Super XV Big Match Review - Brumbies 23 - 30 Crusaders

There seem to be 2 types of talented player – one, the youthful tyro who tears opposition to shreds in the early stages of his career before waning alarmingly at the 30 mark, eventually becoming a bit of a joke and about as useful as a condom machine in the Vatican; and the other, the raw rugby talent who just seems to get better and better with age, like a fine wine.  You know some of the prime examples of this – Richie McCaw, Martin Johnson and even Shane Williams, all seemed (or in McCaw's case, still seem) to keep improving up to the point where they decide to finally hang up their boots.  Such players are a rarity – but we were lucky enough to see 2 of them on the same park last weekend.

I am, of course, talking about George Smith and Dan Carter.  The latter is 'only' 31, but has been on the international scene for well over a decade, and still seems to possess that sublime ability to pick the right passes and glide through gaps with apparent nonchalance.  And with age, he's refined his game management, kicking well for territory and even better off the tee, and all these are reasons why he was thrown straight back into the starting line-up against the Brumbies.  The other veteran, George Smith, has done a fair bit of globe trotting of late – playing at first for Toulon and then in Japan – before coming back to his beloved Brumbies following an injury to David Pocock.  So impressive has the almost-33-year-old been that he's earned himself a shot at facing the Lions for Australia this summer – still fast across the pitch, lethal over the ball and energetic on the carry, he has been a key reason why this Brumbies side has managed to maintain momentum and continue to dominate opponents despite losing a player of the calibre of Pocock.

It was the Crusaders though who, thanks to some aimless kicking from the home side, enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the early stages, with Carter spreading the ball with effortless ease and Robbie Freuan looking menacing whenever he was on the ball.  But, whenever they got within sniffing distance of the Brumbies 22, their attack seemed to stagnate and start drifting from side to side.  It backfired after 6 minutes when Carter got too casual with a wide pass as it was snapped up by fly half Matt Toomua, who coasted in from just inside his 22 to give his side the lead against the run of play.  In-form inside centre Christian Lealiifano then added the extras before nudging over a penalty to give his side a 10 point lead.

But the warning signs were there from the Kiwis – the Brumbies had gifted them possession far too easily prior to the try and continued to do so afterwards, with the usually-reliably-superb Jesse Mogg particularly culpable.  Gradually, through Fruean and Luke Whitelock, the visitors began to pressurise the Aussie side's line and, after a Carter penalty, they finally got their deserved breakthrough following a 5 metre scrum, with scrum half Andy Ellis making opposite number Nic White look positively pedestrian as he glided round him for a try out wide – beautifully converted by Carter.  The rest of the half became a more even but ultimately forgettable affair as a result of poor kicking from both sides, but it was given a couple of sparks of class by veteran George Smith, playing his 137th game for the ACT side and becoming the Brumbies' most capped player in the process.  The flanker produced a turnover, a surging break into the heat of the Crusaders' defence and a beautifully weighted grubber all in the space on 90 seconds to remind Robbie Deans that the old dog has still got some tricks.

The second half began as the first ended, with the Brumbies edging the play in terms of territory and possession, but this Crusaders side has proven on countless occasions already this year that their determination and tenacity in defence requires something very special to breach it – and although the leaders of the Australian conference are more than capable of producing moments of genius, it just wasn't happening for them.  Instead, it was the Crusaders who grabbed the next score and took a stranglehold on the game, with recently-rehabilitated winger Zac Guilford crossing the line following a superb offload from Ryan Crotty.  Carter added another touchline conversion before hitting another 2 penalties over the next 15 minutes.

Lealiifano attempted the stem the flow and reel in the visitors, who were now 13 points clear, by nudging over a penalty, but the Crusaders took advantage of the desperation amongst the Brumbies' ranks by snaffling a turnover close to their own line – giving fullback Israel Dagg a chance to start and then finish a sensational counter attack that went the whole length of the pitch.  Carter's conversion put the game beyond doubt at 30 – 13, but there was still time for captain Ben Mowen to plough through the Crusaders' backline from 20 metres out to claw one back for the hosts, before Lealiifano added the conversion and a further penalty to claim a losing bonus point.

George Smith didn't look like he wanted to celebrate his incredible milestone much after the game, which was understandable after losing a game which many expected them to win.  The Crusaders might not be as intimidating as they were 5 years ago, but on this sort of ominous form it might well be enough for the other title challengers to start getting just a little bit nervous.

What else was happening in Super Rugby over the weekend?

Rebels 33 – 39 Chiefs:  The Chiefs picked up a bonus point but were made to work for it by a resilient and enterprising Rebels side who pushed them all the way.  The hosts managed to score 5 tries through Scott Higginbotham, Hugh Pyle (2), Nick Phipps and the returning Kurtley Beale but they were still outscored by their free-flowing visitors, who grabbed scores through a Gareth Anscombe hat-trick (including 1 in the first minute), Bundee Aki, Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick.

Blues 18 – 17 Stormers:  The Blues edged a tight battle in North Shore City as they were made to sweat it out at the end by the Stormers.  The South African side scored two late tries through Jean de Villiers (2) to raise the pressure on the home team, who had the boot of Chris Noakes to thank for all their points.  

Bulls 48 – 14 Hurricanes:  The Bulls continued their march up the Super Rugby table and remained the surprise leaders of the South African Conference with a comfortable win over the Hurricanes.   The hosts scored tries through JJ Engelbrecht,  Deon Steggman, Akona Ndungane, Dean Greyling, Lionel Mapoe and Louis Fouche, whilst talented scrum half TJ Perenara scored both of the Canes' 5 pointers.

Southern Kings 10 – 72 Waratahs:  The Kings took an absolute hammering at home against a rampant Waraths side who turned in arguably the best performance of the season.   Whilst the South African new boys could only cross the whitewash once, through Sergeal Petersen, the Tahs racked up a staggering 11 tries – with Cam Crawford (3), Israel Folau, Kane Douglas, Michael Hooper, Peter Betham (2), Dave Dennis, Ben Volavola and Tom Kingston all crossing.

Force 11 – 11 Reds:  The Western Force continue to be the Reds' bogey side by forcing the title-chasing Queenslanders into a hard-fought draw in Perth.  Both sides scored 1 try apiece, with Ben McCalman going over for the home side and Chris F-Sautia crossing for a late effort to save the game for the visitors.

Highlanders 25 – 22 Sharks:  The Highlanders picked up their first victory of the season (yep, you read that right) with a thrilling victory over the slumping Sharks in Dunedin.  The hosts scored tries through Shaun Treeby, Aaron Smith and Colin Slade (with one of the tries of the season), whilst the Sharks (finally) scored 5-pointers through Meyer Bosman (2) and Lwazi Mvovo.
 

From Zeroes to Heroes - Prospects of the Lions Rejects - Part 1

Lions Tours are renowned for helping create legends of the game. Think of the 1997 tour alone – Martin Johnson's captaincy, Scott Gibbs' power-packed running, John Bentley's wonder-try, Jeremy Guscott's drop goal and Keith Wood's superb turn at tour 'judge' which involved Simon Shaw being forced to dress up as a member of the Village People. Great stuff all round – and this happens on every tour. And one of the regular occurrences you can bet your hat on (assuming it's a nice hat) is the 'reserve' player joining the Tour late and emerging as one of the standouts. I'm talking of the likes of Martin Corry in 2001, Ryan Jones in 2005 and Tom Croft in 2009 – all contenders for players of their respective series.

Now, since that squad announcement last week there's been a fair bit of debate on who should and shouldn't be in that squad, and pretty much every player in Warren Gatland's 37 Lions has been scrutinised and picked apart by somebody. But let's take a look at the blokes who have been left behind – who has it in them to be this year's "Called-up hero"? The guy who flies out and rescues the series? Well RuckedOver are going to have a 2-part look at the candidates by position and give a hero rating, as described below.

Hero Rating (Out of 10)

8 – 10: We're talking Batman/Ironman territory here (i.e. awesome). The Aussies are praying this lad doesn't hop on a plane down under and administer their brutal brand of vigilante justice upon them.

4 – 7: Not exactly earth-saving but capable of causing a bit of trouble for the bad guys – along the lines of DareDevil.

0 – 3: Will have next to no effect. Pants. In superhero terms, on par with Marty – the 5th 'Planeteer' from Captain Planet whose special power was to feel little animal's feelings.

So without further ado, let's see which of those deemed as unlucky to miss the cut may still have a Tour-Saving role to play at some point in June…And where better to start than in Part 1, the fatties...

Props

RYAN GRANT. A decent scrummager and exceptionally mobile, Grant had a good Six Nations and was unlucky not to make the final Lions squad – but he lost out to the explosiveness of Mako Vunipola. If he gets called up he'll certainly add mobility – but as a prop how much will he realistically change things?

Hero Rating: 4/10.

MIKE ROSS. Matt Stevens was a surprise call up and I haven't quite accepted the view that he's in the 'form of his life' – see his penalty riddled, ineffectual scrummaging performance against Toulon. Ross has anchored the Irish scrum remarkably well over the years but also happens to be the most boring player in the world, offering next to nothing outside the set piece. He even looks dull – Adam Jones isn't exactly captain flair but at least he looks superb. He'll do alright in the scrum, but not much else.

Hero Rating: 1/10.

Others: Euan Murray (1/10), Paul James (2/10).

Hookers

RORY BEST: Deemed by many to be one of the unluckiest blokes out there, he was overlooked in favour of more mobile and aggressive contenders. The fact his lineout throwing has looked shaky and inconsistent for club and country hasn't helped him, so it's hard to see what he'll offer physically – but as an occasional captain of Ireland, he lends a cool head and bags of experience to the mix which may prove invaluable for the dirt trackers.

Hero Rating: 5/10.

Others: Ken Owens: 4/10, Ross Ford: 2/10.

Locks

JOE LAUNCHBURY: The youngs Wasps lock has been in remarkable form for the majority of the year, demonstrating an unbelievable work rate and commitment to the cause. But he looked shellshocked during England's loss to Wales and appeared jaded towards the end of the season – perhaps the baby-faced assassin would benefit from a nap more than a Lions tour.

Hero Rating: 5/10

DONNOCHA RYAN: The big Munster lock was superb in parts during the Six Nations and can count himself pretty unlucky not to be heading down under. A big presence in the loose and unnervingly aggressive, he's certainly not afraid to get stuck in to the dirty stuff – but with Alun Wyn Jones, Paul O'Connell and Ian Evans in there, there's not a particular lack of those qualities. Should injuries occur though, Ryan would do a sound job.

Hero Rating: 6/10.

Others:  Nathan Hines: 6/10, Jim Hamilton 3/10.

Back Row

TOM WOOD:  The England 6/7/8 was inspiring in their win against New Zealand in the Autumn, relentlessly physical and fast around the park.  But, just when he was looking like he’d nailed that 6 short down, Ben Morgan went and got himself injured and Wood got pressed into service at number 8.  His momentum diminished, forced into a carrying role which doesn’t play to his strengths.  Offers a spectacular work rate and intelligent rugby brain, but perhaps doesn’t have the X-Factor to really blow people away should he receive a call up.

Hero Rating: 6/10

CHRIS ROBSHAW:  Captain of the Premiership champions, Captain of the most successful Home Nation (win-wise) over the last 12 months and his country’s player of the Six Nations – guaranteed a Lions spot?  Wrong, apparently.  In an unfathomable move (in my opinion), Gatland ignored the versatile workhorse that is Robshaw in favour of a second string Welsh openside and a blindside who’s played just 4 games for the Newport Gwent Dragons over the last year.  If there’s an injury amongst the backrow, you can guarantee Robshaw will get the call – and you know what the flanker will bring.  Unbeatable workrate, great hands, powerful defence, a great rugby brain and strong leadership.  Heck, he even looks like a hero (meaning my missus wants to see him in lycra).  Still worth a cheeky punt on winning a test spot during the Tour.

Hero Rating: 9/10.

BEN MORGAN:  At the start of the Six Nations there was a very real prospect of Morgan earning himself a Lions spot, following an improved fitness engine developed at Gloucester and a rampant opening half against Scotland.  Then, he tweaked his ankle, missed the rest of the tournament, and only came back to play the last 4 games for Gloucester.  He has the power and presence to make a real impact should he receive a call up – even if his critics would still say he’s a bit one dimensional.

