Super Rugby

[scuzzaman]

40-14. Jags just go to sleep on some of the basics.

Which is kind of shocking when you remember they have more points than the Blues.

When did Aucklanders forget how to play rugby?

[zer0]

The Jaguares don't have to play half their games against the four best sides in the competition. They also have a game in hand.

[rowan]

Big clash this weekend:

[rowan]

Always happy when the Canes and Jags win on the same weekend. But looks like the Rebels early success was a little deceptive. Brumbies have looked a bit shoddy this year as well, and it's beginning to seem like nothing has really changed at all this year. Meanwhile, Highlanders looking like they might pose the most serious threat to the Canes at the moment.

[rowan]

1. Hurricanes 7 6 0 1 224:130 27

2. Lions 8 5 0 3 292:251 25

3. Crusaders 7 5 0 2 213:141 24

4. Waratahs 7 5 1 1 248:178 24

5. Chiefs 7 5 0 2 213:170 21

6. Rebels 7 4 0 3 229:186 21

7. Highlanders 6 4 0 2 176:139 19

8. Bulls 7 3 0 4 185:195 14

9. Brumbies 7 3 0 4 155:181 14

10. Sharks 8 2 1 5 234:260 14

11. Stormers 8 3 0 5 214:256 13

12. Reds 7 3 0 4 131:183 13

13. Jaguares 8 3 0 5 189:252 12

14. Blues 7 2 0 5 196:234 12

15. Sunwolves 7 0 0 7 151:294 2

[rowan]

The Rebels-Jags encounter was a bizarre affair. Home-team ran up an early lead with Will Genia in superb form. But a yellow card in the 2nd half proved the turning point and the visitors went ahead 22-25. The Rebels were hot on attack during the final minutes but their left wing seemed to shy off a cross-kick as the defender loomed up, the Rebels declined a penalty in front that would have tied it, and subsequently lost control of the ball. 3 chances squandered with time up on the clock. Talk about blowing it!

[rowan]

Just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling all over

[rowan]

Canes have the Poodles this weekend. Should be another win in the bag.

[Lizard]

Chiefs are away to the Reds. It would be very disappointing not to win that easily.

[rowan]

Canes have the Poodles this weekend. Should be another win in the bag.

Correction: Canes have a bye, Poodles play Saders, next week Canes v Poodles. It's going to be a tough 2 weekends for the tourists!!

[rowan]

Blues better hope they don't cull the competition again. Late consolation try couldn't hide the embarrassment of a 16-34 loss at home to Otago.

[zer0]

On the contrary. It would be the best thing to happen for the Blues. Less sides means the daft conferences would be ditched, meaning they wouldn't have to play half their matches against the best four sides in the competition. Hell, they might even manage to make it through the season without losing half their starting XV, largely due to said obnoxious schedule.

[rowan]

Tahs hosting the Lions now. This could be the match of the round...

[rowan]

0-19 Lions at 3/4 mark. First the Rebels' bubble burst. Now the Tahs?'

FT 0-29

[rowan]

Crotty scores in the opening minute as Saders start with a bang v Sunwolves

[rowan]

So, nothing's changed in the predictability department. Kiwis are still first division, South Africans second, Aussies third, Jags fourth and Sunwolves 5th, more or less. Main point of interest remains the local derbies, particularly when the Kiwis play each other. Not sure how the crowds are looking, but if it continues like this I think we'll see more changes after 2020, most likely reduced to a round-robin with at least one more team axed - Tokyo the obvious candidate.

[morepork]

Crotty scores in the opening minute as Saders start with a bang v Sunwolves

They very nearly lost that.

[rowan]

Finally a close one - Stormers just edged ahead of the Sharks in Durban. 10-17 heading into the final 1/4 !

17-17 Stormers a man down and starting to lose the plot. 10 to go.

Sharks with the comeback win, 24-17. Stormers attacked their line at the end but couldn't find a way across. Best game of the round. As I wrote earlier, the derbies are about the only games worth watching this season.

[rowan]

Jags with the early 10-0 lead against ACT. They seem to have been doing well lately, with wins over the Lions and Rebels (away).

[rowan]

Brumbies with a crucial score just before the break. Should be an interesting 2nd half . . .

Update: Jags ahead 18-10 3/4 mark . . .

Update: Boffelli with a crucial try inside the last 10 mins. 25-17 . . .

FT Jags win in Canberra - 25-20. On a roll

Brumbies did the right thing at the end, kicking a penalty as they were told it was the last play of the game. A converted try wouldn't have been enough even if they'd managed it.

[rowan]

1. Lions 9 6 0 3 321:251 30

2. Crusaders 8 6 0 2 246:152 29

3. Hurricanes 7 6 0 1 224:130 27

4. Chiefs 8 6 0 2 249:182 26

5. Highlanders 7 5 0 2 210:155 24

6. Waratahs 8 5 1 2 248:207 24

7. Rebels 8 4 0 4 239:214 21

8. Bulls 8 4 0 4 213:205 19

9. Sharks 9 3 1 5 258:277 18

10. Jaguares 9 4 0 5 214:272 16

11. Brumbies 8 3 0 5 175:206 15

12. Stormers 9 3 0 6 231:280 14

13. Reds 8 3 0 5 143:219 13

14. Blues 8 2 0 6 212:268 12

15. Sunwolves 8 0 0 8 162:327 2

[rowan]

Weirdly the Jags will enter their clash with the Blues in Auckland as favorites this weekend. But i'll pick the hosts to find form and blitz them. I just think the Blues are a much better team than they've shown so far, and the tourists will find 3 wins on the road to be a bridge too far. Stormers v Rebels is an intriguing match-up, both teams struggling to get their campaigns on track, while the Bulls - Landers encounter could be the clash of the round. Canes, Saders and Lions should pick up comfortable wins against the Sunwolves, ACT and Reds, respectively.

[scuzzaman]

The Blues have scored more points than the Highlanders.

Bizarre. Did they forget how to tackle, or what?

[rowan]

Reds with a 17-0 lead over the Lions heading toward halftime. Hopefully that can carry on with this and give the Aussies something to cheer about.

24-0. Come on Reds !! 2nd half just got underway . . .

[rowan]

27-22 it finished. Lions with a consolation try in injury time. Good win for the Reds, and a much needed fillip for the Aussies in Super Rugby right now!