We are pretty much at the half way mark of the Super 15 pool stages and have seen who is the real deal this year and who is not.
Just a couple comments on a few teams.
Chiefs
They are on 24 points after 7 games and have really won just over half their games. They picked up 4 points last night against the Rebels. A silly decision to tap a penalty kick 5m out from the Chiefs line in the 76th minute by Higginbotham instead of reset the scrum cost the Rebels that game I believe. They had all the acendency in the 2nd half in a surprise turn around as usually the Chiefs lift in the 2nd as was evident in SA. They should never be on 24 points as they snatched a draw from certain defeat twice in SA. Worrying signs for the reigning champions as they are battling with injuries and not looking like half the team they did in the past 2 years. I expect the Chiefs luck will come to an end soon and the champs will be on the slide. Not a scary prospect anymore.
Lions
Really got lucky against the Blues and Reds in those home wins. Showed great character and determination to win those 2 and it has been said they have been aided by some questionable ref calls. The past 2 weeks we have seen that 80 mins is just too long for them. They are a 60 min team and usually teams that just rely on scrambling on defence are. They can not keep winning by playing defensive rugby as the Sharks and Crusaders have just shown them. Funny thing is, when they have to chase a game in the final 15 mins, they actually show us what they are capable of on attack but for some reason, can not produce that when the game is in the balance. Will be interesting to see if they can bounce back and put their campaign back on the rails but I somehow doubt that.
Force
The fairytale continues. They really are the giant killers this year and are playing like a team that believes in themself. Can they keep it up in the business end of the comp when stakes are higher? Maybe but that will all depend on injuries. They are not blessed with the depth some of the other unions possess.
Waratahs
Look fairly daunting on paper but lack any accuracy on attack without Folau. Waratahs without Folau are not a championship contending team in my opinion. They will need to get him back in the team asap. Injury or not ;-)
Sharks
Looks like we will need to employ our 3rd choice flyhalf next wee. Lambie and Zeilinga look like they will be enjoying extended time on the sidelines. Frans Steyn with that long pass at 10 is both a curse and a blessing. If he is to start at 10 in the absence of Fred and Pat, he will need to put that long pass away until its on. Lions expected him to throw it and it got us in a bit of bother at times. Very predictable and it will cost us intercept tries as other teams will notice. Very lucky we have a dominant forward pack because our flair through the backs looks very diminished without Lambie and Jordaan.
Crusaders
Always dangerous. Not the first year they have been slow out of the blocks and if any team can make it right, its them. They look to have warmed up now and are 2 from 2 in SA. They did play the 2 teams in SA that, if you asked any coach which 2 SA franchises they would wana play in SA, it would be Cheetahs and Lions but its still great momentum for them and psychologically, they will be in a good place. Still my favourite to take the NZL conference but that all depends on how they go in Hamilton this weekend.
Brumbies
Well oiled machine. Took their foot of the pedal on Friday night against the Reds but got the job done. They enjoy a bye weekend now and they will be fresh for the Chiefs in Canberra. I expect the Chiefs to have a physical game against the Saders this weekend and the freshened up Brumbies at home should be too strong. Brumbies should take out the Aussie conference.
Bulls
Their shit record against the Highlanders continues. Every week they seem to have a new loose trio. The fact that they can not get settled is showing. Yes, injuries have forced their hand but they play so 1 dimensionally that any bloke in their squad should be able to come in and do a job. Its no secret they rely on size. Just replace a big robot with another big robot. Nothing coming from their backs. Been very disappointed with their centre combination. With the pace of JJ and the talk up of Serfontein, one would expect a few outside breaks or at least something to be happening out wide but its just not. They will always be there or thereabouts because they are so strong at Loftus and bore their oppositon out of the game but they wont threaten for the title.
Hurricanes
Took some great momentum into the break. They will be fresh and raring to go against the Blues this weekend. Blues will also be fresh so it should be a fast paced game. They seem to have captured that belief in each other and it shows on their defence. They have never had an issue with attack. They will be a dangerous team if they can keep this up now when it counts. They deserve to be up there at the end. They have too many big names to constantly under achieve.