Hero Rating: 8/10.

Others:  Peter O’Mahony: 4/10, Kelly Brown: 5/10, Johnnie Beattie: 8/10

Who do you think has it in them to be a call up hero?

Aviva Permiership Big Match Review - Exeter Chiefs 40 - 39 Gloucester

Us northern hemisphere types get a rough deal.  All we hear from our brothers and sisters south of the equator is how much better their rugby is:  more tries, bigger hits, lots of flair and more attractive cheerleaders.  Most of the time, this is of course true, and when you’re watching a Friday night game in Manchester in mid-January it’s difficult to mention the words “Aviva Premiership” and “a fun day out” in the same sentence.  But of late, I’ve been having a bit of a change of heart.  It’s been brought about by a couple of factors – namely, the last few rounds of the Premiership (especially as the grounds have hardened up) have yielded countless tries of sublime quality, and Super Rugby has chucked out a couple of turgid kick fests (mainly thanks to the Sharks) offensive to pretty much all the senses.  I genuinely think that we’ve seen some of best rugby over the last year right here in the Aviva Premiership, and if ever there was an advertisement to prove this point, it was Saturday’s match between Exeter and Gloucester.

Neither side was in with a chance of extending their season into playoff territory, but the Cherry and Whites had already secured their place in next year’s Heineken Cup and the Chiefs needed a victory against their visitors to book a spot in the same competition.  So, unlike a lot of matches at this time of the season, there was something riding on the outcome, but that hardly mattered in the entertainment stakes when you had one of the league’s top try scorers against a side with a backline renowned for its flair, speed and inventiveness.  And so it proved in a dazzling display of end to end rugby that contributed to, with the aid of a carnival like atmosphere at Sandy Park, one of the games of the season.

In glorious sunshine the game kicked off and the Chiefs showed just why they have been so prolific this season, showing an intent to run the ball from deep with pace.  After strong carries from James Scaysbrook and Dean Mumm, the Chiefs set up camp in Gloucester’s 22, allowing Jason Shoemark to cut through and across the defence and feed Mumm out of the tackle, and the Aussie lock plunged over for the opening try of the match.  Gareth Steenson yet again demonstrated his eagle-eyed ability with the boot to knock over the conversion from out wide before adding a 40 metre penalty to put the hosts 10 points up. 

Minutes later, they were at it again, this time gaining good ground following a powerful burst from Richard Baxter (playing his final game for the club) before Mumm galloped down the right and recycled for fellow lock Damian Welch to wriggle over the line.  Steenson proved his mortality by missing the tricky conversion but made amends with another shortly afterwards, and Gloucester found themselves 18 – 0 down and sinking without a trace.

But then came the fightback, initiated by a Freddie Burns penalty, before swift hands set Dan Robson bursting out of the visitors’ 22 - the scrum half finding the electric Johnny May on his left, and the winger motored over the line.  Burns missed the 2 points but then snapped up a loose ball in his own half and worked the ball to Charlie Sharples, who matched his fellow winger May’s pace to screech in by the posts.  Burns added the extras, before the visitors took the lead for the first time when Henry Trinder picked off a pass from Scaysbrook, bamboozled Tom Arscott with some footwork and scurried over the Exeter line.

It was breathless, frantic stuff, and before the Cherry and Whites had time to pat themselves on the back for a comeback well done, the Chiefs had retaken the lead following a series of powerful shunts in the scrum that led to referee Greg Gardner awarding a penalty try.  Steenson’s conversion made the score 25-22 to the home side at the break.

If the second half didn’t quite have the free flowing, care-free attitude of the first, it still had all the excitement of the first and twice the tension.  This was reflected in the fact that, shock horror, there wasn’t a try for the first 20 minutes of the second half, with the only points coming from three well struck Steenson penalties to give the hosts a 12 point lead.  Unassailable?  Not quite.  Firstly, Rob Cook went over following a fine dart from Burns and then, after Burns and Steenson had exchanged penalties, the Gloucester fly half went over for one of his own in the corner following quick hands from Billy Twelvetrees.  That tied the scores up, before Burns completed a great personal performance with a magnificent conversion to put the visitors 2 points up with 8 minutes left.

8 minutes was more than enough time however for the Chiefs – a fluffed Twelvetrees clearance gave the hosts good field position, and when the penalty was conceded, it was inevitable that Steenson wouldn’t miss.   The final score was 40 – 39 to Exeter, and they had ensured that they would be playing Heineken Cup rugby the next year.  For the rest of us looking on, it had ensured that another regular season of the Premiership had left a wonderful lasting memory...and just a small sense of pride that maybe our little old league can throw some punches with the big boys down south as well. 

What else was happening across the Premiership this weekend?

Harlequins 22 – 19 Northampton Saints:  The reigning champions set themselves up for a semi final contest at Welford Road against Leicester following a hard fought victory over fellow semi-finalists Northampton Saints.  Quins grabbed scores through Tom Williams, Rob Buchanan and Tom Casson but the Saints pushed them all the way with 5 pointers from Jamie Elliot, Dylan Hartley and Christian Day.

Leicester Tigers 32 – 20 London Irish:  The Tigers cruised to a comfortable victory and booked themselves a home-semi final with a bonus point win against Irish.  The hosts weren’t at their best but scored tries through Tom Croft, Ben Youngs, Mat Tait, Nicky Goneva and Toby Flood, whilst the Exiles replied through Alex Corbisiero, Topsy Ojo and Marlon Yarde.

London Welsh 33 – 22 Worcester Warriors:  The Welsh exiles went out of the Premiership in style with an impressive victory over the toothless Warriors at the Kassam Stadium.  The men in red earned themselves a bonus point with tries from Dan Caprice, Alfie To’oala, Tom Arscott and Nick Scott, with the visitors replying through scores from Josh Drauniniu (2) and Jake Abbott.

Sale Sharks 21 – 20 London Wasps:  The Sharks finished their season of struggles on a positive note by condemning the London club to their 8th consecutive defeat in all competitions.  Tom Brady and Dan Braid both crossed for the hosts, with the irrepressible Christian Wade responding for Wasps with 2 very well taken tries.

