Try-Fest in Twickenham

The first game of Super Rugby played in the northern hemisphere was a doozie! A few hours ago the Crusaders beat the Sharks 44 to 28 in a fierce contest marked by scything runs and ferocious clear-outs.

The Saders put up 4 tries in the first 30 minutes and looked to have the match in hand. But the Sharks stuck with their game plan of dominating rucks and quick recycling and clawed their way back into contention. It was talent versus character, brains versus heart, and with 15 minutes to go, it was anyone’s game. The end of the game probably came as a disappointment to fans of both sides. With 9 tries scored (5 to the Saders, 4 to the Sharks), no one wanted it to end.

If there was any pressure on the players to put on a good show for the northern hemisphere audience, they didn’t show it. There may be a few who complain about the high score, saying real rugby ought to be a grinding, slow-moving affair. But I suspect there will be more who will be won over by the dizzying pace and rapid ball movement. This was helped, in part, by referee Steve Walsh who evidently left his whistle at home and let most infringements go.

The game was very much a clash of styles. The Saders with their monster backs ran like they were in a Sevens tournament. The Sharks with their monster forwards totally owned the rucks.

It was also a game of contradictions. The Saders ran in 5 tries overall but the Sharks defense was otherwise solid. The Sharks pack were relentless at the breakdown but useless in the scrum

Standout players for the Crusaders included the hard-running Sonny Bill Williams, the energetic Keiran Read, and Zac Guildford, who slotted back into the starting XV like he hadn’t been away.

Standout players for the Sharks included the enterprising Ryan Kankowski, Jacques-Louis Potgieter who scored in a brilliant individual try running 50m through traffic, and the hard-to-put-down Tendai Mtawarira. Why the Beast isn’t in the starting XV is a mystery to me.

My MVP was Dan Carter. Once again he was the maestro leading the orchestra and his flawless kicking (7 from 7) meant the Saders weren’t under quite so much pressure when the Sharks came storming back in the second half.

Kudos to the BSkyB commentators who were operating well out of their comfort zone. For a while there it seemed that they knew the names of only two players – Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter – but they otherwise called the game well. And those super slow-mo replays that are a regular feature of Six Nations rugby were brilliant. Dear Mr Murdoch, can we have those down south too?

The Sharks players went straight from Twickenham to the airport, heading home to prepare for their next match against the table-topping Stormers. The Crusaders have a week off to lick their wounds (injuries to Carter, Read and Sam Whitelock could be costly) before preparing to face the reigning champs, the Bulls, in Timaru.

Super Rugby at Twickenham

This weekend history will be made at Twickenham. The Sharks will enter the history books as the first Super Rugby team to get spanked in the northern hemisphere while the Crusaders will become the first southern hemisphere team to enjoy victory baths in the English changing rooms.

I can’t wait!

Speaking of the Saders, a South African friend recently suggested to me that the red and blacks are currently better than the All Blacks. Well there’s probably a fair amount of overlap between those two teams, but after a second’s thought I had to agree with him. With two exceptions, I would take every one of the starting Crusaders over any other All Black in the same position.

Who are the two exceptions?

1. I’d take Keven Mealamu at hooker over Corey Flynn. Flynn’s arms have been broken so many times he’s forgotten how to throw into line-outs. Well, that’s not quite true. Flynn never knew how to throw into a line-out. Plus, Mealamu’s been wearing his game face lately and he looks increasingly like the first choice in an ever-shrinking pool of Kiwi hookers. (I’d consider Rutledge if the Highlander was a little bigger.)

2. I’d also take Hosea Gear over the rookie Adam Whitelock on the left wing. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I would seriously consider giving Sean Maitland a run at 14. I’ve been no fan of his over the past four years, but he’s having a brilliant start to the 2011 season. So maybe he’s washed off all that butter that used to be on his fingers.

