Super Rugby

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Waratahs have blown hot and cold over the past few seasons picking up wins against teams like the Crusaders and then losing to the Sunwolves in the same season. The Blues have also been perennial New Zeeland underachievers despite fielding quality teams over many years.

This was never going to be the game of the season, but definitely an important one for both teams. Both want to get out under the shadows of the teams dominating in their respective countries.

The game started with some good attacking play from the Waratahs, but the Blues were the first to score. The far more organized play of the Waratahs was notable and can definitely be a basis to build a promising season on.

For the 2nd week in a row young Mark Nawaqanitawase impressed on the left-wing for the Waratahs. Playing way above his age level in maturity and with intelligence. He is staking an early claim for one of those Wallaby jerseys in the winter tests…

The huge rains in Newcastle made handling a bit more difficult and although there were a number of fumbles, both teams really did well to keep possession of the ball.

The Blues were definitely trying to also rebuild after previous seasons by being more disciplined in all facets of the game. Their execution of it was just slightly better than that of the Waratahs in the first half. They also took the points on offer and eased out to their 0-8 lead after 25 minutes.

The difference between the two teams was mostly down to the work without the ball. The Waratahs were a bit more sluggish waiting to see what would unfold. The Blues worked hard to get back into good defensive lines and get into a position to be effective in attack.

The 7-8 halftime score was a fair reflection of the efforts of both teams. Neither was flawless and it was some credit for both teams, but the Blues were definitely the best in the first half.

The Blues however decided to rain on the Waratahs parade and jumped out to a 7-20 lead shortly after halftime.

Despite the Mark Nawaqanitawase try to help wake you up a bit towards the end of the 2nd half, the quick tries by Mark Telea helped flatter the Blues with a 12-32 victory.

Waratahs

The discipline of the Waratahs in their phased attack and set phases was a lot better than it had been for a few years. It is clear that they want to put their hand up and let everyone know that the Aussie conference is not just about the Brumbies.

Throughout the first half, they were decent in most areas across the park, but they allowed the Blues to bully them especially at ruck time. This made it very difficult for them to stop the attack of the Blues and to get go-forward ball themselves.

The effort just before half time to go through 17 phases to take the score to 7-8 was a good confidence boost. Their patience was rewarded and hopefully, they learn from the results of this phase of play for the rest of the season.

Despite the brilliant try from Mark Nawaqanitawase for the Waratahs, the last quarter of the game turned into a snore-fest. The Mark Talea try to seal the victory for the Blues just barely helped to wake you up

Blues

The Blues were a bit lucky to get in for their first try after a messy lineout, but it just showed that there is enough in this inexperienced team to get points on the board when needed.

The advantage line was just breached by the Blues more effectively than their opposition and more regularly. It made things difficult for the Waratahs as they constantly had to turn around.

Through dominance, at scrum time Karl Tu’inukuafe definitely put a hand up both for the Blues and for new All Blacks coach, Ian Foster, to take notice.

Work at the ruck has however been the biggest improvement by the Blues team. If they can keep their physical dominance at ruck time throughout the 2020 season, they will be able to set up their very dangerous backs to punish opposition teams.

An important thing to remember is that the Blues put up a performance like this with 10 injured players in their squad…

Outstanding players

Waratahs: Michael Hooper (7), Mark Nawaqanitawase (11) Kurtley Beale (15)

Blues: Karl Tu’inukuafe (1), Patrick Tuipulotu (4), Blake Gibson (7), Hoskins Sotutu (8), Stephen Perofeta (10), Mark Telea (11)

ThysRugby player of the game: Mark Nawaqanitawase was sensational again and will no doubt be a Wallaby in the next few months.

Best plays of the game

• Mark Nawaqanitawase’s little faked kick resulting in defenders overrunning and gaining some extra meters
• Karl Tu’inukuafe dominating his opposing tighthead and dismantling the opposition scrum
• 17 phases just before halftime by the Waratahs to get over for a try
• Blues defending their own line at the scrum earning a penalty on the Waratahs throw 5m from the Blues’ own line
• Mark Nawaqanitawase try after multiple phases in the corner. Incredible handling by the Waratahs in wet conditions

Final verdict

Waratahs: The team overall is on the up. Their physicality at breakdowns was just below average. If they keep getting dominated in the contact situation, they will struggle for the rest of the season.

Blues: A welcome return to winning ways away from home. Their first in a few years. They don’t look like a pedigree side yet, but there is some promise in the team. When they are back to full strength it would be interesting to see what they can do.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Chiefs and Crusaders always dish up some of the best rugby you will see in the Super Rugby every year. When it gets to a derby match it just takes a step up that leaves any lover of the game with a smile on their faces.

