Super 15 Review - Round 7 (Video Highlights and Team of the Week)

RESULTS

Rebels 34- 23 Blues

Hurricanes 42 - 18 Sharks

Reds 20 - 13 Brumbies

Force 12 - 20 Chiefs

Highlanders 6 - 21 Stormers

Cheetahs 26 - 5 Lions

Bulls 32 - 30 Crusaders

Bye - Waratahs


Dumptackle Team of the Week

There were a few difficult decisions this week. Morne Steyn and Beauden Barrett were unlucky to miss selection but ultimately James O'Connor deserved the spot. Julian Savea and Sonny Bill also had strong efforts, as did Dane Coles at hooker for the 'Canes. Surprisingly Sona Taumololo is ommitted too after failing to score another try! Shame on you Sona.... Please comment if you disagree with any of the selections!

15. Joe Pieterson (Stormers), 14. Andre Taylor (Hurricanes), 11. Zac Guildford (Crusaders), 13. Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12. Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), 10. James O'Connor (Rebels), 9. Francois Houggard (Bulls), 8. Scott Higginbotham (Reds), 7. Karl Lowe Hurricanes), 6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5. Andres Bekker (Stormers), 4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3. WP Nel (Cheetahs), 2. Craig Burden (Sharks), 1. Dean Greyling (Bulls)

REVIEW OF THE ROUND

Rebels vs Blues

The week's rugby kicked off on Thursday when the Blues travelled to Melbourne to face the Rebels, losing by 34 points to 23.The Rebels secured their 2nd victory of the season and gave the Blues their fifth loss, all but ruling them out of play-off contention. Man of the match James O'Connor scored a try, 2 conversions and five penalties for a personal haul of 24 points, while new recruit Kurtley Beale scored his first try for the franchise as he intercepted a Blues pass and ran the length of the field to dot down for 5. In the run up to the intercept, the Blues had put concerted pressure on the Rebels defence, stringing together 15 phases on attack, only for Beale to snatch onto Bradley Mika's long pass. This passage of play was perhaps a good summary of the Blues efforts thus far in 2012. As a Blues supporter myself....it was probably the most dissapointing performance of the campaign. A  mass fallout has since ensued in the media, questioning the following:



1. Pat Lam's signings of Weepu and Nonu - where even captain Keven Mealamu has publicly criticised Piri Weepu's fitness


http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/our-experts/6710337/Taine-Randell-Blues-stars-just-aren-t-aligning
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6721600/Keven-Mealamu-Piri-Weepu-below-his-best

2. Racism in the game -

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6725018/Blues-Pat-Lam-hits-out-at-racist-criticism

A bad time to be a Blues supporter....It seems pat lam's days are numbered.


Hurricanes vs Sharks

Lifting us out of the gloom though were the Hurricanes as they put in a masterful performance at home to wallop the Sharks by 42 points to 18, scoring 6 beautiful tries in the process.  The Sharks dominated territory and posession (especially in the first half), but found themselves down by 25 points to 3 at the break thanks to tries from Andre Taylor (a swerving run a la Christian Cullen), man of the match Karl Lowe (who was pushed over the try line from close range) and Julian Savea (scoring his first try in Super Rugby). The Hurricanes seemed to swoop on any turnover and almost effortlessly constructed tries from a couple of phases on each occasion, surely increasing the Sharks' frustration as they seemed unable to penetrate the Hurricanes defence. JP Pieterson and Craig Burden (the new Schalk Brits?) replied for the Sharks with two good tries, but the Hurricanes made their lead even healthier after Conrad Smith latched onto a grubber from the impressive TJ Perenara, Tim Bateman magically collected his own 'Gary Owen' and Jeremy Thrush rounded the scoring off just before the final whistle. Beauden Barrett was his usual self, putting in his customary show-stopping break too. The win leaves the Hurricanes in a play-off position, while the Sharks have a lot of work to do if they are to get out of the competitive South African conference.

Reds vs Brumbies

The Reds came off their awful losing streak with a 20-13 victory in Brisbane over the Brumbies (who are suffering a similar come down to the Highlanders last year). Scott Higginbotham had a strong all round game and was rewarded with 2 tries as he always seemed to be last pair of mits on the Reds' successful attacks. The game stuttered along in truth, but the result was important for the Reds. They now lie just 2 points behind the conference leading Brumbies, with a guaranteed 4 points from their bye next weekend. They are certainly not up to the standards of last year's champion side, but with Quade Cooper and Digby Ione back in the next few weeks, surely it can only get better. They will profit from being in the weakest conference as if they come top, they will get a guaranteed play-off position.

Force vs Chiefs

The next game saw the Chiefs travel to Perth to face the Western Force. The Chiefs winning ways continued with a 20-12 victory, their 5th consecutive win, taking them to the top of the NZ conference. The game was scrappy and the Chiefs seemd to lose their composure and structure throughout the game, which will dissappoint coaches Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith. However, thanks to a strong display from Sonny Bill Williams and tries through electric wingers Tim Nanai-Williams (Sonny Bill's cousin incidentally!) and Lelia Masaga, the Chiefs had just enough to get another W under their belt, and deny the Force a losing bonus point in the process.

Highlanders vs Stormers

The next game saw a top of the table battle as the Highlanders fell at home to the mighty Stormers, who maintained their status as the only unbeaten side in this years comp. Jason Rutledge (playing in his 50th match) and Jimmy Cowan (playing in his 100th) could not alter the course of the match which was decided by two early tries by the Stormers. The first claimed by Gio Aplon after Jean DeVilliers kicked the ball through on the ground following Hosea Gear's loss of posession. The second was a beautifully worked try begun and finished by the former Bayonne fullback Joe Pieterson. The Highlanders kicked from hand in the first half looking for territory and then reverted to their usual posession game in the second, but neither tactic was successful as the Stormers comfortably dealt with everything thrown at them. Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi were huge in the physicality contest and Andres Bekker ruled supreme in the air. The game did not live up to expectaions as a spectacle, but anyone doubting the Stormers' credentials should look at this performance. They are real contenders.

Cheetahs vs Lions

The Cheetahs next beat the Lions at home by 26 points to 5, continuing their surprise start to the season. Prior to the campaign one would have expected the Lions to be the bolters of the campaign thanks to their comprehensive win in the Currie Cup, but it is the Cheetahs who have won over the hearts and minds of the people, showcasing a fantastic brand of running rugby led by newcomers Johan Goosen and Willie LeRoux. The Lions though (despite an encouraging start) have looked toothless. Centre Robert Ebersohn scored the Cheetahs two tries, while Goosen continued his unerring accuracy with the boot to finish them off. The result was the Cheetahs 3rd victory in a row and now moves them up to 11th on the overall table.

Bulls vs Crusaders

Last up durng the weekend was the Crusaders visit to the high veldt in Pretoria to face the Bulls, ultimately won by the South Africans by 32 points to 30. The Crusaders outscored their opponents by 3 tries to 2, thanks to efforts from Kieran Reid, Zac Guildford (who continued his zippy form) and Tom Marshall. They started the game off at a high pace and seemed to get past the gain line with ease early on. However they couldn't keep that intensity up and the Bulls took control after the break.The Bulls tries came through Wynand Olivier and Dean Greyling (just have a look at his dummy), while Francois Houggard had an exceptional game around the park. The game was won though by Morne steyn's boot who scored 6 penalties and a conversion. The result leaves both sides still in contention for a play-off beth.




VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS