Friday’s games:

Highlanders VS Waratahs: The Highlanders hosted the Waratahs for the first game of Round 12 of the 2010 Super 14, in a game where not many, myself included, gave the Highlanders a chance at winning.

The Waratahs had never played a game in Invercargill and after Friday’s conditions, I’m sure they will be hoping not to play there again in the near future.

The game was marred with gale-force winds and driving rain from the outset, and the Highlanders used the conditions to their advantage, scoring three tries, and displaying a great defensive effort to allow the visitors only one try.

The Waratahs pitched up well knowing that their hopes of making the playoffs was within their grasp, but somehow failed to achieve their task on the night. They lost almost every facet of the match-up, and dug deeper, the hole they will have to climb out of if they want to progress to the playoffs.

My two cents worth:

• The Highlanders enjoyed a 65% territorial advantage and 52% possession, totally outclassing the Waratahs through the phases.
• Adam Thomson was  the standout player of the night, having 16 runs, gaining 106m with ball in hand and breaking the Waratahs’ line twice.
• The Waratahs’ defense was pretty average, with Ben Mowen the worst of them all, missing 7 tackles on the night.

Highlanders VS Waratahs 2010 Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

Scorecard:

Highlanders: 26

Tries: Steven Setephano 10m, Adam Thomson (2) 13m, 46m

Conversions: 1/3 (33%) Matt Berquist 0/1 (0%) Israel Dagg 1/2 (50%)

Penalties: 3/4 (75%) Matt Berquist 3/3 (100%) Israel Dagg 0/1 (0%)

Waratahs: 10

Tries: Kurtley Beale 33m

Conversions: 1/1 (100%) Daniel Halangahu 1/1 (100%)

Penalties: 1/1 (100%) Daniel Halangahu 1/1 (100%)

Stormers VS Crusaders: The Stormers moved one step closer to securing that vital home semi final spot when the systematically demolished the 7 time champion, Crusaders 42 – 14 at a capacity packed Newlands stadium on Friday night.

In the process, the Stormers made history as the only South African team to have had a clean sweep of victories over every Kiwi team in the competition.

The build up to the game suggested that it would have all the markings of a test match, and the game itself delivered on everything the fans were hoping for.

The Stormers were not on the right side of the territory or possession, but dominated the breakdowns and used their chances well, with Jaque Fourie putting in an absolutely sublime performance, both in attack and defense.

My two cents worth:

• I never thought I would say these words, but I was actually impressed with Stuart Dickinson on the night, he was fair both ways, and communicated well with the players.
• The Crusaders never made it past 6 phases, whilst the Stormers at one point took the ball through 16 phases.
• Jaque Fourie showed why he is widely regarded as the best #13 in the world. He made absolute fools of Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Zac Guildford en route to the try line. Gaining a total of 151m with ball in hand and breaking the Crusaders’ defensive line 3 times.
• The Stormers have the best loose trio combination in the competition, and Francois Louw must surely become a Springbok this year. He is leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else in his position.
• Dan Carter simply doesn’t seem like the player he used to be.
• The Crusaders’ discipline was horrible, whilst Peter Grant’s kicking was near perfect.
• Tim Whitehead had yet another superb display once he had taken the field, making a number of crucial, try saving tackles.

Crusaders VS Crusaders 2010 Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

Because I love you, here is a bonus clip of the Stormers change room after the game.

Inside the Stormers Change-room: [lindseyrayner]

Scorecard:

Stormers: 42

Tries: Jaque Fourie (2) 47m, 80m, Sireli Naqelevuki 73m

Conversions: 3/3 (100%) Peter Grant 3/3 (100%)

Penalties: 7/9 (78%) Peter Grant 7/9 (78%)

Crusaders: 14

Tries: Daniel Carter 7m, Colin Slade 76m

Conversions: 2/2 (100%) Daniel Carter 2/2 (100%)

Penalties: 0/1 (0%) Daniel Carter 0/1 (0%)

Judging from this weeks nuclear refereeing fallout, it would seem as if it’s about time the IRB seek new sponsorship with one of the major cotton wool manufacturers, because at the rate that they keep wrapping their referees in a cotton wool protective cocoon, it might become expensive.

