Super XV Big Match Review - Chiefs 23 - 31 Reds

I love dummies. Not the kind that tots have in their mouth to pacify them (give me some credit - I got over that stage of infancy WEEKS ago) but the fake pass on the rugby field kind. It's an affinity I've had since I was a chunky second row at under-11 level (we only had 5-man scrums at that stage), when I scored a try with a dummy that – as far as my recollection has exaggerated – fooled at least half the opposition backline. So impressed was my coach – the legendary Mr Stocks – that he decided to give me the nickname "MotherCare" for the rest of my junior school life (I assume in honour of my masterful dummy, and not because I'm a bit of a wet blanket). But on Saturday, in Hamilton, it was Quade Cooper dishing out the lessons in dummies with one of the best ones we've seen this year.

The Chiefs v the Reds was always looking like it might be a cracker, with 2 attacking sides stuffed to the brim with talent and speed – the Chiefs may have been in the better form, but the Reds had the better record against their Kiwi rivals and, as expected, we were treated to a high-class display of fast and effective rugby. And it as the visitors who struck first, after an enterprising opening 5 minutes where they had the Chiefs defence stretched on multiple occasions, before winger Rod Davies, in for Digby Ione, picked off a wayward pass from All Black Aaron Cruden to coast in underneath the posts, with Cooper converting to give the Reds a 7-0 lead.

Full back Gareth Anscombe then pulled 3 points back for the hosts with a penalty before setting up a superb score for the hosts 5 minutes later, hitting a gorgeous outside line outside Ben Tapuai before flicking the ball inside to Bundee Aki to plunge over the line. Anscome converted off the posts and the Chiefs were in the lead by 3 – but for the rest of the game, they'd be playing catch up. Just before the 30 minute mark, Reds number 8 Jake Schatz was the beneficiary of an unstoppable driving maul – a symbol of the dominance the visiting pack was achieving – which shunted the homeside backwards 10 metres before reaching the whitewash. Cooper converted again to give the Reds a 14 – 10 halftime lead.

After the break, Anscombe slotted another 3 pointed before a blistering 5 minute spell that sealed the game for the Aussie outfit. Firstly, Cooper dotted down after one of the most convincing dummies I've seen, faking an outside pop that the crowd, cameraman and (most importantly) the Chiefs defence looking completely the wrong way as the Wallaby fly half – making a big statement to Robbie Deans, who excluded him from the training squad to face the Lions this summer – touched down beneath the sticks. He was followed over the Chiefs line shortly afterwards by Davies, who was on the end of a fizzing Genia cut-out pass, with a score that took the game well away from the hosts. Anscombe and Cooper traded penalties, before Patrick Osborne got a try back for the Chiefs after Anthony Faingaa was shown yellow, but it was too little, too late for the home side, who had been shut out all game by a resilient Reds defence.

After 80 minutes of skill, speed and audacity, Robbie Deans would have learned one very important point from this cracking match – Quade Cooper isn't such a dummy after all.

What else was happening across Super Rugby?

Highlanders 19 – 30 Brumbies:  The Highlanders slumped to yet another defeat at the hands of the Brumbies, who bounced back themselves from a recent drop in form.  The visitors grabbed tries from Henry Speight, George Smith and Joe Tomane whilst the hosts could only respond through an effort from scrum half Aaron Smith.

Blues 28 – 6 Hurricanes: The Blues hammered rivals the Hurricanes in Auckland with a 4 try-to-none victory.  The home side scored through Frank Halai, Charles Piutau, James Parsons and Tom McCartney, with the Canes having to make do with a drop goal from Tusi Pisi and and a penalty kick from Beauden Barrett.

Rebels 27 – 30 Kings:  The Kings sprung yet another big surprise with a thrilling win over the Rebels in Melbourne.  Demetri Catrakilis scored a last minute drop goal to win it after 5 pointers from Ronnie Cooke, Shaun Venter and Wimpie van der Walt, with the hosts getting on the scoresheet via tries from Ged Robinson, Angus Roberts and Mitch Inman.

Force 16 – 14 Crusaders:  The Force claimed a famous win over Kiwi big-timers the Crusaders in Perth.  Fly half Sam Norton-Knight opened the scoring with the home side’s only try, with Luke Romano responding for the visitors, before a stunning defensive effort from the men in blue secured the win.

Stormers 22 – 15 Sharks:  The Stormers picked up a crucial win against bitter rivals the Sharks in another snooze-fest between these 2 teams.  Juan du Jongh picked up the only try of the game for the home side, whilst the Natal outfit once again went tryless, relying instead on the boot of Patrick Lambie.

Bulls 26 – 20 Cheetahs:  The Bulls ended a great run of form for the Cheetahs with an entertaining but narrow home win, scoring tries through Jano Vermaak and Callie Visagie, with the Free State men adding a score of their own though prop Trevor Nyakane.