With two of the best Super Rugby teams coached by the two best coaches in Super Rugby, it was never going to be an average game. As much as it was Chiefs against Crusaders, it was also definitely Warren Gatland against Scott Robertson.

The Chiefs were deserved winners and the game was a spectacular display of hard rugby. I honestly don’t know how other teams are going to compete against them with any realistic chance this season.

I am a bit biased to the Chiefs side and have loved their play over the past few years, but the class of the Crusaders is undeniable. This could be seen again in how they took control of the game in the first quarter and cruised to a 12-3 lead. The Chiefs try helped to just balance it out a bit and at 12-8 we knew that we were going to be in for another mouthwatering display of Super Rugby.

The Chiefs were however not taking any chances fielding their strongest possible. This after almost running into problems the previous week for not doing so.

Towards the back end of the first half, there was some courageous defense from the Waikato team keeping out a slick Crusaders attack. As a result of all the pressure, the Crusaders made a few small mistakes not due to lack of talent, but through resilient defense.

Although people rarely give teams like the Bulls credit for this part of the game, the old adage goes “take the points when they are on offer”. The Crusaders had three easy penalty opportunities in the last 10 minutes of the first half but decided not to take one of them.

The Chiefs made them pay shortly after the half time break to score next to the posts. This was off the kickoff and 11 phases. The Crusaders defense was found wanting, but not so much due to a lack of skill from their side, but rather the attacking prowess of the Chiefs.

One of the best battles in the game was however at the breakdown. Over the past few years, the Crusaders have been the best in the business when it comes to working for 80 minutes at ruck time. The Chiefs were up to the challenge in every way. The speed to the ruck by both teams ended being an amazing arm wrestle throughout. Just one more facet of the game that the New Zeelanders treat with the utmost respect and is so extremely crucial to success in a game (pay attention Australian and South African teams!).

Sense prevailed for the Crusaders early in the 2nd half and when they were presented with their 4th kickable penalty either side of half time, they actually took the points on offer.

Near flawless Chiefs

They played their stronger team and were able to flex their considerable rugby muscle when needed. For a large part of the first half, they had to fight on defense and did so admirably. A lot of huge work was done off the ball to cover space make crucial tackles.

After having to defend their own try-line relentlessly for the last 10 minutes of the first half, they started the 2nd half in style. The took the ball through 11 phases after fielding the kickoff until their scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi went over.

Patience and skill were on display for everyone to see and after defending like trojans they were able to shift gears and go on multiple phases of attack with ease.

The crucial turnover penalties forced by Lachlan Boshier towards the end of the game helped to get the Chiefs into an unassailable position.

Crusaders at their best for 95% of the game, but…

Quickly out the gate, as they are… well in recent years. In years gone by the first few games were always an opportunity to take advantage of a slightly less organized Crusaders outfit. Those years are however long gone.

Their confidence in their own abilities resulted in them totally ignoring the points on offer at the end of the first half. The Chiefs defense ensured that they got absolutely nothing from it.

Their championship-winning defense was however on display again for everyone to see throughout the game. This couldn’t be more evident than the 22 phases of attack that the Chiefs put in around the 50th minute. The Crusaders just kept working extremely hard at ruck time and proved why they have been the top defensive team over the past 2 years.

Outstanding players

Chiefs: Samisoni Taukeiaho (2), Atunaisa Moli(3), Lachlan Boshier (6), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (9), Aaron Cruden (10), Solomon Alaimalo (11), Anton Lienert-Brown (12), Sean Wainui (14), Damian McKenzie (15), Brad Weber (21)

Crusaders: Codie Taylor (2), Mitch Drummond (9), David Havili (10), Jack Goodhue(12), Sevu Reece (14)

ThysRugby player of the game: Lachlan Boshier – non-stop work at the point of contact winning a couple of crucial penalties at the rucks

Best plays of the game

• The defensive effort of the Chiefs for 5 minutes on their own line from the 30 minute mark
• The try by the Chiefs just after half time, going over 60 meters up the field and working through 11 phases
• The Chiefs going 22 phases on the attack, but the Crusaders holding firm just outside their 22 and forcing a penalty at ruck time
• Brad Weber creating something out of nothing on the blindside to put in Sean Wainui
• Lachlan Boshier’s two penalties earned at the ruck in short succession
• Chiefs defensive effort on their own line to turn over the ball after the Crusaders had a very attacking lineout on the 5m
• Lachlan Boshier winning another penalty at the ruck with 2 minutes to go putting it out of reach for the Crusaders

Final verdict

Chiefs: With almost all of the 1st choice players back in the team they were pure class. There weren’t really any flaws in their game and they won the game with their electric attack on the back of their amazing defensive efforts.

