Round 12 Super 12 2005 Wrap

Crusaders 40 Hurricanes 20 (My tip = Crusaders by 10)
The Crusaders were always going to win this match and they did what was required. They rested a number of their key players and played the dress rehearsal to the semi final that will take place on the same field. The Hurricanes were never really in the match and the Crusaders seemed to have control for most of the match. The red and black pack took the Canes on and ensured a good steady stream of possession for Andrew Mehrtens, playing for the rested Carter. Mehrtens dictated with his educated boot and he outclassed the young Jimmy Gopperth.

They are to me still the team to beat if you want to win this year’s Super 12. They are the most consistent side and have won and played in more final than any other team and their class is just obvious. Baring a miracle, I think they can make a place for the last Super 12 trophy.

Waratahs 25 Blues 20 (My tip = Waratahs by 15)
Peter Hewat was once again the star of the Waratahs, but they had to dig deep to beat the Blues. They had to score four tries to ensure their place on the top of the log, but unfortunately they could not manage four tries and end up in second place. The Blues had to win to have any possible chance to reach the semi finals, but even though they tried hard, the Tahs were too good. Peter Hewat once again came in with a superb performance and the old veteran Nathan Grey scored a beauty to win the match.

Their second place will give them a home semi final against the Bulls.

Chiefs 31 Highlanders 8 (My tip = Highlanders by 5)
I have said for a while that I reckon the Highlanders are the most over estimated team in the Super 12 and that they do not belong in the top of the log. They proved me 100% correct by crashing out against the “bad” Chiefs. The Chiefs left their best match for last and looking at their performance against the Highlanders, they looked like a side that should be in the semi final. Unfortunately it must also be seen in the light that the Highlanders were absolutely hopeless. They would have even lost against the Reds if they played against them (I am sure the admin would like that comment!). Fortunately for the Highlanders David Hill was off target, otherwise this score could have been a lot worse. Annesi and Sivivatu were once again the destroyers for the Chiefs.

Reds 21 Brumbies 38 (My tip = Brumbies by 8)
The Reds definitely left their best performance for last and they were superb in the first half. While Flatley and Latham watched their team mates from the stands, they would have been happy when the Reds lead by 21-19 half time. Well deserved, if I should say so myself. Then it all went wrong. The Brumbies started showing their class and Gitaeu started cutting up the Reds in center field. That is when it all went wrong for the Reds and the Brumbies scored another 19 unanswered points in the second half. I know there was a big fuss about the Brumbies also making the semi final if the Bulls loose by about 100 million, but it was never a realistic chance. Both teams will be happy to go and start preparing for the next competition.

Bulls 75 Stormers 14 (My tip = Stormers by 3)
If there was ever an unexpected result, it was this one. It was always going to be a 50/50 match with one side just tipping the other one. What a contrast! The Bulls pack was just awesome and they destroyed the Stormers pack. It must also be noted that Stormers just continued on their pathetic form the whole tournament. The Stormers had about three chances to score in the first half and at this level you need to take the chances. They did not and found themselves trailing 30-7 at halftime instead of being less that 10 behind. The pressure from the Bulls pack was just too much and the Stormers crumbled in the second half. With all the possession the Bulls back flourished and Morne Steyn had another great day at flyhalf, scoring no less than 35 points.

The Bulls will take a lot of confidence from this match as not only was it the first time they ever beat the Stormers, but they slaughtered them. The Bulls will now be traveling to Sydney to take on the Waratahs for a place in the final. They will have to make a u-turn in their overseas performances to do so.

Cats 20 Sharks 20 (My tip = a draw!)
Well, what will I say? I called this draw 100%! It was the fight for the wooden spoon and the Sharks managed to ward off a big challenge by the Cats to lose this match, by managing to pull a draw out of it and retaining their position to be officially the worse side in this year’s Super 12. They only had one win and that was against the Brumbies – the start of the Brumbies’ demise. There is not much to say about the match as the handling and defense was as bad as we saw it all season this far, but it was at least entertaining. These teams need some serious improvement if they ever want to be any competition in the Super 14.

General Super 12 comments
We have now reached the final play-offs on the way to the finals. The Crusaders will take on the Hurricanes from Wellington in Christchurch and the Waratahs will play host in Sydney to the Bulls from Pretoria. One thing which is again certain, is that we will once again have a New Zeeland team in the final.

Other Rugby
The SA selectors have announced their provisional squad and have a number of SA supporters hot under the collar. There is a question mark here and there, but overall it was basically expected. I will reserve my comments until the squad has been trimmed down to the actual Bok squad and not a training squad.

The Final Word
Something that always raises a question is the allocation of bonus points in rugby tournaments. We currently see the impact of it where the Bulls have ended up higher than the Hurricanes on the log, although they have won one less match this year. They do, however, got right up there due to bonus points. In the current scoring method, you get four points for a win, one point if you score four tries or more and one point if you lose with less than seven.

In a tournament where you have eleven or twelve rounds, there is definite merit in the bonus point system. I personally think that they should actually even increase the stakes by awarding six tries with another bonus point and eight with one more. One for three or more drop goals and one for a 100% goal kicking record – for three or more kicks!

The problem starts coming in when you only have a couple of rounds, like in the six nations. In a tournament where there are not so many rounds, the weather can be a very big leveling factor. We have seen cases where excellent teams can totally dominate a match, but due to some cyclone hitting the field, it is just impossible to get a high score. How does that compare with a team who has a fairly mediocre performance, but due to the ounce of a ball on a hard sunny day, they score four tries and win!

In the six Nations a couple of years ago I had a look at allocating bonus points. The amazing thing was that England, who was without any doubt the strongest team in the tournament, only got one bonus point after losing a close match against – I think it was Scotland - in a dreadfully wet and muddy match. Where is the fairness in the bonus point structure now if the team who obviously dominated all play only played in bad weather and would not have earned a single point in the whole tournament?

On the point of points allocation, the worst there is must be the tournaments where the winning team get four for a win and the loosing team one for the loss! Just give me one good reason why any loosing side who can whipped by 100 points gets a points for taking the field? That is like paying appearance money for someone whom you know will get whipped before the match is started.

In summary, I am all for the allocation of bonus points but you must be careful how and in which tournaments you allocate them.

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

• Bonus points in competitions

• The English bubble

• 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!