This whole debacle with the state of refereeing in this year’s competition is reaching boiling point after the latest incident involving Steve Walsh’s refereeing display during round 11 of the 2010 Super 14, in the game between the Waratahs and the Brumbies.

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few days, the whole issue revolves around the Brumbies being extremely dissatisfied with the way in which Steve Walsh refereed the match between the two Australian franchises, in which the Brumbies lost.

The Brumbies were particularly unhappy about Steve Walsh not awarding a try  to Adam Ashley-Cooper, in which Walsh ruled there was a double movement.

Referees make these types of calls on a game to game basis, sometimes they are questionable, sometimes spot on. In the case of the questionable decisions, sometimes they will be for you, sometimes against. The law of averages might suggest that these for/against calls will balance out in the end and that should be the end of it.

But in a competition as closely contested as this year’s Super 14, where about 10 of the 14 teams still have at least an outside chance of making the playoffs, one questionable decision could mean the end of the season for you.

Adam Ashley-Cooper’s disalowed try: [s14twentyten]

I thought it was clear as daylight, but you be the judge?

One could also take into consideration the substantial financial implications Read More >>

The Depleted Chiefs outfit which have been a mere shadow of the team that made it to last year’s Super 14 final have been set back by yet another injury to All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Sivivatu was injured, in his first game back in Super rugby, against the Cheetahs over the weekend. The folloowing from the Chiefs’ camp:

Chiefs and All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu will be out of rugby for up to six months due to a shoulder injury.

Sivivatu will be under going surgery on his left shoulder in three weeks to stabilise a recurrent dislocating shoulder.   Extensive rehabilitation will follow, but it is expected Sivivatu will be unable to play rugby for up to six months.

Sivivatu had the same type of surgery on his right shoulder in 2004.

“While it is disappointing, I’m pretty relaxed about the whole situation.  It is just one of those things that happen and I need to just concentrate on recovering well after the surgery,” said Sivivatu.

Sivivatu, 28, is the Chiefs most capped player in the current squad with 75 Chiefs games.

Had he been wearing a pair of Pumas, this may not have happened. Click the banner below to get yourself a pair of Puma rugby boots.

How do you enjoy watching your weekly Super 14 fixtures? Your team is playing, you and your mates are set to watch the game, plan to experience all that rugby in South Africa has to offer. How do you enjoy it most? Some prefer to opt for a braai at home with mates, or visiting mates with a few beers and enjoying the game that way.

Let’s say you decide to go out to watch the game, at a pub or sports bar. Which one would you go to? Where do you go to watch your team win? Or in the case of the Lions this season, watch your team lose? These are the questions we found ourselves asking one another and decided to begin a new quest to discover where the best sports bars in the Cape Town and surrounding areas are. We hope to experience the games at these different venues, enjoy their respective atmospheres along with the “vibe” that each venue has to offer.

Now “Lettuce” tell you about this place…(excuse the pun)

The Slug & Lettuce, Green Point:

The Slug & Lettuce. 107 B Main Road, Green Point.

Myself, Dooley and a few other good mates headed to The Slug & Lettuce this past Saturday to experience what this venue could offer for the game between the Sharks and the Blues, played at The Absa Stadium, Durban. While watching the game it’s only fair we keep ourselves adequately hydrated with some refreshing beverages and should we become rather “peckish”, seek to try something from the food menu that is available.

Read More >>

Saturday’s games:

Highlanders VS Hurricanes: The Highlanders and Hurricanes gave us one of the most back and forth displays of rugby seen this season when they faced eachother at Carisbrook Stadium over the weekend.

The Hurricanes came out with guns firing, running rugby, crossing over for their first try in the fourth minute of the game, but the Highlanders were never going to lie down, hitting back with a try of their own just 5 minutes later when Highlanders #8, Steven Setephano broke the Hurricanes’ line, offloading to Jimmy Cowan for the footrace to the line.

