Friday’s Games:

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the KAK-est of them all?

Highlanders VS Lions: The Lions, despite scoring 5 tries to 3 on the night, managed to blow their only realistic chance of winning a game, so far in this year’s competition, when they went down 39 – 29 to the Highlanders in Dunedin.

This isn’t the first out-of-sorts loss for the hapless Lions this season after they recorded 65 points against the Chiefs and still lost the game. It seems like there is nowhere to go for Dick Muir’s men this season and they face the very real possibility of propping up the very bottom of the Super 14 table in 2010.

The Highlanders did well to record a win, but it was the Lions who were worse on the night than the Highlanders were good.

My two cents worth:

  • Earl Rose showed once again just how kak he is at this level! I think that Springbok fans will shit themselves if he is once again chosen to be part of a Springbok touring squad this year!
  • Israel Dagg has made a very strong impressionso far this season, gaining 103m with ball in hand and offloading in the tackle 3 times.
  • There were 30 penalties in the game, and a penalty try. Stuart Dickinson is not exactly the poster child for the new “flowing game” we are meant to be experiencing.
  • I think this game is a perfect example of how winning a rugby game is not just about tries, but playing to the laws and converting penalties/opportunities into points.

Highlanders VS Lions 2010 Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

 

Scorecard:

Brumbies VS Chiefs: The Brumbies shut out the Chiefs with two minutes on the clock, in what was an absolute nail-biter, when Brumbies #10, Matt Tahooma scored, on Friday night.

The Brumbies took advantage of the Chiefs’ unattended ball behind their own ruck, when Patrick Phibbs picked up, offloaded to Matt Tahooma, who crossed the chalk for the decisive try of the game.

Julian Huxley couldn’t have expected a better re-entrance to professional rugby, when he came on in the 13th minute, much earlier than expected, in a game where the lead changed hands a number of times, and was contested right until the final whistle.

My two cents worth:

  • There were 16 penalties in this game, not a small tally by any means, but still half the amount of the game before hand between the Highlanders and the Lions Pussy Cats.
  • The Brumbies spent 9min27secs in the Chiefs 22m area, a testament to a great defensive effort by the Chiefs.
  • Pat McCabe managed to gain 123m with ball in hand.
  • I think that New Zealand lacks a decent centre combination at the moment, and they are going to see their ass if the try a Carter/Donald 10/12 combination at RWC 2011.
  • Surely being demoted means that Paul Marks should not be allowed to be an assistant referee!?

Brumbies VS Chiefs 2010 Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

Scorecard:

Cheetahs VS Reds: The Reds made the most of the slippery conditions in Bloemfontein on Friday night to record their first ever Super Rugby win there.

The Cheetahs were certainly a depleted side after losing all of their starting loose forwards for the game, the having to bring their retired lock/lineout consultant onto the flank, and place their fitness coach on the bench.

The Reds however, did not feel the least bit of pity for the Cheetahs and took them apart piece by piece, making the most of their opportunities on the night, whilst the Cheetahs only managed to convert one opportunity into points.

My two cents worth:

  • Will Genia is really without peer as far as Australian #9s go in this year’s competition, and whilst Quade Cooper has been good (sans the brain fart), it’s been Genia who has made him look better.
  • Meyer Bosman is, as always, the most over-rated centre in South Africa. If only the Cheetahs could get him to pass, and use their devastating pace on the outside.
  • The Cheetahs missed 43 tackles on the night, compared to the Reds’ 8 missed tackles.
  • Nico Breedt missed 7 tackles all by himself, one short of the entire Reds team.
  • Barend Pieterse, the retired replacement made 12 tackles on the flank.

Cheetahs VS Reds 2010 Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

Scorecard: