Aviva Premiership Big Match Review - Northampton Saints 8 - 36 Leicester Tigers

Northampton v Leicester is always a highlight of the rugby calendar.  Two sides who, even in the professional era, still play as if they truly hate each other’s guts – and it makes for great entertainment.  But these two teams have had cause for frustration lately.  Northampton have been the ‘nearly men’ in the Premiership for the last 5 years – always thereabouts but never actually there, getting into semi-finals and finals without actually winning the gold.  It’s a bad habit to get into – up there with smoking, picking your nose and breaking wind on public transport.  But after their demolition of Wasps the previous week, there was some genuine hope that they might break the cycle this year.

Leicester meanwhile, are in danger of falling into the same trap.  Still big players in the Premiership, they’ve fallen at the final hurdle for the last two years.  It’s hard to think of some of the notorious Leicester guard allowing it to happen, with the likes of Martin Johnson, Richard Cockerill, Neil Back and Martin Corry all known for a ruthlessness that verged on bullying at times, allowing them to dominate opponents time and again.  And that bullying mentality has drifted out of Leicester’s game of late, with a lack of precision underpinning the Tigers’ most recent performances, but they managed to find it again in the most unlikely of places on Saturday – down the M1 at Franklins Gardens.

From the off, the visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck.  Tom Youngs hurled himself through the Saints pack to make the initial dent, before Tom Croft hit a gorgeous line outside Samu Manoa to gallop deep into the Northampton 22, forcing flanker Phil Dowson to flop over on the wrong side to give captain Toby Flood a simple 3 points.  Saints struck back immediately though when Courtney Lawes charged down a Ben Youngs box kick to allow the hosts to pile pressure on the Leicester line, giving Steven Myler an easy penalty shot to even things up.

But this was just a blip.  Though the Tigers didn’t cross for a try in the first 40 minutes, they were starting to dominate in all the key areas – Tom Youngs was hitting his lineouts, whilst Geoff Parling and Croft were getting stuck into Hartley’s throws, Manu Tuilagi was making dents in the midfield and Julian Salvi was a disruptive influence on the floor.  Flood put Tigers ahead on 20 minutes with a well struck kick after Dowson had again infringed, and soon the gap was 6 points following a post-knock on offside after a great break by Niall Morris. 

The crowd were starting to feel the pressure as well, with the hosts consistently starved of possession and territory, but they at least had something to shout about when Dowson and Parling spent a few minutes reacquainting themselves from their Newcastle days on the floor, forcing Wayne Barnes to stop proceedings and administer a stern telling off.  Ominously for Northampton though, the force of nature that is Manu Tuilagi was really starting to motor, playing a major part in the build up to Leicester’s next penalty with a huge hit and steal on Ben Foden, before Courtney Lawes slapped down a Ben Youngs pass to give Flood another 3 pointer and Lawes a trip to the bin.  Tuilagi wasn’t about to let Saints get into halftime without another scare though, this time burning George Pisi on the outside in a 50 metre burst, giving Tigers great field position before Tait wastefully grubbered ahead when there were numbers out to the left.  It spoke volumes that, at 12 – 3 down, Saints wouldn’t have been too disappointed with the scoreline.

Down to 14 men, things didn’t get any for the home side easier after the break.  Leicester came out with the same dominance and purpose that had been on display in the first half, but this time they showed the clinical edge that had been missing during the opening 40 minutes.  Strong charges by Anthony Allen and Julian Salvi gave the visitors good field position, before slick hands from Jordan Crane and Marcos Ayerza put Tuilagi into the corner for an unconverted score.

Saints, to their credit, did their best to claw their way back into the game.  With the crowd finding their voice and bellowing them on, they grabbed a couple of lineouts close to the Leicester line – and the Franklins Garden faithful smelt blood after their utter destruction of the Wasps pack the weekend before.  But this time, they were thwarted as Ed Slater and Tom Croft successfully sacked the first two attempts before Dan Cole wrestled his way onto the ball to force a turnover.  But Saints kept coming, with consistent pressure over the next 5 minutes forcing Niall Morris into a deliberate knock on – for which he received a yellow card – before they finally got their breakthrough, with Myler hitting a great line to go over after Ben Foden had been held up just short.  Tigers down to 14 men, Saints within 9 – game on?  Wrong.  It was game over.

If the Tigers had been playing well before, they then kicked it into overdrive.  Ben Youngs directed a couple of effective charges from substitute Thomas Waldrom and Ed Slater, before Toby Flood span the ball wide to Tuilagi who brushed off Tom May to stroll over the line for his second try.  That try seemed to suck the belief out of the home crowd and, most importantly, out of the players, and for the last quarter the Tigers were utterly rampant.  Firstly Niall Morris went over on the right after a thunderous charge from Logovi’i Mulipola and slick handling from Flood, Salvi and Tait, before Tait hammered the nail into the coffin by picking up a long pass from Youngs to go over following yet another barnstorming gallop from Croft to seal the bonus point.

This wasn’t just a win, this was a statement.  The bullies are back.

What else was occurring across the Premiership grounds on Saturday?

Gloucester 17 – 15 Harlequins:  The Cherry and Whites edged an absolute thriller at Kingsholm on Friday night in a result that sees the champions cast adrift from the home semi-final spots.  The visitors took the lead through tries from Rob Buchanan and Sam Smith before the visitors clawed their way back through second half efforts from Jonny May and Akapusi Qera.

Bath 40 – 25 London Welsh:  Bath picked up a bonus point win but had to work for it as Welsh put up a stubborn resistance.  The hosts got on the board through tries from Matt Banahan, Carl Fearns, Semesi Rokodoguni, Horacia Agulla and Michael Claassens, whilst the visitors grabbed their only try through fullback Seb Jewell.

London Wasps 13 – 22 Saracens:  League leaders Saracens had a scare at London Wasps but came back to keep themselves top of the Premiership pile.  Electric winger Christian Wade put the home side ahead before Sarries struck pack with a pair of 5 pointers from wingers Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton.

Worcester Warriors 18 – 24 Exeter Chiefs:  The Chiefs had to come from behind as the Warriors slumped to a disappointing home defeat at Sixways.  The hosts were in the lead after Matt Kvesic and Josh Drauniniu responded to tries from Luke Arscott and the in-form Gareth Steenson, but Australian Dean Mumm grabbed a late score to win the game.

London Irish 33 – 33 Sale Sharks:  A late Nick Macleod penalty earned a draw for the Sharks in a thrilling game that saw both sides improve their chances of Premiership survival.  The home side scored tries through Guy Armitage, Halani Aulika and Max Lahiff, whilst the visitors picked up a try bonus point with scores from Henry Thomas, Mark Cueto, Kearnan Myall and James Gaskell.
 

Aviva Premiership Big Match Preview - Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers

I’ve written a lot about rivalries over the past few weeks, but in the UK rugby calendar there are none that get the juices going like the Saints v Tigers fixture.  Rugby is a game usually played with a huge amount of aggression, intensity and borderline rage (unless you’re part of the current French team) – but the East Midlands derby is one of those few matches which is played with a genuine primal passion and hostility which is evident in almost all the games between the two sides.  Punches, late hits, stamps, and even a bit of hair pulling is all par for the course in this fixture.

Of course, it would be unfair and grossly inaccurate to state that these matches are just glorified, officiated brawls between two sides with a burning hatred for one another –some stunning rugby and unbelievable drama has been produced by both clubs over the years, with last year’s game at Welford Road being dubbed as the game of the season after a 7 try epic which swung both ways before ending 30-25 in favour of the Tigers.  And when you look down the line ups at some of the names amongst the ranks, you’d be justified in expecting not only an explosive encounter, but a damned good one as well.

Northampton are well back on track this year after a mid-season wobble that saw them drop out of the playoff spots, but they’ve clawed their way back into 4^th place following a recent upturn in form and a power-packed win in a dramatic match at Adams Park against Wasps.  The real strength of Northampton – the set piece and the driving maul – was at the forefront of their victory and they scored an incredible 4 tries off lineout drives, with the likes of Dylan Hartley and Christian Day particularly impressive.  They’ll struggle to get the same level of supremacy against a much more tenacious Tigers pack which means they’ll have to use their backline, who were surprisingly blunt in their last outing (although, to be fair, they weren’t really needed).  They’ll need to get the ball into Pisi’s hands as much as possible and hope Ben Foden discovers his form sharpish if they are to threaten out wide.

The Tigers, meanwhile, have been winning games without once getting out of third gear.  Comparing this side’s performances to last season, they are still a long way short of their best; whereas this time last year, Leicester were sitting pretty on the back of 6 consecutive bonus point victories, this time they have, at times, looked like they would struggle to finish a Sunday roast.  With guys like Youngs, Flood, and Tuilagi in their backline, there is no shortage of X-factor there – and in fairness they are creating opportunities – but for some reason they have been nowhere near as clinical as they have been in recent years.  Perhaps part of the problem is that the pack have been struggling to secure the kind of quick ball that makes their backline and mobile back row such a threat – the tight five will have to match the physicality of their Northampton counterparts if this quality backline are to finally click.

The stage is set.  Get ready for fireworks.

 

Northampton Team News

Northampton Saints make two changes to the side which earned a dramatic late win over London Wasps.  Tom Wood comes in to the back row and Tom May starts at centre, so Gerrit-Jan Van Velze and begins the match on the bench and Dominic Waldouck drops out the squad.

Starting Line up:  Foden; Wilson, Pisi, May, Elliott; Myler, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley (c), Mercey; Lawes, Day; Manoa, Dowson, Wood.

Subs: McMillan, Waller, Mukati, GJ Van Velze, Nutley, Roberts, Lamb, Burrell.

Key Player

George Pisi.  I’m a huge fan of the Samoan centre and can’t wait to see him go head to head against Manu Tuilagi.  The more Saints get the ball into this fella’s hands the better – his stepping, offloading and strength are top notch and he can turn a game on his head with his wonderfully balanced running.  His task will be to fix Tuilagi and use his superior footwork and acceleration to get onto his outside – but if he plays too flat, he could be in for a painful afternoon.  With Northampton unlikely to enjoy to same level of forward dominance as they had against Wasps, Pisi’s involvement could be pivotal.

 

Leicester Team News

Richard Cockerill name an unchanged team and squad following last Saturday's victory over Exeter Chiefs.  Fly-half Toby Flood, who kicked all Tigers' points in the 12-9 win, will once again captain the side.

Starting Line up:  Tait; Morris, Tuilagi, Allen, Thompstone; Flood (c), Youngs; Ayerza, Youngs, Cole; Slater, Parling; Croft, Salvi, Crane.

Subs: Hawkins, Mulipola, Castrogiovanni, Waldrom, Kitchener, Harrison, Ford, Smith.

Key Player

Toby Flood.  Flood has his detractors but he has proved himself time and again to be a big game player for the Tigers.  His goalkicking has been outstanding of late and, in a game that’s likely to go down to the wire, that’s going to be absolutely key.  If the pack can get a rumble on and get him front foot ball, then his ability to create holes on the gainline for the likes of Manu Tuilagi and Adam Thompstone could prove decisive – and don’t forget he has an eye for a gap too and decent pace to exploit them (considering he has a pair of wind breaks on either side of his head).  If Flood fires, Leicester should win.

Key Battle

Dylan Hartley v Tom Youngs.  There are massive battles all over the park, with the likes of Tom Wood, Lee Dickson and George Pisi all facing off against Tom Croft, Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi, but it’s the scrap between the two hookers that has really caught my attention, with a spot on the Lions plane potentially up for grabs.  Hartley has the experience and the edge in set piece prowess and accuracy, but Youngs’ progress has been sensational and his ball carrying and defensive work has been utterly destructive this season.  His continued improvement at the more ‘refined’ (never thought I’d use that word as a description of front row play) will be key as Leicester will want to match Saints in the scrum and lineout, but it is the temperament of both hookers that will come under the most scrutiny.  Both men have a fiery disposition – with Hartley’s transgressions receiving plenty of attention and Youngs not adverse to a good scrap himself – and they’ll be desperate to get one over on each other given the pressures surrounding their performances.  Expect sparks to fly – I can’t wait.

 

Prediction

Saints have hit some form of late but they still looked pretty vulnerable against Wasps, and their record against Leicester and in do-or-die matches isn’t great.  The Leicester experience should just about pull them through in what could be a cracker.  Tigers by 4.

What else is happening across the Premiership this weekend?