9 minutes in and true to what the commentator said, it looked as if the scoreline would reflect a phone number by the end of the game. Both teams seemed to be keen to give that to us, as a lack of defense was the order of the day, with each team running in 5 tries and the Hurricanes sneaking it 33 – 31.

My two cents worth:

• Both teams were terrible defensively with the Hurricanes missing 27 tackles, whilst the Highlanders took the cake with 42 missed tackles.
• The worst offenders being Jimmy Cowan, Michael Paterson and Aaron Cruden, each missing 5, but Adam Thomson was the worst of all, with 6 missed tackles.
• The new structure of this year’s competition has really allowed the fullbacks to run the ball up a lot more, and isn’t it great to see a player like Cory Jane run with the ball, gaining a total of 138m with ball in hand.
• Andrew Hore and Jason Rutledge both made strong statements in the #2 jumper, forcing 4 turnovers a piece.

Highlanders VS Hurricanes 2010 Highlights [tonytai2017] Read More >>

It would seem as if Wallaby and Western Force flanker, David Pocock is in high demand with the ladies, judging from his Google search results. Finding out if he’s single much?

What’s the fraud about?

This in from the Wallaby camp: Qantas Wallabies flanker David Pocock has today, re-signed with Australian Rugby until the end of the 2012 season, further bolstering the national playing stocks ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Pocock, who turned 22 earlier this week, has played 15 Tests since his introduction to the Qantas Wallabies against New Zealand in Hong Kong in November 2008.

He made his debut for the Western Force in the Investec Bank Super 14 two years earlier, after receiving a dispensation to play senior Rugby while under the age of 18.

Pocock will also head into the 2010 international season as the undisputed frontrunner for the Test No.7 jumper following the international retirement of long-standing Qantas Wallabies flanker George Smith.

The Western Force backrower played 13 Tests in 2009, including six in the starting side.

“I’m happy to have confirmed my future in Australia,” Pocock said.

“I’m really enjoying my Rugby, both at the Western Force, but also within the Wallabies set-up.

The last two years, since I’ve been involved with the Wallabies, have been a great experience. Hopefully I will be able to play even more of a part going forward.

Although last year was a steep learning curve for a lot of us, and we had a few inconsistent results on the Spring Tour, we finished the year well as a group in Wales.

The challenge ahead of us now, both individually and as a group, is to kick on from that. It’s an exciting time to be involved in Australian Rugby and with the Wallabies.”

The Lions may be absolutely hopeless on the field this season, but at least their cheerleaders are getting it right from the sidelines. (well, except maybe for that chick in the middle…) Enjoy: [Sport24]

If you have any other pics of the various Super14 cheerleaders, and would like to see them featured on the site, email them to readers@blogspotrugby.com

Chiefs Loose forward, Liam Messam, expresses his disbelief at the Chiefs being as kak as the Cheetahs on Friday night: [Sport24]

Just a bit of a bruised arm..... nothing too serious!

Earlier today we posted an article regarding All Black bad-boy, Sione Lauaki’s recent car accident. His agent, Bruce Sharrock has since released the following statement:

Sione Lauaki was involved in a serious car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning south of Huntly.  His was the only car involved and there were no passengers.

After the Chiefs v Cheetahs rugby match in Hamilton on Friday night, Sione went through his normal post-match recovery session, followed by a meal and a couple of drinks with his teammates, before heading home to be with his family.

It appears Sione fell asleep at the wheel resulting in his car leaving the road.  He was then attended at the scene of the accident by an ambulance, and taken to Waikato Hospital for further examination.

He was badly shaken and had some bruising on his right arm.  As is normal practice, blood tests were taken, and Sione’s hospital discharge sheet showed that the blood alcohol readings were well-below the legal limit.

Sione, his family, teammates and friends are thankful he is safe and well, and that there was no major damage to anyone, except to his vehicle.  Sione is still in shock following this serious accident.  Taking this into consideration, and in consultation with Chiefs team management, Sione will be taking a few days off rugby training to recover.