sherrif in town. Stormers on paper are hot and should be more exciting when they click, i just hope its not next weekend against my Blues ;). People give Meyer Bosman stick but that guy is talented. The Sharks too have a good side, on paper, i look at it and i guess it is early season yet and guys are still finding their feet. They have 2 new props, freddie at 9 instead of 10, feeding lambie, so they still have to learn to read each other, the centre combination is also new but on the wings they have gas and im liking Mvovo's work rate and my man Riaan at 15, very under-rated that guy. Shame the poor lions, I was pretty torn this game because you all know i am all about NZ rugby and the Canes are rebuilding. I said their lungs would burn at the end of that game but it didnt seem to. There is much to be said for a team of no name brands, who are just committed to playing for each other and are a happy crew. I hung out with them after the game and it was lovely to observe, they are all just one big unit they eat together and just get along, well so it seemed or maybe because they had just won so they were just like a happy bunch. But i was bummed for the Lions though cos i like that franchise plenty, they are very similar to the Canes. Once again i missed the Australian derbies... It looks like there is a power shift going on in NZ rugby. That Chiefs display against my beloved Blues was something to behold. It was raining hard, yet the rugby they played, the precision with which they executed, their intensity at the breakdown...JUSUS, i couldnt be bleak...well i could be, because in as much as they were clinical and urgent the Blues looked lethargic and quite tragic to be honest. A team so well decorated with All Blacks and just generally skillful players looked so uninterested and half asleep. Begs the question is it a function of the coaching setup? have the guys become stale and complacent? or was it just an off day...If Keven's post game reaction is anything to go y then it was an off day and the Bulls will be a game to right their wrongs...a pretty darn tough game id say, why couldnt it have been the Rebels or something :( For the Chiefs, Kerr-Barlow, Nanai-Williams, Sam Cane, Robinson at 15, Sona Taumololo sheesh man, how that little island of 4 million manages to produce a seemingly never ending talent pool, fair enough a lot of them come from Fiji, Samoa and TOnga, but even that is still aaaaamazing! The Landers v Crusaders did you guys see the Landers go? Wow, their urgency at the breakdowns is absolutely impressive, scrambling on defence. Thomo is still doing his thing on the flank more than ably supported by Croswell and Manu in the backrow, Crosswell and Bekuis locking it up and then Hore stealing ball and more than ably supported by Rutledge off the bench. Not a team that will strike fear in anyones hearts. The backs have this 'new' kid called Aaron Smith, who has game, so to Sopoaga who was u21s last year, Tamati Ellison and Hosea, but even that as a unit one will think what...EVER!! but ask the Crusaders and the Chiefs if they are whatever?!It again demonstrates the value of a good man manager, because I believe thats what Jamie Joseph has brought to the team, he has made them realise their value and enhance their desire to work for each other. Something I believe Mark Hammet is trying to instill in the Hurricanes after a chat to some of the players. His philosophy in rugby and in live which is poignant in my mind is always be willing to give more than you receive" Another interesting weekend, yep i got it wrong last weekend...and the weekend before, but Im paying a little more attention to the games perfect start to the weekend... Crusaders v Chiefs, are the Chiefs truly a Force or were the Blues just that bad? SBW against his old team mates, All Black midfielders v wannabe's Cane v Todd, Blyendel v Cruden, Kerr-Barlow v Ellis oh my goodness is it friday yet? Its a tough call and i may well be wrong again but I will go with the Saders on this game. Saders have the patience and aptitude to play the Chiefs. The Chiefs will score tries or at least try but i fear the red machine will suffocate them like they do best. Saders are at their new home ground for the first time this season there will be a lot of will there! Force v Canes...i spent some time with the Canes last weekend, they are a very happy and focused looking camp. They will be buoyed by their win last weekend when no one gave them much of a chance. The only thing counting agains them is the trip back over. I am not speaking much about the Force because i frankly dont know enough. I watched a few minutes of their game. Canes this one Brumbies v Cheetahs...Cheetahs against all odds and logic! they were properly dismantled last weekend, tehy are better than that. They had to travel big disadvantage. their opponents had a week off. the odds are definitely against them so i am going to give them a vote of hope more than belief :) Highlanders v Tahs, Tom Carter on the bench, Barnes starting, Tahs are playing well but nothing exceptional. Highlanders are playing bloody well and i am not sure if its because i am comparing them to how they used to play, but the look exceptional and they are at home Reds v Rebels...Reds Sharks v Lions...and we are back to excitement stations. Both teams coming off a narrow loss, both coaches spitting mad. Lions pipped this self same team at the post for the Currie Cup finals, but let me qualify that by stating that the Sharks' Boks were suffering from a world cup hang over. Lions will have belief and Sharks will have anger, oh my hat im confused...id love to call the Lions, but the sharks at home...id have to go with them Bulls v Blues...Blues seem very relaxed they say their heads are in the right space. But my friends the Bulls are just looking too daunting. 300kg buffalos in every position charging at us well except at scrumhalf. then there is the arial bombs, then there is the fact that they can kick penalties from any where 60m and closer, jusus, I want my Blues to win and i have a sneaky that they will but if i look at the facts (unlike with the Cheetahs) the Bulls will be too strong in the Bull ring. But it will be an open game. And thats me folks thanks for your time