Gloucester v Harlequins:  Two of the league’s most talked-up backlines go head to head on Friday night – but neither are in particularly good nick, with the reigning champions suffering a humbling defeat against Saracens last week and Gloucester going tryless against the league’s bottom club, London Welsh.  I expect Quins to bounce back though this week – Harlequins by 8.

Bath v London Welsh:  Bath suffered a chastising defeat against Sale whilst Welsh are still reeling from a 5 point deduction for fielding an unregistered player for 9 games.  Bath will be hungry to set their hunt for Heineken Cup qualification back on track – Bath by 10.

London Wasps v Saracens:  Wasps were unlucky to lose against Saints and their back 3 continue to look lethal, but unless their pack steps it up a notch against a physical and in-form Saracens front 8, they will struggle.  Saracens by 9.

Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs:  The Warriors are struggling for form at the moment but Exeter, by and large, have failed to impress in their away games.  That said, they still have the carrot of Heineken Cup qualification to aim for – so I expect an Exeter win.  Chiefs by 5.

London Irish v Sale Sharks:  Irish and Sale both picked up key wins last week that went a long way to helping to secure their Premiership status this season – but they can’t afford to get complacent yet.  Irish at home remain a tricky side to beat.  Irish by 6.

Post Six Nations Lions XV - Loosehead Prop

Well, it's almost 2 weeks post the closing weekend of the Six Nations and the sound of drunken Welsh cheering is still ringing in our ears and the tears of Englishmen still wet on bar surfaces across the country.  Now that that the drama of that final weekend has started to die down, we can take stock and look towards the summer and the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

Of course, there's plenty of rugby to be played between now and then, but time is running out – and so, RuckedOver will be putting forward their own 37 man squad for the Lions based on club AND Six Nations form. 

Starting us off this week – loosehead prop…

Loosehead Prop

Perhaps this was a position of concern prior to the start of the Six Nations, but not anymore.  Cian Healy showed off his power in the loose as well as the set piece, Gethin Jenkins hit the kind of form which saw him become a stalwart of the Lions side in 2005 and 2009, and there were impressive contributions from Ryan Grant and Mako Vunipola as well – and that's not to mention to rather large (and nightmarish – if you're an Aussie) figure of Andrew Sheridan, who's still hulking impressively around the Top 14 with Toulon.

For my starting spot, it comes down to a straight shoot out between Cian Healey and Gethin Jenkins.  I should say from the outset that I thought Jenkins' final 3 performances of the Six Nations were nothing short of magnificent, like a jackal over the ball and a force of nature in defence.  But one thing the home nations perhaps lack is a selection of truly destructive ball carriers – and in Healy we have a real brute.

TEST STARTER:  CIAN HEALEY.  Yes, he was a bit of a mug against England when he administered his own version of chiropractic therapy to Dan Cole's ankle, but his destructive ball carrying was key to anything good Ireland did (which, admittedly, wasn't a huge amount).  His scrummaging has improved no end, as he showed with solid performances against Wales, England and France, but it is ball carrying that gets him the nod to start, with a potential shortage of bullocking runners elsewhere in the pack.

BENCHER:  GETHIN JENKINS.  Geth is pretty unlucky not to start, having had a great end to the tournament, and I'm sure that he will put a strong claim forward for a test spot in the warm up games, but his experience on the bench may prove to be vital.  Outstanding over the ball and titanic in the tackle area, he's just the man to bring on if the Lions are struggling in either the set piece or unable to get their hands on the ball.  And, to be fair, it's not exactly like he isn't capable of making inroads with the ball in his mitts...

DIRT TRACKER:  MAKO VUNIPOLA.  Whoever travels in the company of Healy and Jenkins will not only be competing for a test spot against two powerful props, but also two terrifying looking men, with Healy looking like Quasimodo's slightly beefier big brother and Jenkins resembling psychopathic village butcher.  Vunipola is the man for the job in both departments.  Not only is he a colossal ball carrier, but he also looks like the mummified remains of a prehistoric rhino.  His rise to fame has been sensational, his scrummaging solid and his explosivity a force of nature at times – and it is that raw talent that sees him just edge out the impressively mobile Ryan Grant.   As for Big Ted?  Well, he'd fit in looks-wise, but there's still a question to be asked about whether or not he has played enough top class rugby lately to prove himself.  The Heineken Cup will be key.

 

Who would be in your Lions number 1 jersey?

Super XV Big Match Preview - Stormers v Crusaders

Comebacks are great.  One minute you're scrabbling around looking for any sort of positive, fighting tooth and nail for inches and constantly coming up short, the next you're on top of the world, with the taste of victory even sweeter after being forced to suckle on the stale-semolina-like substance that, I think, is what defeat tastes like (perhaps that's because I was force-fed it in school – yuck).

Unfortunately though, it's only a comeback in sport if you can back it up.  Wales did it in the Six Nations to an enviable degree when they ended up winning the tournament, and in some style too, but this weekend one side will see their comeback brought abruptly to a halt.  The Stormers and the Crusaders is RuckedOver's big game of the week in Super XV, and the similarities between the two sides are striking.  Both traditionally dominant forces in their country, both suffering disappointing starts to the season with 2 away losses to rivals, and both bouncing back with 2 good home wins.  Spooky, hey?  Ok, it's not exactly paranormal activity stuff, but what it does tell you is that it should be one hell of a war between these two sides – and only one will be able to say with any conviction "We're back."

The Stormers suffered the ignominy of losing to both of their fierce rivals – the Bulls and the Sharks – in their opening rounds but bounced back perfectly with impressive wins over early pace-setters the Chiefs and the Brumbies.  Andries Bekker has been in sublime form for them throughout the season, grabbing three scores already this term, whilst Gio Aplon remains almost poetic in his running ability.  Fly half Elton Jantjies, criticised early on for his lack of control, has started to step up to the mark and showed some gorgeous touches in their last outing to create gaping holes for his runners.  If he gets given the armchair ride by his forwards that he wants, then he can be a real threat.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, started the season with a surprise loss to the Blues in Auckland before a 1 point loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington, but turned their form around by thumping South African sides the Bulls and the Kings at home.  It seems they have a taste for South African blood and won't be afraid of the Stormers, but playing them away is a very different animal.  Without 3 of their most influential players – Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Dan Carter – this Crusaders side will face a huge challenge, but if they can play with the pace and width they have been in their last 2 matches, with the impressive Matt Todd and George Whitelock beating their counterparts to the breakdown, then they are a handful for anyone.