Crusaders: The Crusaders were impressive and even though the Chiefs outmuscled them on the day, there is no doubting their pedigree. Not much to worry about except having to learn to take points when it is on offer.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It looked from the start that it was going to be a one-sided slaughter. The Brumbies rushed out to a 24-0 lead without really breaking a sweat and the Rebels looked completely out of sorts. They did claw back a try to go into the shed trailing 24-7.

The Brumbies were however impressive throughout the contest (well most of it) and really took a step up from last week. The Tom Banks try was just a precursor of what was to come and at no point did the Rebels look like they would threaten.

The tries either side of half-time was encouraging to see from the Rebels, but you never got the impression that they would kick on from there.

A little credit needs to go the Rebels way for the two tries that they scored either side of half-time, but this was countered shortly after by a try by the Brumbies in the corner.

The attack from the Rebels was very predictable most of the time and their almost-3rd-try was from a well-worked maul. A glimmer of hope, yes… but enough to turn the game around? Maybe…

Brumbies are on the up…

The Brumbies had a FAR better display than in week 1. There was intensity across the park. It was not flawless, but they must be commended for the huge step up taken in a single week.

Last week they looked average at best and unlikely to achieve any results that weren’t against other struggling Australian teams. They do however look like they are on the up and have shed a lot of the rust that showed in week 1.

Stumbling Rebels early contenders for the wooden spoon

How do you turn things around when you lose to the Sunwolves in week 1, then you get ripped to shreds by the Brumbies in week 2?

They need to take a step back and breathe first. They have a couple of senior players that need to take a step up and lead the group of youngers back from the brink.

Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Matt Toomua and Marika Koroibete form the core of the most exciting backline in Australia and should be dominating.

The mix of youngsters and experienced campaigner in their forwards need to make the step up and provide more quality for their backs to work with. The responsibility sits on Ruan Smith and Isi Naisarani’s shoulders.

Outstanding players

Brumbies: Folau Fainga’a (2), Thomas Cusack (7), Noah Lolesio (10), Solomone Kata (14), Tom Banks (15),

Rebels: [crickets chirping…] I know that is harsh, but when you possess that much quality across the park and don’t pitch up for the game, no one deserves a shout out

ThysRugby player of the game: Solomone Kata

Best plays of the game

• The two tries either side of half-time by the Rebels. It showed that there is hope and that they didn’t give up… it just didn’t last
• Recovery from Brumbies after the quick 2 tries to set up the Folau Fainga’a try in the corner after 15 minutes in the 2nd half

Final verdict

Brumbies: They impressed with the improvement from week 1. It was a team effort that deserves credit and currently, it doesn’t look like there will be any opposition in the Australian conference to threaten their continued dominance.

Rebels: Where do you go from here? It would be difficult to fall further, so the only way to go is up. With the rare glimpses that they showed and the quality that they possess, they should forgive themselves for these first two weeks… wipe the slate clean and put on the big-boy pants.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

You would be forgiven for thinking you are in a parallel universe if you watched the first half. The Sharks were leading the Highlanders in Dunedin and not just fractionally. An impressive 3-27 lead!

It must be said that the Sharks with good quality for their lead. Although the Highlanders weren’t at their best, despite the smattering of All Blacks, the Sharks were utterly dominant.

The key was going to be if the Sharks could keep their concentration for the whole 80 minutes and if the around-the-world traveling would take its toll.

The New Zeeland rugby machines is however a totally different beast…

Highlanders

They were their own worst enemy through the first 50 minutes of the game. Whenever they had the ball they were error-prone and looked like they were unsure of what to do. They basically looked like an Australian Super Rugby team at the start of the season.

After their first try, they were however able to start a bit of a comeback and were finding their stride in many facets of the game.

The efficiency improved with every phase. The error county slowed down with every possession and they turned it into a game in the last 20 minutes of the contest.

Their comeback efforts were definitely admirable but just came too late in the game. Errors in the first 50 minutes were their downfall and it was a combination of horrible handling errors as well as

Sharks

The Sharks dominated absolutely every facet of the game in the first half. After going down 3-0 in the first half they started kicking into gear. After the first two penalties, the last 10 minutes of the first half was a crushing display!

