Rugby from a Land Down Under - Super Rugby Trans-Tasman
Trans Tasman Rugby rounds 3 and 4 saw New Zealand's teams continue to dominate
The drought is over…. just
Hurricanes 43 – Force 6
Waratahs 28 - Crusaders 54
Blues 38 – Brumbies 10
Reds 40 – Chiefs 34
Highlanders 42 – Rebels 27
Everyone expected the Reds to come out fighting against the Chiefs, still smarting from their 60-point hammering from the Crusaders in round 2. No one expected the Reds to lead by 40-8 into the second half.
This bizarre game had it all. In the 20th minute the best player on the field, Damien McKenzie was sent off for a high tackle, questionable, after the pass, no-one had a problem with it apart from the TMO. There then follows the Lowry moment. Players, officials, and spectators stand motionless like matchstick men in a Lowry painting watching the giant screen. The sword of Damocles hovers above penalty, then moves on to yellow card, finally stopping at red and McKenzie is off.
The best player leaves the arena, alongside a teammate who gets 10 minutes in the bin.
The Chiefs are down to 13 and O’Connor starts moving the ball around. 5 tries follow and the Reds lead 33-3 at the break.
Under a quirky new rule in this competition, after 20 minutes the sent off player can be replaced by a new player. The Chiefs are restored to 15, but the score has reached 40-8.
Surely there is no way back…yes there is. The Chiefs start to play, and the Reds start to sweat. 8 becomes,13,15,20,22,27, and finally 34. The Chiefs needing 7 to win, make the break only for a despairing tackle to dislodge the ball. Referee calls knock on, surely not, it was slapped down by a Reds player. The Reds win the scrum and kick the ball out.
The drought is over, no jubilation, just relief.
(There is an ugly rumour circulating that soon you will not be able to tap a team-mate on the head when he scores a try and say well done.)
Elsewhere there was a certain inevitability about the match ups. The Hurricanes stopped the Force scoring a try then went on to score 43. The highlight a 55 meter try from a lineout by Hurricane’s hooker Aumua. He is quite simply the fastest hooker in world rugby. (YouTube the first try of the game).
The Waratahs certainly turned up to play but are sadly lacking in game management skills. They competed well at the breakdown but still managed to concede 4 tries before the oranges. (9-26) The second half saw the Crusaders continue to score and so did the Waratahs, but they couldn’t get close enough. The final score 54-28 a fair reflection. Even when the Crusaders are reduced to 14, they play as though he is still on the field.
We await a coaching appointment at the Waratahs.
The Brumbies visited Eden Park and promised a big performance, but their scrum was demolished, their lineout catch, and drive nullified. Still at 24-10 the studio pundits thought they had a chance. Unfortunately, the Blues didn’t, and the Brumbies capitulated. They fell off tackles and lacked character.
Dare I say it I think they have a captaincy issue. Well-worn cliches, “we are not getting the respect we deserve.” Doesn’t cut it with me.
To win against New Zealand teams you must raise your game, then raise it again and again and again until the final whistle blows. 38-10 an easy win.
The Highlanders relinquished home advantage and flew to Sydney to host the Rebels. In No 12 Scott Gregory they may have an All-Black bolter.
The Rebels attack has been missing all season. Could Koirebete score a try, his first of the season? Well, he scored two and at one point the Rebels led 15-14. Then the inevitable, the Highlanders turn on the technique tap, feed the skill barometer and the score escalates to 42-27.
15 games played and one win to show for it.
Australian teams must play with more courage. They take the easy kick option, rather than run hard into space. Team mobility is about everyone working and running harder. Until they buy into this concept the gap will widen.
Coaching thought
“Get your young players to list some of the ways their team can become more clinical in scoring tries.”
(Do it in the changing room on a whiteboard/chalkboard before training)