Saracens 23 – 14 Bath:  Saracens ensured they finished top of the Premiership in the regular season in the Premiership with an uninspiring but effective win over Bath, who saw their Heineken Cup hopes disappear in the same instant.  Sarries scored 5-pointers through England internationals Chris Ashton, Mako Vunipola and Owen Farrell, whilst Bath crossed the hosts’ line twice, with hooker Rob Webber and Horacio Agulla both going over.

Aviva Premiership Big Match Preview - Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester

Rugby is a team sport – at least, it is after under 15s when the freakishly over-developed kid with a full on beard and an overly aggressive amount of testosterone gets reeled in by his peers when they finally hit puberty.  I'm not saying there's no room for class individuals – guys like Jason Robinson, Shane Williams, Jonah Lomu and Dan Carter are all capable of turning matches on their head with isolated moments of genius, but the point is that they only get that chance to shine because they are part of a team.  Guys who can provide their 'stars' with the space and spotlight to show off their skills – and these are the players who win games and get next to no credit.

When you like down the Gloucester teamsheet, your jaw literally drops at the talent they have at their disposal.  Sharples, May, Twelvetrees, Burns, Morgan, Qera and Kalamafoni are all phenomenal players who are capable of setting games on fire through their speed and power.  Outwide, the Cherry and White's backline is so quick that they make the Hadron Collider speeds seem pedestrian, whilst that big backrow is explosive enough to require a warning sign before games – so why is it they've struggled for consistency?  Well, perhaps it has something to do with that team aspect.  I'm not saying by a long shot that Gloucester are full of primadonnas, but when you have so much individual flair it can be hard to stifle it for the benefit of the team – although, in the West Country side's case, they also haven't been helped by inconsistency of selection due to injuries.  When these boys click, they are almost unplayable – see the way they outclassed Leicester and Saracens at Kingsholm – and are great to watch, but they have a habit of making a mountain out of a molehill when they're not all singing from the same hymn sheet (such as the week before their Saracens victory, when they where stuffed by Sale).

If you look through the Exeter ranks, on the other hand, you don't suffer from that same sense of being overawed.  With the exception possibly of the giant Sireli Naqelevuki, there's not too many blokes who can break games open by themselves – but when you combine like these guys do, who needs superstars?  They've overcome a rough patch when they weren't quite on song to win 5 of their last 6 games in the Premiership and get them to within a whisker of European qualification, with only Bath able to catch them in unlikely circumstances.  Their dismantling of Wasps in the last round was sensational in the way that they picked out weaknesses and exploited them with almost a frightening precision – they haven't got one of the highest try scoring records in the league for no reason (more than the league leaders, Sarries).   With guys like Baxter, Scaysbrook, Arscott and Dollman all quality players, they have ruthlessly punished any side who has dared make the mistake of underestimating them and yet, still, inexplicably, teams continue to do it. 

These are two sides who can both rip others to shreds but in very different ways.  One who aims to get its stars into space, and the other who collectively run opponents ragged – this game could be a beauty if both sides show up.   Another top 6 finish and Heineken Cup Rugby, and those unsung heroes in the Chiefs ranks may just realise they are superstars after all - in Devon anyway.

Exeter Team News

Buoyed by their impressive win at London Wasps a fortnight ago, it's little wonder that Baxter sticks with an unchanged match-day squad for their final outing. That means the Chiefs will again be led out by long-serving number eight Richard Baxter, who will be pulling on an Exeter jersey for the final time.

Starting Line up:  Arscott, Nowell, Dollman, Shoemark, Jess, Steenson, Thomas, Sturgess, Yeandle, Tui, Mumm, Welch, White, Scaysbrook, Baxter (capt).

Subs:  Whitehead, Rimmer, Mitchell, Muldowney, Ewers, Chudley, Slade, Whitten.

Key Player

Richard Baxter.  Perhaps this is a little sentimental, but this guy pretty much is Exeter.  Playing with unwavering commitment and determination, he often doesn't receive the plaudits he deserves – which is probably appropriate considering the man exemplifies the unappreciated qualities of this excellent Chiefs side.  Strong, direct and powerful, with an unflinching drive and determination to succeed, as well as surprisingly deft hands, Baxter embodies what the Chiefs are all about and he'll be sure to get a big reception from the home fans on his last game before retirement.  He won't be bothered about that though – all he'll care about is taking Morgan out of the game at every opportunity so to stall the visitors' momentum.

Gloucester Team News

With his starting XV unchanged, Nigel Davies only makes 3 changes to his squad amongst the replacements. Hooker Darren Dawidiuk is back after suspension and Mike Tindall and Shane Monahan come in for Ryan Mills and Martyn Thomas.

Starting Line up: Cook, Sharples, Trinder, Twelvetrees, May, Burns, Robson, Wood, Britton, Knight; Savage (capt), Lokotui, Kalamafoni, Qera, Morgan.

Replacements: Dawidiuk, Murphy, Thomas, Buxton, Hazell, Lewis, Tindall, Monahan.

Key Player

Ben Morgan.  The number 8 has suffered some rotten luck this year after being injured at the beginning of the Six Nations, just when it seemed like he'd made that number 8 shirt his own.  A colossal ball carrier, his destructive presence around the fringes and on the kick return is absolutely key to getting Gloucester onto the front foot and allowing the backline to show their pace.  Injuries do happen on Lions tours, so Morgan will have to make sure that his last match of the season leaves a sweet lasting memory in the minds of the coaches.

 

Key Battle

Gareth Steenson v Freddie Burns.  The diminutive Irish/English fly half for the Chiefs has been a revelation over the second half of the season – he's always been known for his dead-eyed kicking from the tee, but lately we've been seeing an eye for a gap, sharp acceleration and sublime offloading.  It's the sort of qualities that had fans up and down the country clamouring for Freddie Burns to be proclaimed the latest saviour of the nation and handed a starting shirt for England, but the young tyro hasn't quite managed to hit his early season form after injury.  Against the Chiefs, he will have to ensure that the Cherry and White's unbelievably talented backline are unleashed at every available opportunity, whilst coping with Steenson's superior game management skills.  I think that this game will be easy on the eye – but it may well come down to who can play the corners better at key moments.

