Despite just playing around with the competition, the Mighty Chiefs retain No 1 ranking again.... Don't ask sitting bull how they keep doing it...
...But news coming in of Big Chief Rennie about to wield his tomahawk on Chiefs backs as some not making the most of their opportunities.... Players in for the chop could include Ngatai, Leonard, Tikoirotuma and wingman Nanai Williams to move into centres again to replace a hamstrung Kahui..
...You have to admire the wombat tribe for trying this year but having a rounds jump on the competition means they are naturally going to be able to keep just ahead of Kiwi tribes for only so long before it's wombat stew again on the menu haha...
...This week it looks like shark fin soup as an appetiser for the Mighty Chiefs unless the Sharkies can sharpen their teeth abit it will be a repeat of last years final when we turned them into fish and chips...What was the score again Moonbean?...
Your tribe seems to have alot of byes lately Moonbean but i guess its because your team is so soft and is always injured therefore the rain puddle team needs more time than most to lick their wounds... haha
...Try and keep up with the Mighty Chiefs if you can Moonbean...
Power Rankings: Super 15
Rank Team Change Last Week Comment 1 5-2 1 The positive for the Chiefs to come out of their loss last weekend is that they created multiple opportunities. But that lack of clinical edge in the red zone is starting to be a habit. They made 16 handling errors. Richard Kahui shifts into second-five for tomorrow night's clash and that may be where he stays for the remainder of the season. The Chiefs need to own the gainline closer to the breakdown – and rekindle the art of patience. 2 5-1-1 3 Opponents have noted how little rugby the Brumbies play in their own half and how much pressure they build by using territory as a weapon. They have also noted how patient the Brumbies are on attack – biding their time to strike and that they appear to be solid at set-piece and all the crunchy bits. No side as yet has really found an effective way to meet this challenge and that's because it is a decidedly good game-plan. 3 6-2 8 Brumbies coach Jake White was quick to endorse Ewen McKenzie as the the best option to take over the Wallabies job from Robbie Deans.. He probably is, but what White really meant, was 'please Australian Rugby Union, take this guy from the Reds because they are probably a better side than us and we need them derailed somehow'. Will Genia and Quade Cooper – the Punch and Judy of Australasian rugby sure do know how to put on a show. 4 5-2 2 There's a sneaky suspicion the Sharks are going to slip quietly out of the race in the next month.. The African conference has cannibalistic tendencies, in that the top four sides are going to effectively eat each other and end up well behind their Australian and New Zealand rivals. And the Sharks probably deserve to be stuck in a big pot and eaten – they are just so dull. 5 3-4 4 It was hardly any wonder the Crusaders lost in Perth, they had to face up to a huge tackle count. None of the tackles on show were legal, but they were effective with at least one of the naked pitch invaders disrupting the Crusaders when they were building dangerous momentum. Still, it was like captain George Whitelock, said: “At the end of the day, we have got to be accountable and catch the ball.” Time for these blokes to knuckle down and win some games. 6 4-3 9 So now the slow grind up the table begins for the Bulls. They don't convince as a great rugby side, or one with the potential to bag the title: but they do have enough experience and confidence in their game-plan to use the intimidation factor of Loftus to collect plenty of points in the next six weeks. 7 5-3 6 “Our decision making was left wanting against the Bulls. That is one area where we cannot afford to come up short against the Sharks.” said Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske in announcing his team for this weekend. The biggest decision they have to make is to not play like the Sharks. These two are at opposite end of the spectrum in terms of philosophy and the Cheetahs have to back their running instincts – believe that ball in hand will beat ball in the air. 8 4-3 10 It's not even May and the Blues have won as many games as they did in the whole of last year. They will win a few more if they can replicate the accuracy and intensity they showed in dismantling the Hurricanes. But that is a giant if: in the same league as if only John Key had a better memory... 9 4-3 6 No question the coaching staff got it all wrong against the Blues. They put Tusi Pisi at No 10 and he struggled – it certainly wasn't easy, peasy Tusi Pisi. Beauden Barrett may leak like a sieve on defence, but he is the man who gives the Canes their rhythm. Also, why have Julian Savea on the wing and then kick the ball away? It is a 15-man game that works best in Wellington – 14 players trying to get the ball to Savea. 10 3-4 7 Bryan Habana has jumped on the plane to New Zealand with his Stormers team-mates after missing the last month of action with a knee injury. He could make a difference – if the Stormers can get him the ball. That's a long shot – about as long as the next four weeks are going to feel for the Stormers. 11 3-4 11 The Waratahs announced they will lose Drew Mitchell after this campaign. They had to spend a fair bit of time re-iterating to their fans 'next year'. Those who have been turning up regularly to the Sydney Football Stadium were adamant that Mitchell had already left for Toulon. 12 2-4-1 13 Captain Luke Watson returns to the Kings' starting line-up this week after he was injured in the opening game. He's never been a popular man with the rugby establishment in the Republic but he might soon be if he can help the Kings win a few more games and strengthen South Africa's case to be awarded a sixth team when the broadcast contract is renewed in a few years. 13 0-7 14 The Highlanders win-draw-loss stats currently read 0-0-7 – which may explain why they have played with a licence to kill. Sadly, they have only managed to kill themselves with frantic rugby that is disjointed, error-ridden and ineffective. If there is a James Bond in their midst, it would be good if he could present himself to coach Jamie Joseph later this afternoon, preferably with a masterplan on how he can save their season. 14 2-6 15 The creativity coming out of Australia is exceptional. The Reds and Brumbies have both selected referees and now the Force have co-opted random crowd members onto the pay roll. Innovation is alive and well in Australian rugby. 15 2-6 14 Big changes are coming at the Rebels. Luke Burgess will return from France [had to look him up, too], a new chief executive has been announced and coach Damian Hill will have to apply for his job at the end of the season. The good news for Rebels fans is that the team won't let any of this off-field activity get in the way of the serious business of them being utterly dire on the field.