Why the All Blacks Won’t Win the 2011 RWC

It grieves me to say it, but have some reservations about the ABs winning this year’s RWC. I can sum those reservations up in two words: Peter Grant. Cup finals are not decided by tries but kicks. Whoever is kicking better on the day will win. Period.

Right now the Stormers No.10 is probably the best kicker in the tournament. I know it’s early days, but I reckon the way things are shaping up, it’ll be Grant and not Steyn who runs out for the Boks in June. Having a reliable kicker is supremely important in World Cup final.

Remember how good Elton Flatley was when Australia lost to England? Flatley was outstanding but it was Jonny Wilkinson who got the last kick in. That’s it. Four years of preparation comes down to kicking on the day.

I predict the All Blacks will blow every team out of the water with their superior try-scoring offense. But come the semis and the final and everything will change. The games will be super tight defensively and if Carter kicks well NZ will win and if it’s close then Grant (or Wilko!) will knock over a DG.

This will be followed by four more years of wondering what went wrong.

Prelude to Super Rugby 2011

The new Super Rugby season is about to kick off with a new team and a new format. I think the new arrangement has a number of positive features. For instance, I like the idea of the Crusaders getting to beat the Canes twice in a single season. More local derbies is a big plus.

But there are two things I don’t like about the new format.

1. Not every team gets to play every other team. This year the Saders won’t get to play the Stormers unless both teams meet in the finals. That’s a pity.

2. It means the Grand Final will be in Brisbane. Why do I say that? Because the top two teams in each nation are guaranteed an appeance in the finals with home court advantage going to the team with the most competition points. So while the South African and Kiwi teams will be beating themselves silly, the Queensland Reds will be quietly riding the wave of mediocrity that is Australian rugby to the top of the table.

The Reds will have no problem beating the Rebels, the Force and the crumbling Brumbies. Sure, they’ll lose to the Tahs in Sydney but then beat them in Brizzy. Boosting their chances further is a sweet fixtures list that means they will play a number of tough games at home, including the Bulls and Saders. Last year the Reds beat both of those teams at home and this year, for some inexplicable reason, they get the chance to do it again.

So put your money on it – the Reds will be in the Final simply because the new format favors them more than any other team. And the Crusaders will smash them.

All Blacks Win Tri-Nations in Soweto Thriller

What a match! What an ending! The 2010 Tri-Nations is over with two tests remaining. With four victories in four tests, New Zealand won the cup that they lost to South Africa last year. They did it in emphatic fashion with a last gasp 29-22 point win over the Boks in Soweto.

Springbok fans will be heartbroken, and none more so than captain John Smit, losing in his 100th test match. An official record 94,700 fans came out to support their team who were so far win-less in this year’s 3N series. And what a difference three weeks make. For most of this match the Springboks were playing with their old verve, smashing into tackles and driving runners back. What particularly struck me was that they were smiling. Right from the haka to the 77th minute, the Boks looked happy to be playing rugby. What a change from a month ago.

Two Boks who really stood out were Juan Smith and Francois Hougaard. The whole back row looked good for South Africa, but Juan Smith tackled everything, even the referee. (And boy was he apologetic about that!) Hougaard was the best of the four scrumhalfs who played by a long stretch.

The All Blacks played well below their normal standard, and that mostly reflected the intensity of the Boks’ defense. When they did break the advantage line they often ran unsupported. Both Dan Carter and Cory Jane found themselves inches from the try-line with the ball in hand but no support.

The Boks had the advantage in the scrums and under the high ball. Morne Steyn kicked a perfect 6 from 6. (Carter kicked 5 from 8.) But on defense, the ABs were at least their equal.

What decided this evenly balanced game? In two words, Richie McCaw. If there was ever a captain that just refused to let his team lose, it was Richie in this match. He was involved in everything. He broke tackles, stole the ball, and scored the levelling try under huge pressure when there was just three minutes on the clock.

Carter missed the conversion giving Boks another chance to win. At that point you would’ve put good money on Morne Steyne slotting a drop goal. But the ball was lost and the next moment Nonu was busting through a missed tackle from John Smit then making a sublime pass to send super-sub Israel Dagg across the line. Game, set and series New Zealand!

All Blacks 4 : 0 Springboks

Four tries to zero. Tonight at Eden Park the Springbok myth ran into hard All Black reality. For the past 12 months there has been a sense that the second best team in the world was really the top side. But tonight the pretenders were completely outplayed by the number one-ranked side with the ABs winning 32 to 12.

The ABs dominated virtually every aspect of the game:

Scrums: All Blacks

Lineouts: All Blacks (3 against the throw!)

Mauls: All Blacks

Counter-attacks: All Blacks

Tries scored: All Blacks

Missed tackles: Springboks

It was a night of surprises: The great Pierre Spies was totally outclassed by his opposite, and occasionally pant-less Keiran Read. The journeyman Tom Donelly outplayed the legendary Victor Matfield. The NZ front row put the South Africans on the back foot all night long.

Who played well for the Boks? Zane Kirchner was always at the right place at the right time. Morne Steyn kept his side in the contest with four penalties, but it wasn’t enough. Habana put endless pressure on the NZ back three. Even Rickie Janurie put in a good effort in the first half.

And the rest? Well Bakkies was Bakkies and Butch was Butch. Both of them were oafish and unprofessional. Bakkies managed to play all of 12 minutes before being sin-binned and will probably receive a suspension for head-butting Jimmy Cowan from behind. John de Villiers should’ve stayed in Europe. During the post-match interview John Smit gave that smile we’ve seen many times before that seems to say, “just wait until next time.” It’s always next time.

Who played well for the ABs? Tom Donelly, Keven Mealamu, Mils Muliaina and Richie McCaw were outstanding, but my MVP was Kieran Read. His goofy smile belies a truly world-class competitor.

All week I had been saying to anyone who listened that the All Blacks were going to win this one easily. Local Aucklanders, long used to disappointment in their rugby, shook their heads with sad pessimism. “Oh no,” they said, “the SAFFAs are too strong.” They will now probably say a stung Springbok side will come out firing next week in Wellington. No doubt they will, but it won’t change a thing.

The All Blacks remain the number one side in world rugby by a margin equivalent to four unanswered tries.

Dan Defeats the Dragon. Again.

Since his outstanding debut against them in 2003, Dan Carter has faced the Welsh seven times. He has single-handedly out-scored them on six of those occasions…

21 Jun 2003 NZ beat Wales at Hamilton 55-3 (Carter scored 20)
20 Nov 2004 NZ beat Wales at Cardiff 26-25 (Carter scored 11)
5 Nov 2005 NZ beat Wales at Cardiff 41-3 (Carter scored 26)
25 Nov 2006 NZ beat Wales at Cardiff 45-10 (Carter scored 16)
22 Nov 2008 NZ beat Wales at Cardiff 29-9, (Carter scored 19)
7 Nov 2009 NZ beat Wales at Cardiff 19-12 (Carter scored 14)
19 Jun 2010 NZ beat Wales at Dunedin 42-9 (Carter scored 27)

(For the history buffs out there, Carter did not play in the NZ-Wales test in the 2003 RWC in Sydney.)

In these seven matches Wales has scored, on average, 10 points to Carter’s 19. The All Blacks altogether have averaged 36 points per test, but there’s no story there.

Carter has consistently scored nearly double the Welsh opposition over a period of 8 years. Last Saturday night in Dunedin he scored three points for every point they put on the board. (That’s two tries, four conversions, and three penalties.) And he only played 30 minutes of good rugby!

Has there ever been a better example of one player consistently outscoring an entire team in test rugby?

Morne Steyn Wins 2010 Super 14 Final

Bulls’ flyhalf Morne Steyn defeated the Stormers single-bootedly to win the 2010 Super 14 Final a few hours ago in Soweto. His was a near flawless performance with 7 from 8 kicks at goal successful. He kicked six penalties and one conversion. Steyn scored 20 points to the Stormers’ total of 17.

