Round 10 Super 12 2005 Wrap

Crusaders 77 Sharks 34 (My tip = Crusaders by 15)
The Crusaders probably woke up on Sunday morning kicking themselves for not notching up 100 points in this match. If there was ever a chance of it happening in the Super 12, it was in this match.

When the teams turned with the Sharks already about 40 points down, I really expected a century by the Crusaders. The Sharks, however, had other ideas and came out of the starting blocks after halftime looking like they were the side leading by 40 points. Momentarily it looked like they could score at will and they ran in a couple of tries.

The Crusaders, like everyone watching, must have been shocked with the tempo the gap was closed and it took a while for them to get into gear again. That cost them their century.

In the end it was another massive win by the Crusaders and they are galloping along to the final.

Reds 21 Cats 15 (My tip = Reds by 4)
This was clearly one of the bottom of the log clashes with a lot of mistakes breaking down most of the constructive movements that were started. If you look at both these sides on paper, a lot more is expected. They did however show why they are in the bottom section of the log and not going anywhere fast either. Not much more to say about this one as the result was only of academical importance with both these teams still in with a possibility of ending at the bottom of the log. The Reds only need two points in their next two matches not to end up at the bottom. The Cats are very much in the running for the wooden spoon.

Bulls 38 Blues 24 (My tip = Bulls by 12)
The Bulls powered their way to another victory and kept a back door open to a possible semi final spot. It was a very tough much that saw one of the most spectacular tries this year, scored by Bryan Habana. He got a pair of tries in so many minutes and showed that he was not the find in SA rugby last year for nothing. He has incredible pace and acceleration and thinks on his feet. The youngster is also a competent center and had represented the SA schools side at number 9.

The Bulls are undoubtedly becoming a threat for the top four teams and if they can pick up two wins in the next two matches they can still sneak into the top.

The Blues can feel happy with their overall performance. They also have chance to make the semi finals even though they have had a very indifferent season. They started the season dismally and had a couple of very unnecessary losses that they should have won. That dismal performance against the Chiefs may just jump up and bite them in the behind. They are now going to have the daunting task to beat the Waratahs and Hurricanes for a place in the semi final.

The Bulls will have to beat the two bottom of the log teams, the Sharks and the Stormers. On performance this season, they should not have any problems, but we know that local derbies can turn into your worst nightmare!

Highlanders 20 Waratahs 41 (My tip = Highlanders by 10)
The Tahs won this one comfortably enough in the end to remain the log leaders. This is their best season in the Super 12 and winning in the House of Pain and winning so convincingly has slayed a number of their dragons. They played superbly and beat the Highlanders who are starting to find the going a little tough. They will have to dig deep to ensure a place in the semi finals.

Peter Hewat was once again the hero of the Waratahs notching up no less than 21 points in the match. His dream season is just continuing. Chris Whittaker, captain of the Tahs, could not have asked for a better present in hi 100th Super 12 match.

The Waratahs only need a win in their last two matches to guarantee a home semi final and as one of the matches is against the Reds, they should be able to clock that victory. Again, this will be home derby, but there is light years difference between the two sides.

Hurricanes 49 Brumbies 37 (My tip = Brumbies by 9)
I was a little surprised with this result. Yes, I know the Brumbies have their problems, but the Canes have also been a side that normally ends up with an average year in the Super 12. This time around the Hurricanes are still third on the log after 10 weeks and also in with a shot for a home semi final. It will take some doing as they only have away games left against the Crusaders and the Blues. Losses without bonus points may just find them outside the top four and end their season in tragedy.

The Hurricanes had Ma’a Nonu in spectacular form and he absolutely ran holes in the Brumbies defense. The Brumbies gave him too much space and the macro wing scored three tries in seventeen minutes! Overall the Hurricanes backs had everything come together that they have worked for and outclassed the Brumbies.

The Brumbies are still in with a miracle chance, but I think their dismal season has really come to en end. With injuries running havoc through their ranks, they could never dig deep enough to be a serious contender this year. We have seen it in the past where the champion side crashes out the next season. This year is going to be no exception with three of last years semi finalists in the bottom half of the log this year!

Stormers 34 Chiefs 37 (My tip = Stormers by 15)
The Chiefs won a closely contested match against the Stormers and so also recording their first ever win in Cape Town. The Stormers is out to prove that they can play eighty minutes of rugby. Last week they played the first 20 and this week the middle 40. I expect to see them playing the last 20 this coming week! The Stormers must be the biggest disappointment in this year’s tournament and I know that the Aussie and NZ readers don’t mind it, but in SA we had high expectations of this talented-on-paper side. Their season has been finished for the last two weeks and they currently only make up the numbers in the competition. They only have one important match left and that is the final round against the Bulls. The match is only important if the Bulls pick up five points in their next round and is only important to the Bulls.

The Chiefs had a flash-in-the-pan last years and reached the semi final. They have however proved this year that their actual place is in the bottom half of the log as they once again find themselves in that familiar territory.

General Super 12 comments
This year’s Super 12 is once again proving that it is one of the most exciting tournaments in the world. There are no less that seven teams that still have a chance of making the semi finals if the permutations go their way. That will lead to a very interesting next two rounds.

Other Rugby
The South African ladies won their first test match on foreign soil when they beat the Welsh ladies by 24-9 in Cardiff.

The Final Word
If there is one thing I hate, it is the number of ex rugby players who is employed by TV networks and newspapers worldwide as analysts. In the three countries involved in the Super 12 and Tri nations, it is not different either. Each one of us has more exposure of your local people and I am sure there are a million different opinions as well.

I believe that everyone has the right to express an opinion, just like I am doing now, but I do have a problem when the opinions are very obviously flawed and changes with the tides. If you believe in something, stick to it, but always be open for discussion and criticism of you opinion.

It is great to have some old rugby stars/personalities involved in the discussions, but it goes seriously wrong when they think that they are the only people who understand the game. I have heard a comment passed by a couple of them by asking, “who did he play for?” or “we have played there” when they cannot win an argument on merit. Sorry friends, that is not an argument. The fact that you were a great rugby player still does not put any intelligence between your ears to be able to analyze the game. The person may have been good player, but was never in his life in a decision-making capacity in rugby – not even at junior schools level! Now that same person wants to tell millions of people how a team should be playing the match and they get upset if they are shown to be talking absolute rubbish.

The fact that you have not played rugby at a high level does not mean you cannot analyze the game. Think of people like Kitch Christie, John Hart and Bob Dwyer. They were all very competent coaches and analyzers of the game and yet they were never rugby playing stars!

I think it is time that the press networks start employing people who can contribute positively and who can prove their wild statements rather than have a famous ex player just proving what everyone knew – he is not the sharpest tool in the shed! I don’t mind these people involved on the box, they do add some value, but use them in other capacities and not as rugby idiots, sorry, analysts!

That is my opinion, what is yours?

Futures topics:

• The best player in the world

• The man of the match award

• If you want a short-term job, become a coach in SA!

• Referees and their impact on matches

• The allocation of the new Super 14 franchise in South Africa

• Ex rugby players who play analysts

• International tours

• The English bubble

• Bonus points in competitions

• Yellow and red cards in rugby

• The format of the Rugby World Cup and spreading of the game

• Some of my favourite players through the years

There are many more, but if there is something you would like me to add to the list, please feel free to let me know!