1
Super Rugby playoffs: What we learned
By Jamie Wall
The weekend's Super Rugby quarter finals came and went and, apart from the Lions/Sharks game, with little in the way of highlights or excitement. However, there were a few things here and there that will give us something to think about over the next week:
- Dane Coles is back. It only took 20 minutes from the Hurricanes captain to show everyone what a difference he would've made had he been healthy for the British & Irish Lions series. Sure, the Brumbies aren't up to much - but what other hooker in the world right now can pull a sidestep, accelerate through a gap and then throw a perfectly timed offload to set up a match-clinching try? At least for the Canes' sake, he's come right at exactly the right time.
- The Crusaders and Chiefs can win ugly. The games in Christchurch and Cape Town were not pretty, although at least the Chiefs win involved two teams trying to actually play rugby (just not that successfully). They now meet at AMI Stadium this weekend for a do-or-die semi, so the chances of them settling down into an arm wrestle are a lot higher after their victories on the weekend.
- Beaver's still got it. Stephen Donald breaking the line and cruising upfield was a fine sight for Chiefs fans, who had to accept the fact that Charlie Ngatai was once again injured. The 33-year-old filled in at second five and did a solid job, and obviously can act as a backup goal kicking option - because we all know he's done that before.
- The refs will get reminded to use the TMO more. There were some dodgy as hell tries given over the weekend, most notably Dan du Preez's effort that temporarily put the Sharks into the lead against the Lions. The number eight looked to have grounded the ball short, while in Christchurch the Crusaders' first try was about as close to a double movement as you can get.
- Australian commentators need to start learning how to pronounce some pretty easy names.
For the record, that's how it sounded when the Fox Sports crew tried to tell us when Ardie and Julian Savea, Wes Goosen and Wharenui Hawera were involved in the play.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales have the same problem
3
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
4
Let's be real about these All Blacks
5
Latest Comments
There is nothing particularly significant about Ireland in this regard compared to other Tier 1 nations. To look at 'strategy' for illegal play its best to see what teams push boundaries with new laws. SA have milked two tries at ruck block downs. The strategy is to charge the first few before the ball is out at about 4 seconds but pull out and put up hands in reigned apology. The referees usually allow the scum half to clear without awarding a penalty in this scenario. The problem with that being that the scrumhalf is now taking over 5 seconds through no fault of his own. Having achieved a few slow balls > 5s , the SA forward can now pick a scrum to charge dead on 5s. Now if the scrum half waits, he will concede a penalty, as we saw against Scotland. With the new rule in place, any early charge should result in an immediate penalty.
SA also got an offside block against England which was pivotal again after a couple of 'apologetic' offside aborted charges forcing England to clear slowly.
Go to commentsYep, you're not the sharpest tool in the shed are you?
Go to comments