It's going to be war, and at the end, we'll know which one of these two big hitters really means business.

Stormers Team News

Pat Cilliers comes in at loosehead prop for the suspended Steven Kitshoff in the No.1 jersey in one of two changes to the Stormers starting line-up that claimed a 35-22 win over the previously unbeaten Brumbies this past weekend.  The other change is also in the front row, with hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (elbow) a late injury-victim.  Currie Cup-winning captain Deon Fourie takes his place.

Starting Line up: Joe Pietersen; Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (captain), Gerhard van den Heever; Elton Jantjies, Dewaldt Duvenage; Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi; Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp;Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Pat Cilliers.

Subs: Martin Bezuidenhout, Brok Harris, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Nic Groom, Damian de Allende,Jaco Taute.

Key Player

Siya Kolisi.  The big flanker has impressed me this season with his strong defensive work and brutal carries.  The man has a huge engine on him and if the Stormers are to dominate then he will need to be at his aggressive and disruptive best to make a mess of any ball provided to this inexperienced Crusaders half back combination.

Crusaders Team News

Luke Whitelock has been named to replace Kieran Read while his brother George will lead the team in the No. 8's absence. Read sustained a toe injury in the victory against the Southern Kings.  Whitelock is one of four changes to the side, which will also be without fly-half Dan Carter on paternity leave pending the birth of his first child. His place will be taken by Tyler Bleyendaal.  Israel Dagg returns at fullback, after missing the Kings' game with a hamstring problem, meaning Tom Marshall returns to the wing and Zac Guildford dropps to the bench.

Starting Line up:  Israel Dagg; Tom Marshall, .Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Johnny McNicholl; Tyler Bleyendaal, Willi Heinz; Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, George Whitelock; Samuel Whitelock , Luke Romano; Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.

Subs: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Andy Ellis, Adam Whitelock, Zac Guildford.

Key Player

Tyler Bleyendaal.  Filling in for Dan Carter is a daunting task and not dissimilar to entering a manhood-measuring contest with Ron Jeremy – you're probably going to come up short.  The talented young fly half has looked great with a dominant pack, but he will be under serious pressure this week from a hungry and confident Stormers unit, and so it will be his tactical nous and kicking game that will come under the most scrutiny.

 

Key Battle

Duane Vermeulen v Luke Whitelock.  The youngest of the Whitelock clan has a big task on his hands, stepping into the shoes of the inspirational Kieran Read.  The youngster will be relied on to provide much needed thrust around the fringes and in the midfield, whilst not allowing his big South African counterpart to get the upper hand in the close exchanges.  If Vermeulen gets rumbling, then this Stormers pack are very difficult to stop.

 

Prediction

This is a strong Crusader side but when you take out such lynchpins as Dan Carter and Kieran Read, and in such key positions as well, any side would struggle.  Home advantage and confidence after a strong showing against the Brumbies should be enough to see the hosts claim a win.  Stormers by 9 points.

 

Where else will the points go this weekend?

Highlanders v Reds:  The Highlanders are still yet to win this season whilst the Reds have been chugging along in 3rd gear.  I think the Kiwi outfit will finally break their duck – they have too much quality to not win sometime soon.  Highlanders by 3.

Hurricanes v Kings:  The Kings have shown great character in recent defeats and a huge tenacity in defence, but the Canes at home will be too steep a hill for them to climb.  Hurricanes by 17.

Chiefs v Blues:  The Chiefs were scrappy last week but will be hungry for tries this week, and although the Blues have looked sharp in dribs and drabs, the reigning champions should have too much for them.  Chiefs by 15.

Brumbies v Bulls:  The Brumbies will be smarting after their chastising defeat at the hands of the Stormers but will be keen to put the record straight against a Bulls side coming off the back of 2 successive defeats.  Brumbies by 12.

Cheetahs v Rebels:  Whilst the Cheetahs have impressed many with their ambition and execution this season, the wheels are coming off the Rebel's wagon as a bright start to the year was ruined by a run of 4 defeats – including a thumping at the Sharks in their last outing – that have been compounded by reports of in-fighting between some of the club's more 'egotistical' players.  The Cheetahs will take full advantage of their opposition's disarray.  Cheetahs by 16.

Waratahs v Force:  This will be a bit of a grudge match for Force coach Michael Foley, who had an unhappy season at the Tahs last year.  The Sydney-based side though will be confident after their last outing and will be keen to try and get a run of form going.  Waratahs by 6.

Super XV Big Match Review - Stormers 35 - 22 Brumbies

Sitting on top of the pile in sport isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Everyone’s out to get you, wants to raise their game against you and grab the win, tales of which they can churn out every Christmas without fail to the colossal boredom of anyone listening aside from the teller.  Being the best means effectively drawing a big target on your chest, or wearing a large ‘kick me’ sticker on your rear end, and waiting for the strike – and if you’re not used to the pressure, it can be pretty hard to deal with.  The Brumbies haven’t been a successful side since that hallowed Gregan-Larkham era, and so perhaps we shouldn’t be too harsh on the judgements after they succumbed to powerful Stormers performance on Saturday.

The Brumbies had been in blistering form in the build up to this match – destroying the Sharks the week before with a stunning first half display, and demonstrating an almost unplayable pace in their play at times in their opening fixtures, with their mobile pack running sides off the park before the likes of Henry Speight and the outstanding Jesse Mogg applied the finishing touches.  The Stormers, meanwhile, hae been in indifferent form, with their trademark brutal defence yet to fully click and only 1 win from their opening 3 games – but teams have a knack of bringing it together when the league leaders come to town.

At first, it seemed like the game would all to go script, with the Brumbies dominating possession for the opening 10 minutes and Ben Mowen looking lively in the loose and Christian Lealiifano pulling the strings in the middle, but then the home side burst into life.  A penalty from Joe Pietersen got the hosts off the mark, and then winger Gio Aplon took a short ball of Elton Jantjies to cruise through a gap in the Australian side’s defence, before standing up stand-in full back Robbie Coleman with a delightful step that left Coleman on his backside and Aplon jogging around the posts, giving the Stormers a 10 point lead.