 

Prediction

The Chiefs at Sandy Park has proven to be one of the toughest assignments in the League over the last couple of years, and with Gloucester swinging from red hot to red not with apparent abandon, I can see this one going the way of the hosts.  They've got something to play for and they'll have the superbly vocal Exeter faithful backing them all the way – Chiefs by 9.

 

What else is happening across the Aviva Premiership this weekend?

Harlequins v Northampton:  This would have been my game of the weekend had there been anything riding on it.  As it is, it’s a dead rubber but Northampton will be desperate to prove they can beat a top 3 side before they go into the playoffs – I can't see that happening at the Stoop though.  Quins by 7.

Leicester Tigers v London Irish:  Leicester could feasibly grab top spot with a win, but they'll be more concerned about securing a semi-final against a London Irish side who have nothing but pride to play for.  At Welford Road, there can only be one winner – Tigers by 18.

London Welsh v Worcester Warriors:  The Premiership will bid a fond farewell to London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium in a match that has absolutely nothing at all riding on it.  But the Exiles will be desperate to go out on a high and with the Warriors looking very vulnerable, I think they might just manage it.  Welsh by 5.

Sale Sharks v London Wasps:  Sale have certainly improved in the second half of the season but they'll need to show up a lot better next year if they are to justify all their expenditure on talent.  Canny Cipriani took extreme measures to avoid the game against his old club by taking on a bus in a game of British Bulldog, but there are plenty of players on either side who are capable of producing a bit of magic – though Wasps just have that little bit extra I think.  Wasps by 4.

Saracens v Bath:  Bath still have a shot at making it into Europe and so will give it a good go, but Sarries at their new home look like a real force and it's difficult to see them getting turned over.  Saracens by 12.

Super XV Big Match Preview - Brumbies v Crusaders

 

Ah, memories.  Moments to cherish, instances of public humiliation you'd rather forget – they all go into that bank in your head to bring out at the opportune or inopportune moment.  And when you mention "Brumbies v Crusaders" the mind can't help but wander (as long as you're a certain age) to the heydays of Super Rugby (as far as these two clubs are concerned) when it seemed every Grand Final was contested between the men from Canterbury and ACT.  Between 2000 and 2004, the two sides fought it out in no less than three finals, with the Kiwis winning the first two before the vintage Brumbies side of 2004 – complete with Gregan and Larkham – finally got one up on their nemesis at the third time of asking.  But it was the standard of rugby played by such quality players, such as Aaron Mauger, Todd Blackadder and Stephen Larkham, that made these finals such a pleasure to watch.

2004 was the last time the Brumbies lifted the trophy, and whilst the Crusaders last got their mitts on it 4 years later in 2008, it's fair to say that these two sides aren't quite the almighty forces of old.  But, certainly at the Brumbies, something special is happening.  Last year, they took us all by surprise by having a decent season with a bunch of nobodies in the team – this year, those same guys are now somebodies, and they're tearing it up even more despite the fact the opposition no what's coming.  Guys like Ben Mowen, Christian Lealiifano and Jesse Mogg are all serious international prospects, and it would be one hell of a rise if they were to debut against the touring Lions this summer.  Maybe, because of that, it's a season too early for them – but there's no doubting that they’re the form players, and team, in Australia.  Boasting speed, inventiveness and set piece power all in 1, it’s little wonder they've got a record of won 7, lost 2, drawn 1.

The Crusaders meanwhile have been hampered that so many of their stars are either injured or on extended holidays.  Dan Carter will make his reappearance after celebrating his wedding, but guys of the quality of Kieran Read and Richie McCaw are still missing, whilst gifted All Black Israel Dagg is so out of form that he's been benched.  The players filling in have all done sterling jobs, but there's a feeling that all this chopping and changing has hampered the side's consistency – and now, in the lower mid table, their season's hopes are hanging by a thread.  They need to win this one.

It’s all set for a fast, entertaining and highly pressurised game.  Let's hope for a return to the good old days.

Brumbies Team News

Dan Palmer returns to the line-up at tighthead prop, with Ben Alexander moving across to loosehead.  Scott Sio drops to the bench with Ruaidhri Murphy omitted from the match-day squad. The game will see George Smith become the most-capped Brumbies player, overhauling George Gregan's record of 136 appearance.

Starting Line up:  Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Dan Palmer, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Fotu Auelua, George Smith, Ben Mowen (c).

Subs: Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio, Leon Power, Colby Faingaa, Ian Prior, Robbie Coleman, Pat McCabe

Key Player

Jesse Mogg.  Where is this guy's fansite, and how do I sign up?  I reckon he gets better every game and looks every bit like he might be yet another stellar Aussie fullback in the making, following in the footsteps of Burke, Latham, Rogers…well, Burke and Latham anyway.  He seems such an effortless runner, leaving defenders for dead with his long stride – and his rugby brain is one of the sharpest out there, knowing when and where to attack, and when to play it safe.  The more he joins the line and gets into the line, the more dangerous the Brumbies are.

Crusaders Team News

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has lost patience with Israel Dagg, dropping the out-of-form All Blacks fullback to the bench.  Tom Taylor switches from inside centre to replace Dagg at fullback, allowing Ryan Crotty to slot back into the inside centre position, whilst Dan Carter returns in place of Tyler Bleyendaal, who drops out of the squad completely. 

Starting Line up: Tom Taylor; Tom Marshall, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Andy Ellis; Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, George Whitelock (captain); Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano; Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.

Subs: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Willi Heinz, Adam Whitelock, Israel Dagg.

Key Player

Dan Carter.  Well it has to be, hasn't it?  The New Zealand legend is back for his first start following a Wedding-induced break from rugby, but he'll need to get up to speed quickly and on the same wavelength as his teammates if he's to turn around his struggling side's fortunes.  On his day he's majestic – with a pinpoint boot, almost telepathic vision, wonderful hands, great speed, beautiful eyes…sorry, I got carried way.  Yeah, he's good.  But is he good enough to drag the Crusaders to a victory against one of the best teams in the tournament?