This follows last year’s performance when he scored 19 to the Chiefs’ 17.

Seriously though, rugby’s a team game. Steyn wasn’t alone and he was well supported by Fourie du Preez.

The officials at the match gave the MVP to the try-scoring, try-stopping Francois Hougaard. Hougaard indeed had a great game, but du Preez is the master behind the Bulls victorious season and finals.

Some say du Preez was robbed in not winning IRB player of the year last year. Well he’s making a strong case for winning the gong this year. If there’s a better or more successful scrum-half I don’t know who he is.

And congratulations to Victor Matfield who now joins a very small club of captains who have won at three Super Rugby championships. (The other two captains are Todd Blackadder and Richie McCaw.)

How did the Bulls win the Final?

The same way they’ve won every other game this season. They kicked and chased and boy, how they chased! We can only imagine the second-guessing that goes on in the mind of an opponent waiting under a high kick. “Who’s going to hit me first?” Usually it was about half of ton of blue-wearing, Afrikaner speaking humanity. Few teams were able to withstand the pressure in 2010.

The Stormers were robbed a few times by some dubious reffing from Craig Joubert, but they were never in the game. Any spark they brought with them was well and truly smothered by Bulls. The better team won. Congratulations to da Bulls. With three Finals wins in four years, they have established themselves as the dominant team in Super Rugby.

As an aside, can any of our readers tell us why Matfield referred to Jaco van der Westhuyzen as Mr Miyagi in the prize presentation?

Crusaders Humbled in Soweto

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I was wrong. I seldom am wrong, but when I am I’ll man up to it. At the start of the season I picked the Saders and the Bulls to make the semis, and they did, but I backed the Cantabrians to go the whole way and they didn’t. I have rarely missed any excuse to sound off about my beloved Crusaders, but for much of this season, and yesterday in particular, they silenced me with their all-round feebleness.

Is this the end of an era?

The Crusaders have long played boring, stifling rugby, and, as long as they kept winning, we loved them for it. But this year they played boring, losing rugby. They lost four of their last five games.

Sure, they finished as the best-placed Kiwi team – no surprises there – but I am left with a huge sense of disbelief. I’m as frustrated as Richie McCaw must be wondering where the heck is team mates were.

I watched all 14 games played by the Crusaders in 2010. Here’s my overall assessment of the players…

The once great Dan Carter had 2 good games out of 14 and neither of them was yesterday. His mind rarely seems to be on the game these days. Perhaps he’s too busy opening clothing stores. The All Blacks are worried that DC might break a leg. What if he didn’t? What if he just continued to play like he’s been playing? What then?

Perhaps motivated by the threat of Kahn Fotuali’i on the bench, Andy Ellis had a huge game against the Brumbies last week. But yesterday he reverted to type with his aimless little runs and his lazy little lofts.

Sean Maitland has inherited Stephen Brett’s knack for making us leap and weep in the same play. He’s got legs of steel but hands of butter.

Robbie Fruen was given Casey Laulala’s huge jersey to fill and after 14 games still looks like a debutant.

Colin Slade, who ought to be Dan Carter’s All Black deputy, played with verve for much of the season but wilted under the pressure of the big game. So did Zac Guildford who had an otherwise standout first season.

Of all the backs who played yesterday, the only one who looked even half-ready was Daniel Bowden. Well done son for seizing the opportunity afforded you by Ryan Crotty‘s absence. (I might add that I thought Crotty’s defensive work was consistent all season.)

And now for the positives…

Richie McCaw and Keiran Read were the best on field for the Saders in Soweto. When Read fires off passes from the back of the scrum they have smoke on them. He’s also reliable under the high ball which, sadly, makes him a bit of a rarity these days. McCaw seemed to take half the season to adapt to the new rules, but whenever the refs allowed a contest at the breakdown he was utterly dominant. My only complaint with McCaw is he takes too long to recognize when a strategy isn’t working. Still, it must be hard to think when your head is being used as a doormat by burly opponents.

The Franks brothers (Ben and Owen) have given the Saders a scrum to be proud of. They’re young and full of promise. If only they were a bit more mobile with the ball in hand and they’d be shoe-ins for the test side.

Ti’i Paulo can’t throw line outs but show me any NZ hooker who can these days. Paulo would probably not have played if Corey Flynn’s arms weren’t so delicate, but he (Paulo) has seized the opportunity to show case his considerable talents. His style is suited to the running game and he’s a Mealamu in the making.

Brad Thorn was holding himself back for half of the season flopping onto tackles, but came good near the end. When he wants to be, he’s a presence, a talisman of the Reuben Thorne mould. It’s hard to imagine the Saders winning without him.

Sam and George Whitelock are a couple of steady eddies. Expect to see Sam at least in an All Blacks jersey soon. and possibly

The funny thing about the Crusader reserves is that while they’re not good enough to start, many of them are good enough to wear an All Black jersey. In this group I would include Kahn Fotuali’i, Thomas Waldrom and possibly Ryan Crotty.

I can’t make up my mind about Chris Jack. It’s nice to have him back but he doesn’t seem as mobile as he used to be. What is it about returning ABs? I can’t think of one who is even as good as when he left. Tim Bateman is the Richard Hammond of rugby. He’s enthusiastic, gets stuck in, but he’s so undeniably small that one fears for his safety, especially when playing the Bulls. Wyatt Crockett seems to have alienated every ref in the league. I can’t recall a single game where he didn’t give away three points for something. Jared Payne looked better last year.

Crusaders Send George Smith Into Retirement

The Crusaders have ended the Brumbies’ Super 14 season defeating them 40-22 tonight in Christchurch. Having just lost three on the road, and with their own season on the line, the Saders showed their class. They dominated right from the kick off and never looked like losing. They scored 5 tries to 3 securing them an important bonus point victory.

The win sends the Crusaders charging into the semi-finals for their ninth year in a row!

Zac Guildford was my MVP. He had a hand in setting two tries and scored one of his own.

The great George Smith (110 test matches) finished a stellar career with a decent game. In a nice touch his teammates let him have a crack at the final conversion. Unfortunately he dragged it left. I reckon if he’d made it the 28,000 Cantabrians in attendance would’ve roared with delight.

In the post-match interview Richie McCaw credited his long-term rival as a “menace” and “true champion.”

Thanks for the memories George. You’re all class. See you later.

While the boys from Canberra are heading home to lick their wounds, the men in red are probably heading straight back to South Africa.

Classic Match on the Highveld Goes Down to the Wire

Wow! What a game! In the end the Crusaders were denied victory after the Bulls scored the a try in the 81st minute. But the reality is both teams were outstanding. This was a game for the ages.

The final score 40-35 in favour of the Bulls. The Crusaders scored four tries, three conversions, two penalties and one drop goal. The Bulls scored three tries, two conversions, five penalties, and two drop goals.

Strangely, it was a game of tries and kicks. Morne Steyn, who scored 25 points for the Bulls, kept his team close in an otherwise quiet first half with two 50+m penalties and a drop goal. Although Canterbury crossed the line again and again, Steyn’s kicks ensured the Bulls were always a threat.

Daniel Carter responded in kind with a drop goal of his own and clutch 55m penalty to take the lead with two minutes to go.

The Bulls dominated the scrums and the line-outs. The Saders dominated the territory. In the first half the Bulls were hardly out of their own half. But it didn’t matter thanks to Steyn’s long-distance kicking.

Francois Hougaard was brilliant for the Bulls out-running the field and dotting down his first try in the 31st minute. But it was his second try – after catching an errant pass that had bounced off a Crusaders’ hand – that secured victory for the home side.

After two awful games on the road every Crusader stepped up tonight. Every single one of them played like their lives depended on it. Andy Ellis, recalled to the starting XV despite decent performances from Kahn Fotuali’i, seized the opportunity and led well. Dan Carter got better and better as the game wore on. Colin Slade was reliable. But the most improved player out there was the great-once-again Richie McCaw. He was everywhere.

Of course I’m gutted by the result. The Saders deserved to win and were a tiny bit unlucky not to do so. That said, the Bulls are all class. They never gave up despite leaking four tries.

Things just got a little tighter at the top of the table. But if it turns out that the Saders survive to play the Bulls again in Loftus in the next few weeks, it will be a rematch of epic proportions.

Reds Roll Over Bulls

The Queensland Reds played some of the best rugby I’ve ever seen to beat the Champion Bulls 19-12 on Saturday night. What a game it was!

Three years ago the Bulls thrashed the Reds 92-3. The Reds have, er, improved a little since then.

The Bulls were frustrated at every turn. They didn’t get either the ball or the calls. Morne Steyn had an off night. Wynand Olivier was well contained as was Pierre Spies. Fourie du Preez? Where were you?

How did the Reds do it? They ran and ran and ran from every where in the field. They didn’t kick it out of their own 22 until the dying minutes of the game. Will Genia was a wizard slicing and dicing up the middle. Quade Cooper was in total control of his team. Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane also made good ground with the ball.

The Reds forwards played above themselves holding their own in the lineouts and scrums. Daniel Braid was a rock and Scott Higginbotham scored an outstanding individual try.

The try of the night though belonged to the visitors. At the fifth minute mark they raced down field recycling the ball through multiple phases until Derick Kuun dotted down. Steyn converted and that was it for over an hour.

I suspect many people, like me, have become closet Reds fans this season. It’s hard not to cheer for the underdogs. They have come out of nowhere to knock down some hefty opponents. Right now they are the top-ranked Australian side and, if they can keep up this sort of performance, they will have their first semi-final appearance in 9 years. It will be well earned.

Who Can Stop the Stormers?

Earlier today Graham Henry said the Stormers were the in form side of this year’s Super 14. Having just watched them demolish the Chiefs, 49-15, it’s hard to disagree.

Think about this, the Stormers have lost just twice this season, and their biggest loss was just 2 points. But their wins. Oh my – they’ve torn apart the Tahs, the Canes and the Highlanders. Last week they silenced a resurgent Blues side and tonight they effectively ended the Chief’s season.

If defense wins championships, the Stormers are shoe-ins. Their defense is the best in the league by a long mile. Prior to tonight’s game they had conceded just 96 points. The next best team – the Crusaders – had let in 161 points.

This is a completely different Stormers team from previous season. Schalk Burger is just one of many forwards who are playing with discipline and smarts. Yes, I said Schalk Burger. (Here’s a message for Heinrich Brussow. Schalk wants his Springbok jersey back.) Andres Bekker has suddenly become the best lock in South Africa. He’s tall, mobile, and his work ethic is outstanding. Leibenberg doesn’t look any more mobile than any other hooker, but looks can be deceiving.

The Stormers backs aren’t too bad either. Jacque Fourie must be one of the top 3 outside centres in the world. Peter Grant is a superb goal kicker. Bryan Habana has slotted right in to his new side.

What really impressed me about how they’ve played in New Zealand is how well they have recycled the ball. They are one of the few teams to exploit the new rules regarding the breakdown. Their offense is relentless. They run opponents ragged and are very good at taking care of the pill.

Kind of like how the Crusaders used to be.

The Stormers’ season is about to get a whole lot tougher. Next week they play the Reds in Brisbane, then it’s the Saders in Cape Town. Their last game is against the Bulls.

But if they continue to play like they did tonight, then the Super 14 Final on May 29 will be in Cape Town. No doubt about it.

Dan Carter’s Super Rugby Record: 1,022 Points!

Dan Carter had an average night in Christchurch missing three kicks at goal. But he made enough points to overtake Stirling Mortlock as the all-time individual points-scoring leader in Super Rugby history.

Carter started playing Super 12 rugby in 2003. He took half of 2007 off for the All Black’s conditioning programme and he missed all of the 2009 season breaking legs in France. So he’s got his 1,022 points in about 6 seasons all told. That works out to be about 170 points per season or about 13-14 points per game.

Later this year Carter will likely become the first All Black to score 1,000 test points as well. So 2010 is shaping up to be the year of millenniums. Congratulations DC!

Beatabull!

The Bulls’ 12 game winning streak came to a sudden end tonight at Mt Eden. Stephen Brett put up 22 points and the Blues won 32-17. The Blues played better than they have in eons and ran the Bulls ragged with their wide game.

In the coming fortnight the Bulls are likely to be tested by both the Chiefs (in Hamilton) and the Reds (in Brisbane). Meanwhile the Blues will be looking to repeat their form against the Stormers. It looks like there will be a real shake-up at the top of the table.

Saders Snatch Draw from the Jaws of Defeat Which they Previously Snatched from the Jaws of Victory

I guess a draw is better than a loss – just ask the Stormers who handed the Force their first win since Queen Victoria reigned.

But what in the world of Carmen Miranda is going on in the Crusader’s camp? They romp out to an 18-0 lead in Wellington, stick it in neutral and let the Canes out-play them at their own game. Then when they realize they’re in trouble it’s time for a bit of panic and oh deary-dear. They very nearly lost to a team they have beaten in 7 of their last 8 encounters.

If you missed the game last night, the Crusaders scored the equalizer try a full three minutes after the siren. Then Mr 1000-points Dan Carter choked on the conversion that would’ve given them an undeserved victory.

Nonu, Smith and Hore were brilliant for the Canes. Their All Black jerseys looked very secure last night. Cory Jane was also reliable and should be the preferred back-up to Mils Muliaina in the national team.

The same could not be said of certain Crusaders. Keiran Read had a below average night. Brad Thorn seems to be concerned with self-preservation most of the time. Sam Whitelock and Colin Slade both had what locks and fullbacks should never have – butterfingers. Carter was great on defense but was absent-minded on a night when his team sorely needed his leadership.

But what really bugs this Saders fan is how the team often seems to lack heart, particularly on defense. If you want an exemplar of guts at the breakdown, look no further than Andrew Hore. He’s into everything and I’m sure he pinched the ball more than any flanker on the field.

It’s often said of Crusader victories that they were achieved without the team getting out of second gear. You could say the same of their losses in draws. I’m beginning to wonder if there’s anything beyond second gear.

As usual, I have a few suggestions for Coach Blackadder.

On Monday take the squad to the bottom of Mt Hutt. Tell them every spot is open and the first 8 forwards and the first 7 backs to reach the top will get to start against the Tahs. Anyone who doesn’t make it to the top can go play for the Blues.

Incidentally, you have a game in Pretoria coming up soon so running up hills should be a regular feature of your training.

Second, you have a number of talented people competing for the same spot. Here’s how you can decide who gets to start. Put a rugby ball in the middle of the pitch. Put, say, Andy Ellis at one end and Kahn Fotuali’i at the other. Blow your whistle. First one to pick the ball up and score a try gets the Number 9 jersey. Do the same thing for the four locks crowding each other on the bench. Don’t do it for the flankers though because we don’t want Richie and Read getting embarrassed by the great and departing Thomas Waldrom.

Incidentally, you should do whatever it takes to keep Waldrom. Bury his passport, put him on the travel watchlist, but don’t let him go.

Third, it was nice to see a maul or two last night. They weren’t pretty but by golly they had the Canes in a tiz. There’s a real opportunity to become the only Kiwi side that masters the maul. BTW, the scrum is looking great. Given Owen Franks a pat on the head.