Lealiifano pulled a penalty back for the visitors, but the respite was short lived as the Stormers came right back at them, powering towards the Brumbies’ line with a driving maul of a lineout which, when it was brought down a metre from the line, provided the perfect platform for Andries Bekker to demonstrate his Inspector-Gadget-esque reach and touch down for his side’s second try.  The game was being played at an almost frantic pace and was end to end stuff, with the Brumbies striking straight back through the electric Henry Speight, who took advantage of a rare dogleg in the Stormers defence to burst through the line and gas his way round the cover.

The game crept towards the halfway point, and the crowd sat back, satisfied they’d had their fill of entertainment for the first 40 minutes – but the Stormers didn’t agree.  A strong drive by Siya Kolisi and a lovely dart by Jantjies created a gap for Bekker to stroll through, going beneath the posts for his second.  The huge lock is having some season, and would have pretty pleased with the 12 point cushion he’d effectively given his side after the break.

What he would have been less pleased about though is the way in which the hosts softly let the Aussie side back into the game after the break.  With both sides butchering opportunities under pressure, it was becoming clear that discipline would be key, and with veteran George Smith at  his craft best, it was the Brumbies who came out on top in this department with Lealiifano knocking over 4 penalties to Pietersen’s 1 to trim the gap to just 3 points with only 10 minutes remaining. 

The Stormers of 3 weeks ago would have panicked, perhaps realised it was going to be ‘one of those days’.  But not this week.  Instead, a Pietersen penalty was followed by a gutsy intercept by pacy winger Gerhard Van Den Heever, and the fate of the then only unbeaten side in the Super XV was sealed, with the Stormers claiming a great 12 point win and condemning the Brumbies to their first defeat.  

And the Brumbies will have to get used to one thing fast – that it can get pretty lonely at the top.

 

What else was happening across the Super XV this weekend?

Chiefs 19 – 7 Highlanders:  The Chiefs scrapped their way to an important win over a brave – but still winless – Highlanders side.  Tim Nanai-Williams was scored again for the hosts as he continues to terrify defences, whilst Aaron Smith darted over for the Otago side.

Sharks 64 – 7 Rebels:  The Rebels were hammered by the Sharks on Saturday as they were blown away by a 60-minute 10 try blitz, to which they could only respond through a consolation score from Scott Higginbotham.  The scorers for the Sharks were (deep breath) Louis Ludik (2), Marcel Coetzee, Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel, Kyle Cooper, Jacobus Reinach, The Beast, Ryan Kankowski and Riaan Viljoen.

Force 10 – 19 Cheetahs:  The Force were undone in a tight game in Perth, where the Cheetahs scored a late game-sealing score through Willie le Roux, after the hosts had initially gone ahead after a score from centre Winston Stanley.

Reds 23 – 18 Bulls:  The Reds bounced back from the previous week’s humbling with a gritty win over the Bulls.  Jono Lance and the sharp Quade Cooper both went over for the hosts, who managed to keep the touring side tryless.

Crusaders 55 – 20 Kings:  The Crusaders continued their recovery with a thumping home win over this year’s minnows, the Kings.  The Canterbury side a George Whitelock hattrick to thank for their big score, as well as tries from brother Luke, Wyatt Crockett, Willi Heinz and Matt Todd.  The visitors battled admirably and grabbed a couple of scores through Wimpie Van Der Walt and George Whitehead as a reward for their efforts.

Waratahs 30 – 27 Blues:  The Tahs grabbed a much needed win against the Blues on Saturday in a thriller that came down to a last minute Bernard Foley penalty.  Drew Mitchell opened the scoring for the hosts before the visitors struck back through James Parsons, Chris Noakes and Charles Piutau, before the Sydney-based side clawed their way into the game, with Israel Folou and Foley both going over.
 

Aviva Premiership Big Match Review - Saracens 27 - 12 Harlequins

Rugby isn’t a popularity contest.  Think of some of the greats who have played/are playing the game and you’ll realise that if you weren’t supporting the side they played for, you probably didn’t particularly like them very much – think Martin Johnson, Richie McCaw, and pretty much any half-decent Australian (David Campese anyone?!).  And the same rule applies to all the best sides as well, with England in 2003, Australia in 1999 and New Zealand any other time not exactly finding themselves swamped in flowers or best wishes.  But in a way, the scorn, the hatred and the disdain are just projections of a jealousy that’s felt by others who don’t share the same level of success – in a way, it’s actually a compliment, and the best sides realise this and use it to their advantage.

It’s fair to say that Saracens haven’t particularly ingratiated themselves amongst the general rugby public lately .  Some of that derision may be self inflicted – with ‘The Doctor’ Brendan Venter’s antics, the ‘rent-a-crowd’ allegations and a style of play that would make drying paint seem like Michael Bay movie not helping matters, and that’s not to mention the absolutely atrocious songs that they’ve produced to be played every 30 seconds at home games (which are as enjoyable to listen to as a an orchestra of tone-deaf cats). 

No, despite these ‘minor’ irritations, Sarries are unpopular because they win.  They sometimes win ugly, but who cares?!  They get the win, and every team wants a piece of that action – even if they do lie and say they’d rather ‘play pretty and lose’.  And, in fairness, Saracens have been busting out some pretty decent rugby of late.  Three bonus point wins on the bounce, including a stunning away victory at Leicester, has highlighted a clinical attacking edge to the Saracens game that complements their hard-nosed forward play.  This has been coupled with a move to a new ultra-modern home ground with a fast artificial pitch, and they seem to have adapted their game to suit their new environment – but although it may make them better to watch, it certainly didn’t improve their popularity among Harlequins supporters on Sunday.

On a freezing, blustery Sunday, the script at Allianz Park should have had the stodgy Saracens trying to contain the free-flowing defending champions – but it was the hosts who were full of a boundless energy that caught Quins by surprise.  Mako Vunipola, who had a phenomenal game, made his first big statement of the day by hitting a gorgeous line in the midfield to take him past Joe Gray and Danny Care, before he was hauled down just short.  The pressure was enough to force the champions into conceding a penalty which Owen Farrell duly converted, before Nick Evans got Quins on the scoreboard with own 3-pointer 3 minutes later.  Saracens were looking dangerous in attack but they were continually let down by the perennially –frustrating Matt Stevens, who conceded two penalties in quick succession, firstly giving away territory and then 3 points to the boot of Evans, before Farrell levelled the scores with a kick of his own.