As the 2nd half started it looked like it was just going to be more of the same. They took the score out to 3-30 with another great kick from Curwin Bosch.

Were they going to keep their cool? The next 10 minutes the wheels started coming off however and it looked like it was going to be another day of heartbreak in NZ.

The lucky Fassi try however sealed a victory that you had to say was well deserved for the Sharks.

Outstanding players

Highlanders: Josh Dixon(5), Aaron Smith (9), Mitchel Hunt (10), Jona Nareki (11)

Sharks: Curwin Bosch (10), Lukhanyo Am (12), Madosh Tambwe (14), Aphelele Fassi (15)

ThysRugby player of the game: Aphelele Fassi. Despite Curwin Bosch keeping up his 100% kicking record, Fassi was just sensational

Plays of the game

• That first half of the Sharks!
• The Highlanders getting the scrum penalty after messing up their own lineout on 60 minutes
• THAT scrum followed by the cross-kick resulting in the Highlanders try in the corner by
• The Sharks turning a defensive into a penalty after pushing back the Highlanders over 10 meters!
• The little tap back in-field to put in Michael Collins for a try in the 75th minute

Final verdict

Highlanders: took 50 minutes to find their stride, but were outplayed for the most part by a Shark team. A large number of errors need to be addressed and worked on during the coming week.

Sharks: more clinical than they have been in the last 5 seasons! Their play was a joy to behold and a really encouraging sign for the 2020 season. Can they keep this up?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Without looking to exert effort the Crusaders cruised to a decent lead at half-time of 24-6. They ran in 3 tries in the process with great ease. The Waratahs just never really stood a chance.

It looked to be a routine butchering of an Australian Super Rugby team by a New Zealand Super Rugby team. Mark Nawaqanitawase didn’t like that idea and in a few short minutes pulled the Waratahs from 24-6 down to 24-18. There was hope…

The Crusaders machine is however something that just dazzles spectators and stuns opponents. They do something that has been hailed by all rugby pundits globally praise them for: superior basic skills executed with accuracy at pace.

People often read “basic skills” as they can really pass and catch like pros. That is however only a drop in the bucket of what good basic skills entail. That is however a story for another post.

The quick short kick off from the 22 on about 65 minutes and the try that followed showed how broad “basic skills” can be.

The part that I must still figure out over the coming weeks is how they are so damn efficient at taking an opponent and dismantling them so effortlessly. All opponents come to play the Crusaders with great intent. It does however look like the Crusaders simply sum up opponents… take their strong points and turn it into mush over the course of a game.

They put the “cruise” in Crusaders

It is very early in the season, but it would be difficult to imagine the Crusaders not lifting the trophy at the end of the season again. Many teams will still get used to the pace, sort out some errors and put up a good fight, but the Crusaders are already so far ahead! …again…

The Crusaders look like they are just in The Zone all of the time. They always seem to have time on the ball, acres of space, support runners aplenty and a defense that washes over every offensive effort.

There are two parts that stand out to me in how they really crush opponents:

1. The basic skills are near flawless – tackle technique, ruck work, passing, catching, kicking running at gaps, closing down space on defense…
2. Their skill when they don’t have the ball – seeing a situation unfolding either on defense or on the attack and getting into position. It sounds like a simple sentence, but they are in position for each situation way before their opponents

They are set apart by doing #1 at an absolute top level, but #2 they rarely mess up. People don’t see it as a skill and very few teams outside New Zealand value it but just think about it… Is there ever NOT someone to pass to? When that cross-kick is done is there ever a wing out of place? Are they ever short on numbers on cross-defense? Do they often succumb to overlaps or holes in the middle of defense?

Waratahs better than what the score said

The Waratahs somehow messing up a 4 on 2 about 5 minutes into the 2nd half didn’t help their cause. That was a glaring mistake and the steady decline in the power of a scrum that dominated at the start showed what the Crusaders do to you.

They showed a couple of signs of promise throughout the game often carving open a usually watertight Crusaders defense. This showed that there definitely was enough in that backline to cause damage. Once lines were breached it was however a case of a deer in headlights and they just could not finish it off.

How about 19-year-old Mark Nawaqanitawase though! You don’t usually see a player of this age stepping into a Super Rugby game and fight through 3 Crusaders defenders to score in the corner. That wasn’t his only contribution though… that intercept try minutes later turned the game completely on its head!

Players of the game

Crusaders: Scott Barrett (4), Richie Mo’unga (10), Leicester Fainga’anuku (11), Braydon Ennor (13), David Havili (15)

Waratahs: Mark Nawaqanitawase (11), Kurtley Beale (15)

ThysRugby player of the game: Mark Nawaqanitawase – to have the influence he had from the wing in a losing cause at age 19… Brilliant!