Fourth, burn all that cotton-wool that you’ve been using to protect your marque players. This idea that they need to look after themselves has affected their playing mentality. They’re holding back. Swap the cotton wool for a rocket up the bum of some of your senior players who should know better.

Fifth, anyone team member caught putting highlights in their hair can also go and play for the Blues.

Sixth, if none of the above works, given Reuben Thorne a call. I believe he’s playing for the Cup Noodles team in Japan somewhere. He was no superstar but his worth ethic is legendary. He could teach the 2010 squad a thing or two about that.

18 Try Record in Jo-Burg

The Chiefs defeated the Lions 72-65 last night in Jo’burg. Both teams scored 9 tries. Unfortunately the game wasn’t shown on Sky so I haven’t seen it, but from what I’ve read here’s how it panned out: The Lions got up 25-17 points before the Chiefs poured on 48 unanswered points. Then the Lions added 40 points of their own. In the end the difference was the kickers. The Lions’ Earl Rose kicked 9 of 12 while Stephen Donald stepped up big time for the Chiefs to nail 12 of 12. Add in the try he also scored and Donald ended up with 32 points.

Here are the highlights:

- record highest combined points in a Super Rugby match (137)

- record highest points scored on the road (72 to the Chiefs)

- hat-tricks were scored by both Richard Kahui of the Chiefs and Wandile Mjekevu of the Lions

One wonders what coach Ian Foster is going to say to the Chiefs after this. “Well done guys for winning two on the road in South Africa. But let’s not let in 9 tries ever again.”

Spanking at Suncorp Stadium

The Reds declared their intentions last night at Suncorp defeating the Crusaders 41-20. Full credit to Quade Cooper who turned in an MVP performance scoring 31 points.

What happened to the mighty Saders? They were lazy, lazy, lazy. Perhaps they underestimated the Reds. Perhaps the summer heat of Brisbane got to them. But they were their own worst enemies. If errors were points they would’ve won by miles. They couldn’t hold onto the pill. I don’t think they strung together even 3 phases. It was probably their worst performance in years.

So well done to Ewen McKenzie who clearly is working some magic back stage. The Reds very nearly defeated the Tahs last week and slayed a giant this week.

Stephen Brett: Auckland Hero?

Auckland Blues fly-half Stephen Brett had a hand in all three tries scored at North Harbour Stadium last night. He scored the first and set up the second to John Afoa, then handed a gift pass to opposition winger Hosea Gear.

If you missed the game, Brett was brilliant in the first half and woeful in the second. For 40 minutes he was Auckland’s inspirational leader. After the break he gave Wellington the start they needed to secure the victory. For those of us who hail from Canterbury it was deja vu all over again.

Did you not wonder, Aucklanders, why we Cantabrians didn’t make a fuss when you took Brett away from us over the summer?

Stephen Brett is a talented rugby player – make no doubt about it. But unfortunately he’s as steady as a drunk on a skateboard. One moment he’s setting up tries, the next he’s a revolving door while Pierre Spies races past to score the semi-final winning try for the Bulls last year. Did you think we’d forgotten?

Last year the Saders lost 4 of their first 5 games. You hate to blame a single player but if Brett had made even half of his kicks those four losses would’ve been victories. And then we would’ve been playing the Bulls in Christchurch not Pretoria and you know what that means.

No, we’re over it. Really. I was thrilled to hear that Auckland had secured Brett’s services and I really hope it works out for him and them. You guys look good together.

Auckland, the home of erratic champions like Carlos Spencer and Isaia Toeava. Brett should fit right in with the Blues. It’s a perfect match.

New Rules = New Record

The Hurricanes slotted a Super Rugby record 9 penalty goals last night at North Harbour Stadium. Stu Dickinson’s whistle kept them in the game in the first half (despite Willie Ripia’s average kicking) then gave them the victory in the second when ever-reliable Piri Weepu started banging them in from all over. I forget the exact penalty count but it was a lot.

Full credit to the Canes for adapting to the new breakdown rules. Auckland Blues – did you miss that memo or something?