Things then took a bad turn for the visitors, after the sharp David Strettle made strong metres up the left hand flank before Ashton burst through the middle with a great break, offloading expertly to the onrushing Will Fraser who was brought down by a sensational cover tackle by fullback Mike Brown.  The scrambling defence was from Quins was frantic and exhausting, so much so that prop Joe Marler decided to take a nap on top of the ball in a ruck 2 metres from his own line, earning himself another rest in the sin bin and handing 3 points to Owen Farrell, who added 3 more 2 minutes later after a strong gallop from Ernst Joubert.

The game was on the edge of getting tries and it was the hosts who duly delivered, with a burst from the excellent Alistair Hargreaves and Kelly Brown giving Sarries good field position, before the recycled ball made its way to Schalk Brits, who wriggled over the line for his first try in 2 seasons.  Evans clawed 3 points back before the break, but Harlequins were having a rare problem of not being able to penetrate the opposition defence.

It was more of the same after the break, but at least Harlequins managed to turn around their shakey scrum, shunting the hosts’ pack backwards for a penalty which Evans slotted.  Then came another magic moment from the home side, with a surge up the right wing by Kelly Brown (including an audacious Mothercare-standard dummy) ending when the omnipresent Chris Ashton was brought down just short of the whitewash.  The ball was recycled quickly though and Farrell dropped a gorgeous cross kick over to the other side of the pitch, where flanker Will Fraser collected to touch down, much to the delight of the home crowd.  Farrell’s conversion effectively sealed the game, especially when he followed it up with another penalty to take the score to 27-12.

There was still time for Chris Ashton to earn himself a yellow card after nearly decapitating Maurie Fa’asavalu with a ridiculous clothesline following a scintillating run from the ever-dangerous Mike Brown, but this was Saracens day.  Their defence was impenetrable, and their attack clinical.  The full time whistle went, and Sarries has another significant scalp to their name – and they earned it by playing some great rugby too.

Careful Sarries, if you carry on like that, it will become irritatingly hard to find a reason to dislike you.

 

Where else was the action happening over the weekend?

Sale Sharks 14 – 13 Bath:  Sale picked up a vital win that may secure their survival for this year as they turned over Heineken Cup-hunting Bath in freezing Salford on Friday.  Horacio Agulla scored a try for the visitors before a Tom Brady effort with 10 minutes remaining proved enough to seal the win for the Sharks.

Gloucester 15 – 14 London Welsh:  Gloucester squeezed past a determined London Welsh side who kept their survival hopes alive as they wait for a decision on their appeal over their points deduction.  Welsh scored a try through winger Phil MacKenzie whilst Gloucester had to rely on the boot of Freddie Burns for all their points.

London Irish 26 – 6 Worcester Warriors:  London Irish eased past the Warriors in a solid win at the Madjeski Stadium, but will be disappointed they didn’t pick up a try bonus point after going most of the second half scoreless.  Flanker Matt Garvey, prop Halani ‘Aulika and number 8 Chris Hala’ufia all touched down for the hosts, with Worcester’s only points coming from Andy Goode, with 2 penalties.

London Wasps 24 – 26 Northampton Saints:  Saints won a stunning game at the death with a last minute try that broke Wasps hearts and put a dent in their playoff hosts.  The visitors dominated the forwards battle via huge drives from the pack, which resulted in a penalty try and touchdowns for Lee Dickson, Dylan Hartley and a last-minute winner from Christian Day.  But the highlights of the day were undoubtedly two unbelievable finishes by Tom Varndell and young centre/wing Elliot Daly, which pulled the hosts within a whisker of a great win.

Exeter Chiefs 9 – 12 Leicester Tigers:  Toby Flood kicked Leicester to a win in a turgid encounter with the Chiefs at Sandy Park.  Gareth Steenson, who kicked all of Exeter’s points, was short with the final kick of the game which would have grabbed a draw, but the Tigers clung on (despite making a hash of booting the ball out) to claim a narrow win at their bogey ground.
 

Aviva Premiership Big Match Preview - Saracens v Harlequins

Well, after a nice two month jolly into the glamorous world of international rugby, it’s a heartening splat down to earth in England as we head back to mud-filled brawls and day-to-day grind of the Aviva Premiership.  Or at least that’s what you might think.  The reality is that the Premiership threw up a couple of fantastic rounds of rugby whilst the snoozefest that was the Six Nations was grabbing all the headliners, with all the sides chucking in at least one sharp and entertaining performance, with even Saracens (who usually have an allergy to 5 pointers) ripping it up with a couple of storming bonus point wins.  Although should be pointed out that Sale haven’t  (they’ve remained uninspired and awful ) and yet they’ve been bumped up the ladder after plucky new boys London Welsh were deducted 5 points for fielding an unregistered player, although they have a rogue team manager to thank for that, a man who seemed to think that his job entailed passport forgery and lying to everyone.  Complete madness.

But sitting pretty at the top of the pile are Saracens.  Perhaps it’s the reinvigoration of actually having a home ground (albeit made of plastic or something), or maybe because the spotlight was off them, but Sarries have been playing some superb rugby over the last few rounds – fast-paced, physical and clinical – with their youngsters, in the shape of Will Fraser and Ben Ransom, leading the way.  Three bonus point wins on the spin – including a magnificent away thumping of Leicester – has put them in pole position for a home quarter final come playoff time, and they will take some stopping.

Exciting youngsters and bonus point wins is meant to be the mantle of LV=Cup Champions Harlequins, who are fresh off the back of a great win in the cup final of the tournament nobody could less about.  In fairness though, it was their youngsters who led the way, but there’s a couple who have been pushed to the side to make way for the big boys this weekend – which is understandable, if a little deflating.  But after a shock home defeat to Exeter, this game has become even more important, with there being a genuine risk that Sarries will move out of sight should they not win and, even worse, they may lose their home quarter final spot should Leicester win in Exeter.  With key players returning from England though, they’ll be doubly determined to make sure this doesn’t happen.

 

Saracens Team News

A third successive sell-out at Sarries' new home sees Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola all return to the starting line-up after Six Nations duty with England while Scotland captain Kelly Brown is also back in the side.  Farrell starts the game at fly-half which sees Charlie Hodgson among the replacements. He is joined on the bench by John Smit, Neil de Kock and Chris Wyles.