Key Battle

Henry Speight v Zac Guilford.  Ones been burning a trail all the season, the other is just beginning to spark.  Speight has been one of Super Rugby's most exciting runners over the last few seasons, combining electric pace with subtle footwork and blinding acceleration, whilst Guilford has been a big name for years – but he's only just starting to hit his straps this year, following a sabbatical to deal with his alcoholism.  He's not got the same out and out pace as Speight, but his eye for a gap and work rate off his wing is superb.  In what should be a free flowing game (kiss of death), the outcome may well depend on who can make the most of the opportunities they are given.

Prediction

The Crusaders may have the phenomenal Dan Carter back but he didn't look quite up to speed against the Rebels last week, and the Brumbies will provide an even tougher test.  This will be a high pressure game for a lot of the youngsters, with the Lions series now well and truly on the horizon, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe they can't handle it.  I'm going for a home win – Brumbies by 7.

 

What else is happing across the Southern Hemisphere this weekend?

Blues v Stormers:  The Auckland side look really impressive at the moment and I think that even the resurgent Stormers will struggle to get a win, especially in the Blues' backyard.  Blues by 9.

Rebels v Chiefs:  The Chiefs were the epitome of hot and cold last weekend, as they went from rampant to ragged in 20 minutes bursts.  If they show up, they could grab a big score, but the Rebels – despite some of the 'characters' in their side – are no mugs and will pounce on any weakness.  Chiefs by 12.

Highlanders v Sharks:  Eeesh this is a tough one to call.  Surely the Highlanders have to win won soon – their squad is just too good on paper.  Perhaps a Sharks side on a 3 match losing streak may be the answer, but I'm not going to jinx it.  Sharks by 4.

Force v Reds:  The Reds were pushed all the way by the Blues but will be the better for it whilst the Force, despite being at home, will still be smarting after their humbling at the hands of the Brumbies.  The Queenslanders just have too much class – Reds by 10.

Kings v Waratahs:  The Kings have proven themselves time and time again to be a real tough nut to crack at home, but this Waratahs side is looking pretty decent.  If Israel Folau and co keep up their rate of improvement, they should grab a win.  Tahs by 6.

Bulls v Hurricanes:  The Bulls have picked up some form again of late, defeating the Waratahs last week and playing some decent stuff in patches.  The Hurricanes, however, have been infuriatingly inconsistent and Pretoria is not the place to go when short on confidence.  Bulls by 12.

Super XV Big Match Review - Chiefs 37 - 29 Sharks

One of the games that I like to watch on youtube on a rainy day (or on a sunny day for that matter – I am that sad), is the 2000 test between the Wallabies and the All Blacks, played in Sydney in front of 110'000 people.  Aside from the staggering attendance, this was a monumental game where the All Blacks raced into a 24-0 lead, only for the Aussies to come back and lead by a point before a last minute Lomu try brought back for the Kiwis.  They said it was a once in a lifetime sort of game, and because of that – because it was so special – we should cherish the images of that game and just be grateful it happened.  Well, sod that.  I want more – ideally at least one "once in a lifetime" game a week (of course, that would mean it's actually around "4'000 times a lifetime", but it would still be great).  Unfortunately, they don't come around very often at all (hence the name I guess), but this weekend, we got something pretty close.

The Sharks and Chiefs are two heavyweights of Super Rugby stuck in a bit of a rut.  Both having lost 2 games on the bounce, with the Chiefs chucking the ball around like children on a sugar binge and the Sharks unable to score a try for neither love nor money.  You might have struggled to see this one being a high-scoring epic, especially given the Sharks' scoring impotence and the lack of precision of late from the hosts, but you could bet your bottom dollar it would be tight.

After 20 minutes though, you thought you had a rout on your hands.  Through a combination of the Chiefs playing scintillating rugby and the Sharks displaying all the aggression of a new born bunny, the tries came raining in thick and fast.  After Gareth Anscombe had nudged the hosts ahead through a sweetly struck penalty after 5 minutes, the Chiefs crossed the whitewash after a lineout on the visitor's 22, with Asaeli Tikoirotuma taking a simple pass from Liam Messam to burst through a non-existent defence and slide in beneath the posts.  2 minutes after Anscombe's conversion, they were at it again, with Messam once again the creator.  The big blindside wriggled and powered his way through some Sharks tackles that Bambi would have been ashamed of, before offloading to the onrushing Bundee Aki, who galloped over the line unopposed.  Anscombe once again converted, and the crowd tried to catch their breath – only to be blown away by another 5 pointer pretty much straight away.  This time the electric Tim Nanai-Williams was the beneficiary of abysmally generous South African side, with Pieter-Steph du Toit throwing an awful pass that Odwa Ndungane had no chance of catching – but the Chiefs centre was there to pick up and scoot in from 60 metres.  The score after 17 minutes read Chiefs 24, Sharks 0.  Game over?  Game on.

The visitors finally woke up and decided to go back to basics.  Whether the hosts switched off, or the Sharks found their 'manic aggression' setting, but 21 minutes into the game the South African outfit found themselves bundling over the Chief's line following an explosive 10 metre lineout drive.  The superbly named Derrick Minnie was the man to emerge from the bottom of the heap, and with Lambie's superb conversion you could almost feel the belief surge back into the side.  This was confirmed 10 minutes later when young number 8 Lubabalo Mtembu crossed after a well worked move from the back of a scrum, collecting a delightful offload from Lambie to cross on the right.  Lambie missed the 2 points, but they had 7 five minutes later when Minnie flopped over for his second following a colossal Sharks shunt in the scrum that had the Chiefs backpeddling over their own line.  That made the score 24-19 at half time, and the Chiefs and their fans looked bewildered. 

But not as bewildered as the Sharks, who hadn't scored in 260 minutes of rugby before this – and now they had 3 in 17 minutes.  Clearly they were still in shock at the start of the second half – especially fullback Riian Viljoen, who misjudged a teasing grubber from Aaron Cruden to allow the ball the bounce into the arms of the grateful Nanai-Williams, who grabbed his second of the night.  Anscombe converted and then added a penalty and the hosts were out of sight – or were they?  They appeared not to have learnt the lessons of the first half as the Sharks came roaring back with a try of their own to earn a thoroughly deserved bonus point, with Keegan Daniel galloping over following a lovely pass from prop Wiehahn Herbst.  Lambie converted and then, with 2 minutes to go, added a penalty to put the visitors within 7 and within striking distance.  Ultimately though, it wasn't to be and fullback Anscombe nudged over a penalty on the buzzer to deny the Sharks a losing bonus point and send the Chiefs' relieved fans home with a victory in the bag.

This was a cracking game, played at pace and at either ends of the pitch.  Not quite the standard of that legendary Australia v All Blacks game, but not far off – and it was brilliant to see.  Now for more, please.

 

What else was happening in Super Rugby over the weekend?

Hurricanes 16 – 18 Stormers:  The Stormers edged out the Canes in a tight affair in Wellington, with both sides scoring 2 tries apiece.  The hosts were left to rue their unconverted tries, which were scored through Matt Proctor and Andre Taylor, whilst the visitors grabbed scores through Michael Rhodes and Gio Aplon.

Reds 12 – 11 Blues:  The Reds squeaked past the increasingly impressive Blues with a tryless win in Brisbane.  The Kiwis scored the only try of the match through centre Jackson Willison, with Quade Cooper scoring the hosts' only points off the tee – including a late effort to seal the win.

Cheetahs 26 – 12 Southern Kings:  The Cheetahs continued their quest to finish a surprise top of the South African Conference with a solid home win against the Kings.  The home side scored tries through Raymond Rhule, Pieter Labuschagne and Willie le Roux, whilst the visitors had the boot of Demetri Catrakilis to thank for their points.

Bulls 30 – 19 Waratahs:  The Bulls overcame an enterprising Waratahs side at home, scoring tries through Francois Hougaard and Morne Steyn, whilst the free flowing visitors outscored the eventual winners with 3 scores from Israel Folau, Paddy Ryan and Bernard Foley.

Brumbies 41 – 7 Force:  The Brumbies reignited their drive to finish top of the Aussie conference with a bonus point hammering of the Force.  Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight (2), Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane and Siliva Siliva all scored for the ACT outfit, with the westerners managing a solitary late effort from Captain Matt Hodgson.

Crusaders 30 – 26 Rebels:  The Crusaders had the boot of Tom Taylor to thank as they were pushed all the way and outscored in their narrow victory over a determined Rebels side.  The hosts scored through Zac Guilford and Tyler Bleyendaal, but the Melbourne side scored three tries via Scott Higginbotham, James O'Connor and Ged Robinson.

Heineken Cup Semi Final Review - Saracens 12 - 24 Toulon

The press love drama.  In a world where fighting and war are at least frowned upon, sport is the only other outlet for mankind's natural competitiveness and aggression, and it means that everyone (myself included) generally buys in to the overhyped dramatization of every single mundane sporting occasion.  Whether it’s Eddie Butler utilising his dulcet tones to devastating effect in an inspiring BBC montage, or an overenthusiastic Sky Sports presenter ("It's 11th v 16th in a bid to settle a score that doesn't really matter and in any event will be played again next year"), it's just part of the professional game now and something we've all become used to.  We've accepted that most of what the press spout is drivel in this regard, but this last weekend there was an exception.

Farrell v Wilkinson, the papers proclaimed; apprentice v master, new boy on the block taking on the wise old man.  The papers have loved the Wilkinson comparisons since Farrell burst onto the scene – a phenomenal goal kicker, aggressive defender and good game manager – and it's hard to disagree with those similarities.   Similar players who are at opposite ends of the spectrum, it was impossible to decide who would come out on top – and the same could be said of their clubs.  Two experienced, intelligent sides renowned for winning games through territorial dominance, aerial supremacy, and brute pack power – but two sides who are also more than capable of shredding teams to pieces with scintillating and precise back play.  It was a real headache splitting Saracens and Toulon, especially when the French clubs's away record was a little on the iffy side, but the real question was whether or not the aging Wilkinson was too old to trouble the up-and-coming Farrell - at least according to the papers.

The odds, by roughly a 6-decimal-place figure, were in favour of Saracens leading into the match though, probably because Twickenham has become a second home to them during their nomadic existence this year (it’s not a bad second home to have – it's like saying "I live in a terraced house but summer at Windsor Castle").  And slight edge certainly seemed apparent in the opening exchanges as Saracens calmly controlled possession around the 10 metre line in the Toulon half, building the phases, before Springbok veteran Danie Rossouw decided to liven things up a bit by lazily clotheslining prop Mako Vunipola.  There may have been doubt about whether or not "The Mak" even noticed, but there wasn't any question about the quality of Farrell's penalty kick, which gave Saracens a 3-0 lead.  Unfortunately, that lasted all of one minute, as Matt Stevens – who was obviously jealous after seeing Rossouw concede a mornic 3-pointer – decided to needlessly flop into a ruck off his feet, from the side.  Bread and butter for Jonny Wilkinson, who tied the scores up from the touchline.

Wilkinson's kicking and the Toulon pack were starting to gain valuable territory as the London side struggled to gain any sort of foothold at the breakdown.  The French outfit were also enjoying dominance in the scrum, with big Andrew Sheridan giving his old England mucker Stevens a torrid time.   Juan Fernandez Lobbe was also having a phenomenal game in disrupting the Londoner's ball and galloping with real venom in attack, and there aren't many backrows who can handle him when he's in a 'galloping' sort of mood. The firepower in the Toulon 8 earned Wilkinson another 2 pots at goal, which he duly slotted, and these sandwiched the first real opportunity of the match.  Aussie Matt Giteau flicked a delightful inside ball to Alexis Palisson, who tore upfield and chipped ahead with Alex Goode bearing down on him.  Delon Armitage was in hot pursuit, but the ball agonisingly beat him to the dead ball line.  Farrell and Wilkinson then exchanged impressive penalties, with the current England 10 hitting 2, in what was becoming a phenomenal display of accuracy off the boot, before the Saracens man blinked first and pushed his 4th effort out to the right.  It meant that Saracens went in to the halftime break at 12-9 down, on the back foot but still very much in the game.