Plays of the game

• The Mark Nawaqanitawase double in short succession. The first being the best in getting through 3 Crusaders and having to improvise to get the ball down and not go into touch
• Richie Mo’unga being on the field. He was a class act last year. He lost nothing this year
• Crusaders try from their own 22. Quick thinking, vision, unselfish play and speed

Final verdict

Crusaders: They are 90% there already this early in the season. If they get a little better I don’t have much hope for the rest.

Waratahs: Flashes of promise followed by total disappointment. Their forwards need to take a step up as a pack to give their very lethal backline a chance to shine and get them over the line.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The game promised to be a thriller to kick off the South African teams in Super Rugby 2020. The play from both the Sharks and more so the Bulls was less of a thriller and closer to being a horror.

At the start of the game, there was great intensity from both teams when they had the ball in hand with a lot of intent, but with a lack of accurate execution. Balls were lost when no one was under pressure, passes were timed horribly… it was a far cry from what the expectations were after good Superhero Sunday performances by both teams.

The players that really stood out however were mostly the usual suspects, but a couple of fresher faces also put their hands up.

The first half was a ping-pong battle with lots of promise and lots of errors. As a result, we only saw kicks at poles contributing to the scoreline. So much was created, but sadly so many opportunities were butchered.

In the end, the 23-15 win for the Sharks was a true reflection of the game. The Sharks should however not get ahead of themselves as it was not a performance that would have struck fear in the hearts of future opponents. For the Bulls it is worse as they would not have been in the game had Morne Steyn not kept them in the game.

It sounds bad and it sounds like I only found the bad in the game. It is what I emphasized. It is however the focus as I have seen the Blues and Hurricanes put on a spectacle and the Crusaders toyed with the Waratahs. On current form, they will slaughter both of these South African teams.

So-so Sharks

The Sharks won. That is the biggest compliment they can receive from the game and it might sound very harsh. If you look back at the game you will however see that had they not messed up as many passes with dropped balls or not passing for someone to run on to, they could have put another 20 points or more on the Bulls.

The quality that they have in their team was primed not only to carve holes in the Bulls defense but actually score a whole load of tries… they forgot about the 2nd part.

Credit however needs to go to Curwin Bosch for another mature performance that will be very encouraging. Sbu Nkosi and their little substitute number 9 saved them from having what could have been an embarrassing loss against a Bulls team that they dominated in many aspects.

The Morne Steyn (…oh sorry. The Bulls)

I know that sounds harsh, but if it wasn’t for a truly professional master-class from Morne Steyn, the Bulls would not have featured in the game.

Coming off a Superhero Sunday where they really looked to be the form team in the South African conference, they fell flat against a Sharks team that didn’t really set the world on fire either.

The Bulls put in a number of really hard tackles… but then would leave holes in their defense. They would break open the defense… but then there would be no support runners. They would put together 5 or 6 good phases… but then knock the ball behind the ruck.

It was however the Morne Steyn show mostly, with an honorable mention of young prop Matanzima. He showed that he wanted the #1 jersey through an exceptionally high work rate all over the park.

Steyn however kept the Bulls in it with his penalties and a well-taken drop goal. There was some good positional kicking, cross-kicking and putting away of a promising backline… and how about that solid earth-shattering tackle!

The rest of the team just did not pitch up…

Outstanding players

Bulls: Simphiwe Matanzima (17), Andries Ferreira (4), Morne Steyn (10), Rosco Specman (11)

Sharks: Thomas du Toit (3), Hyron Andrews (5), Louis Schreuder (9), Curwin Bosch (10), Makozolo Mapimpi (11), Sbu Nkosi (14), Aphelele Fassi (15)

Player of the game: Simphiwe Matanzima – he showed what he can do, mostly from the bench in 2019, but in 2020 he will turn into a force of nature!

Plays of the game

• The cross-kick for Sbu Nkosi’s try. Pinpoint kick, well gathered, a little work to get over, but he made it look easy
• Morne Steyn’s drop goal. It came at a crucial time and should have been a catalyst for a Bulls resurgence

Final verdict

Bulls: You can go with the excuse of “a young team” or “they are building a team”, but that doesn’t cut it. They are a professional outfit and should be more capable. Same potential as the Sharks with the players they have, but a lot more work in the coming week

Sharks: Deserved winners on the day between two teams not at their best. There will be lots of work if they want to compete in the coming weeks.