Starting Line up:  15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steve Borthwick (capt), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola

Subs: 16 John Smit, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 George Kruis, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Chris Wyles

Key Player

Joel Tomkins.  The League convert is growing into a powerful player game by game, and his improvements in his physicality and offloading skills on the gain line have gone hand in hand with the improvements in Saracens attacking game.  If the big northerner gets rumbling, then we may see Sarries get some points – and who knows, maybe even Chris Ashton will score.

 

Harlequins Team News

Mike Brown, Danny Care, Joe Marler and captain, Chris Robshaw all return from England duty to start for the defending champions.  In the pack, Joe Gray is named at hooker, while Charlie Matthews starts in the second row with George Robson.  Ugo Monye and Sam Smith start on the wings, with Matt Hopper and Jordan Turner-Hall partnering in the centres.

Starting Line up:  15 Mike Brown, 14 Ugo Monye, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Sam Smith, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 6 Tom Guest, 5 George Robson, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 James Johnston, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Joe Marler

Subs: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 George Lowe

Key Player

Nick Evans.  The masterful fly half has been given the nod over Ben Botica, which isn’t entirely surprising for such a big game, but the younger of the 2 Kiwis has been in scintillating form for Quins so far.  Evans, for the first time since his arrival, has suffered a little bit from inconsistency, especially off the tee, and he will need to be at his dead-eyed best if they are to snatch a win from the Premiership leaders.

Key Battle

Ernst Joubert v Nick Easter.  These two number 8s will have to be at their abrasive best if they want to get the upper hand on Sunday.  With back rows pretty quick, the number 8s will be tasked with a lot more hard carries than normal to suck in as many defenders as possible.  This is an area where Easter should have the advantage – in the close exchanges – so Joubert will have to make sure he dominates his collisions to give his side the same front foot ball that Quins will get off their number 8.

Prediction

I’m hoping for an entertaining game with a lot of free-flowing rugby from two sides with players who know their way to the try line.  Given current form and home advantage, I think Sarries might just nick this – but not by much.  Saracens by 4.

What else is happening across sunny England?

 

Sale Sharks v Bath:  Friday nights in Sale are always a wretched affair, but this Bath side has looked pretty decent of late.  A critical game for the home side but I can see the visitors snatching a win.  Bath by 7.

Gloucester v London Welsh:  The Exiles will be hoping that all the off-field drama doesn’t affect their game, but I suspect they will be slightly distracted by it.  Regardless of that though, the Cherry and Whites will be too strong at home.  Gloucester by 20.

London Irish v Worcester Warriors:  Worcester have struggled a bit of late but Irish haven’t set the world alight either.  That said, Irish have a great chance to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone, and I think they’ll take it.  Irish by 7.

London Wasps v Northampton Saints:  A key game in the battle for 4^th place and a Heineken cup game, this one could go either way.  I’m going to go for a narrow win for the home side in a game which could be a cracker.  Wasps by 3.

Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers:  Leicester travel to their bogey ground to face a side that grabbed a sensational win over Quins in their last outing.  I think that, this time, Leicester may just have a few too many aces up their sleeve now their internationals are back.  Tigers by 6.

Super XV Big Match Preview - Stormers v Brumbies

How do you stop the unstoppable force?  With the immovable object, apparently.  And if there’s one team who can stop this awesome-looking Brumbies side, it’s...er...probably not the Stormers.  Famed for having a stingy defence that can shut out all but the most potent attacks, the Stormers seem to have been infected with a nasty streak of generosity in the early parts of this season.  Losing their first two matches, they hit back with a 2 point victory over the Chiefs, but they still managed to concede 4 tries and 34 points in the process – two seasons ago, this would have been unheard of.  That said, after a week off to recover and re-focus, you can bet that the Newlands outfit will be utterly intent on barring the way for their free-scoring visitors.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies have been charging onwards with the determination of an overweight American waddling towards a McDonalds at happy hour, swatting away challengers – many of whom you would expect to really take them on – with almost arrogant ease.  Their 4 try, first half blitz against the hotly-tipped Sharks was almost unbelievable, and they have been blessed with many of their as-yet-internationally-unrecognised players ripping it up – with Henry Speight and Jesse Mogg providing the finishing nous and Ben Mowen implementing the grunt in the pack. 

So, the all devouring attack will come against the (potentially) rock solid defence – something will have to give.

 

Stormers Team News

Springbok Juan De Jongh's return has seen Stormers coach Allister Coetzee switch captain Jean de Villiers to inside centre which demotes Damian de Allende to the bench having started in the three previous fixtures.   Meanwhile Gerhard van den Heever makes his first start in the backline as replacement for the injured Bryan Habana and Dewaldt Duvenage takes the scrum-half position with Nic Groom dropped to the bench.

Starting Line up:  15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (capt), 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Don Armand, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Damian de Allende, 22 Jaco Taute.

Key Player

Elton Jantjies.  The fly half was criticised for his flakiness as the Stormers lost 2 games in succession, but he looked an assured and sharp presence when they grabbed a 2 point win over reigning champions, the Chiefs, in their last outing.  His ability to bring his powerful centres into the game and over the gain-line will be absolutely key to getting this stubborn Brumbies defence backpeddling.

Brumbies Team News

Brumbies coach Jake White has made two changes to his starting side, with Ian Prior replacing scrum half Nic White, who has a shoulder problem but is named among the replacements, should he prove his fitness, and Dan Palmer returning as tight-head prop with Ben Alexander moving to the bench.

Starting Line up: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13, Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Fotu Auelua, 7 George Smith, 6 Ben Mowen, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Peter Kimlin, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.

Subs: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Scott Fardy, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Nic White, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Clyde Rathbone, 23 Mark Swanepoel (one player to be removed from bench prior to kick off)

Key Player

Christian Lealiifano.  The inside centre has really grown into the role over the last few games and his assuredness, intelligence and running abilities have had critics clamouring for him to be considered by Robbie Deans for the Lions series.  He’s talented, no doubt, but his kicking boots will be the aspect under focus on Saturday – in a tight game, he can’t afford to wobble like he did against the Reds on the opening day of the season.

Key Battle

Siya Kolisi v Ben Mowen.  Two of the stand out players this tournament will go head to head in what should be an absolutely brutal showdown.  Both men are renowned for the physicality and work rate, with captain Mowen throwing himself into the Wallaby reckoning with a series of huge performances whilst Kolisi is one of the most frightening rugby players on the scene with an unbelievable ferocity in his tackling. The outcome of this game may well depend on who can get into the opposition’s faces and disrupt their patterns the most.