Wilkinson, predictably, didn't let the breather affect his rhythm, and when he sent his 5th penalty over there must have been a feeling amongst the Saracens fans that it was going to be "one of those days" that – a feeling that many have experienced when playing Wilkinson.   However, then came a hiccup in Toulon's game – Rossouw realised he hadn't done anything stupid in a while and went unnecessarily high in the tackle on Vunipola again, earning himself a yellow card and 3 points for the men in black.  This spurred the 'home' side into life with Vunipola – a menace in the loose all day – crashing up field through the Toulon pack as if they weren't there.  It was a tremendous carry that brought Saracens into striking distance of the Toulon line, but the good position was wasted by a forward pass by Farrell to Kelly Brown, who surely would have scored in the corner.  It was a double blow for Sarries as they saw Brad Barritt – who had put in another impressive shift in shutting down Mathieu Bastareau – limp off with an ankle injury.

The missed opportunity was to prove costly as Wilkinson smashed over another 3 pointer from inside his half before another chance went begging, this time when Joel Tomkins hurled the ball into touch with Chris Wyles in acres of space.  The gap in that top-level quality had started to show – where Saracens were butchers, Wilkinson was the surgeon, and he sliced through the last of Saracens' hopes with a superbly taken drop goal when under immense pressure from Farrell.  It was vintage Wilkinson – including the sporting pat he gave Farrell on the floor in the aftermath – and not many teams can have an answer to that.

24 – 12, and Toulon march on, making it an all French affair in Dublin.  And this aging team, and Wilkinson in particular, and proven one thing beyond doubt – class is permanent. 

Saracens Player Ratings

Mako Vunipola – 8 – Sarries' best player.  Several immensely powerful surges and the problems in the scrum were mainly on the other side.

Schalk Brits – 6 – No chance to see those dancing feet in open play but the lineout went pretty well under his supervision

Matt Stevens – 3 – Terrible.  Gave away 6 points to the boot of Jonny Wilkinson with a couple of brainless penalties and was roasted by Sheridan in the scrum.

Steve Borthwick – 6 – A workmanlike performance once again from the Saracens second row, led an effective lineout too

Alistair Hargreaves – 6 – Aggressive and mobile, but unable to generate the momentum the English side needed to get back into the game

Jackson Wray – 5 – Struggled to break the gainline with regularity and wasn't imposing enough at the breakdown.

Kelly Brown – 7 – Toiled manfully throughout and his workrate couldn't be questioned – struggled to stem the flow though.

Ernst Joubert – 6 – Nowhere near as prominent as he has been in the past as the game didn't open up for him

Richard Wigglesworth – 6 – Reliable and fast service but didn't provide any sparks to break the Toulon defence

Owen Farrell – 5 – One terrible pass blew a scoring opportunity and seemed to lose the plot towards the end.  Goalkicking was very good on the whole though.

David Strettle – 6 – Did nothing wrong but had no opportunities to shine.  Would have loved to see him get some more space but he was well marshalled.

Brad Barritt – 7 – Another strong performance from the midfield general, shutting down Bastareau well and running hard all day

Joel Tomkins – 5 – A couple of decent offloads but otherwise very quiet, until he threw a scoring pass into touch

Chris Ashton – 6 – Worked hard and hit some nice lines but then seemed to lose all sense with some wild passes later on in the game

Alex Goode – 7 – As solid as ever under the high ball but we didn't see much of him going forward

Subs

John Smit – 6 – Had minimal impact and couldn't force the men in black forwards

Rhys Gill – On and off as a blood sub, but no real time to have an impact.

Carlos Nieto – No time to make an impact

Mouritz Botha – Not time to make an impact

George Kruis – 6 – Always physical but didn't have enough guile to pierce the Toulon line

Neil de Kock – 6 – Reliable as ever but no fresh ideas to help turn the tide

Charlie Hodgson – 7 – A lovely pair of kicks announced his arrival and he'll be upset he wasn't in Farrell's shoes to throw that pass to Brown

Chris Wyles – 6 – Like Strettle, the abrasive American couldn't find any room, all though he worked ceaselessly

 

Toulon Player Ratings

Andrew Sheridan – 8 – Much better performance from the giant loosehead, causing Stevens plenty of difficulty in the scrum and making some decent yardage too

Sebastian Bruno – 7 – Avoided the menace of Borthwick by and large in the lineout and was nuisance in the loose.  Has an energy that defies his age.

Carl Hayman – 6 – Great tussle with Vunipola in the scrum but didn't get his hands on the ball a whole lot.

Bakkies Botha – 7 – Aggressive and powerful, always making yards on the carry and a major factor in the Toulon's pack's dominance.

Nick Kennedy – 8 – Great performance in the lineout and got through a tonne of work, especially at the breakdown

Danie Roussouw – 4 – A powerful presence but brainless on occasions as well, giving away penalties and getting himself a yellow card at a key point for a high tackle.

Juan Fernandez Lobbe – 9 – Magnificent, all action performance from the flanker.  Absolutely everywhere in defence, the Argentinian international showed some lovely touches with ball in hand.  Man of the match.

Chris Masoe – 7 – Quieter in the first half but grew into a dominant figure as the game progressed.

Sebastien Tillous-Borde – 6 – Snappy service and sharp thinking contributed to a decent outing from the Toulon 9.

Jonny Wilkinson – 9 – A masterclass in game management and goalkicking.  His drop goal under pressure was prime Wilkinson, producing the goods when it mattered.

Alexis Palisson – 7 – The dangerous winger made some significant inroads in the first half before having a quieter end to the game.

Matt Giteau – 7 – Some very smart touches, especially in the opening period, caused the Saracens defence problems

Matheiu Bastareau – 5 – Very well marshalled and had a quiet game to the point where he was almost anonymous (or as anonymous as Bastareau can be)

Rudi Wulf – 6 – A smooth operator on the wing and dealt well with pressure when it was applied, but no chance to show off his attacking prowess

Delon Armitage – 7 – Swept up smoothly in defence and is great to watch in full flight when on the attack

Subs 

Jean-Charles Orioli – 3 – Gets this mark for arguably the world's worst throw in of all time…bizarre.

Gethin Jenkins – 6 – Didn’t enjoy quite the same dominance as Sheridan but a decent outing around the park.

Davit Kubriashvili – Not enough time to have an impact

Jocelino Suta – 6 – Not quite as effective as Kennedy but kept himself busy none the less.

Joe Van Niekerk – Not enough time to have an impact

Steffon Armitage – Not enough time to have an impact

Maxime Mermoz – Not enough time to have an impact