 

Prediction

A week ago I would have said the Stormers, because of the home advantage, but the way in which the Brumbies utterly dismantled their illustrious opponents last week was unbelievable.  I think with the confidence and form the way it currently is, we may just see the Brumbies nick this one.  Brumbies by 4.

Where else should you put your money this weekend?

Chiefs v Highlanders:  The Chiefs are looking almost unplayable in attack and the Highlanders are yet to win this year.  It sounds like it could be a mismatch.  Chiefs by 14.

Crusaders v Kings:  The Crusaders stormed back into form last week and will have too much for the plucky visitors.  Crusaders by 20.

Reds v Bulls:  The Bulls took a pasting last week against the Crusaders, and although the Reds suffered a bad home defeat in their last outing, they will be working hard to ensure it doesn’t happen again.  Reds by 9.

Force v Cheetahs:  The Cheetahs have surprised many with their excellent away form, but that was nothing compare to the shock the Force sprang on the Reds last week.  I think this Cheetahs side have a little more about them though and will edge a close one – Cheetahs by 6.

Sharks v Rebels:  After an embarrassing performance against the Chiefs, you can bet the Sharks will be hungry to vent their frustrations – and the Rebels may not be able to cope.  Sharks by 15.

Super XV Big Match Review - Highlanders 19 - 23 Hurricances

Consistency is a word that we love to talk about in rugby, whether from players or the referee.  I was at a club game a few years ago with my old man, and the match was being refereed by a Mr Chris White.  He gave a penalty against the side we supported, claiming we weren’t rolling away – to which Mr Rucked Over snr – standing close to the action – commented that the opposition had been allowed to get away with exactly the same offence not 2 minutes earlier.  His mate agreed, and bellowed out “Can we have some consistency please, White?”, which was then followed up by my old man’s loud response “Oh, he is consistent alright.  Consistently crap.”  Cue offended look from Chris White, who was standing about 3 metres away.

Consistency is generally regarded as a positive attribute to have though.  It’s what professional athletes strive for – to produce excellence week in, week out, achieving the highest standards on a regular basis.  Of course, there’s another sort of consistency which is not quite such a positive – a losing habit – and that’s something which the Highlanders seem to have picked up.

They started this season with many, including myself, tipping them as dark horses – and why not?  With the likes of Brad Thorn, Ma’a Nonu, Andrew Hore and Hosea Gear in the side, this is a team that has the firepower to match nearly any other in the competition, but it doesn’t seem to be clicking for them at the moment.  On the other hand, the Hurricanes were looking out of sorts early on but came through with a stunning last-gasp win over the Crusaders which set up hopes that perhaps this side might be able to do the business over its rivals, meaning that this game was going to be of critical importance to two sides still trying to find consistency in performance.  Unfortunately, for the Highlanders, the only consistency they were to achieve in this game was the result.

The Hurricanes set the tone for the match by dominating the early exchanges and it was no surprise when they got on the scoreboard first through Conrad Smith.  Slick hands from Julian Savea actually put Brad Shields over the line, but an unbelievable scramble defence hauled him back the other way before he could get the ball down.  The mini-victory was short lived though, as off the next phase Smith snaked his was over from 3 metres to touch down for a try, with Beauden Barrett missing the conversion.

Colin Slade added two penalties as the Highlanders began to ease themselves into the game, with Hosea Gear prominent, although they weren’t helped by the influential Andrew Hore being forced to leave the field due to injury.  The lead didn’t last for long though as the Hurricanes snapped up a half-charged-down kick to swing the ball out to the left, where Victor Vito added a great injection of pace before feeding Ben Franks, who smashed through Ben Smith to score in the scorner, with Barrett nailing the kick.  The Highlanders grabbed a score of their own though on the cusp of half time when Gear waltzed straight through a flimsy effort from Barrett (to be fair though, I think my effort to stop Gear in full flight would involve adopting the foetal position), which gave Slade an easy conversion to take the hosts into a 13-12 halftime lead that their possession percentage of 61% would suggest they deserved.

Slade re-opened the scoring with another penalty after the break, but the Hurricanes took control through the bulldozing figure...of their scrum half, Anthony Perenara.  The feisty little 9 smashed and wriggled his way through four tackles, including 2 of the Otago side’s back row, to touch down on the left.  Barrett converted, before adding a further two penalties to one from Slade to leave the score at 23 – 19 to the visitors.  Both sides had chances to score, with Jason Emery – who had a fine debut – going close for the home side, but it was to prove to be another loss for the Highlanders.  That’s now 3 on the bounce – and that’s a difficult habit to shake.

What else was going down in the Southern Hemisphere last weekend?

Waratahs 26 – 27 Cheetahs:  The Tahs slipped to a frustrating one point defeat by the impressive Cheetahs, who have now won both their tour games.  The visitors got off to a great start with tries from Robert Ebersohn and Raymond Rhule, before the hosts clawed their way back with Peter Betham and Adam Ashley-Cooper going over.  Rhule scored a key try in the second half though to nick the game for the South African outfit.

Kings 24 – 35 Chiefs: The Chiefs continued their impressive start with a bonus point over stubborn new boys, the Kings, on Friday night.  Sergeal Petersen and Jacques Engelbrecht scored tries for the hosts, but they were undone by a Lelia Masaga hat-trick and a Sam Cane effort.

Crusaders 41 – 19 Bulls:  The Crusaders finally kick started their season with a thumping home win over the Bulls.  The Crusaders scored six tries through (deep breath) Robbie Fruean, Kieran Read, Johnny McNicholl, Tom Marshall, Wyatt Crockett and Willi Heinz, whilst the visitors could only get one solitary try through Deon Stegmann.

Reds 12 – 19 Force:  The Force won for the first time ever away to the Reds in a shock reversal for the Queensland team.  Alfi Mafi scored the only try of the game when he touched down for the visiting side, with Quade Cooper’s boot providing the only response for the hosts.

Sharks 10 – 29 Brumbies: The Sharks went down to a surprise home defeat largely thanks to an inspired first half from the Brumbies.  The visitors had grabbed  a bonus point before the interval with scores from Jesse Mogg (again), Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua and Henry Speight, whilst the Sharks eventually scored in 2^nd half through Ryan Kankowski.  The Brumbies are now flying and proudly sporting a 100% record.