Round 4 - Performance Assessment

I was way out with my score predictions this Round and the two drawn games were major reasons for that one.  
However, lets put some objectivity and look at my assessment of the games in question:-
Hurricanes - Force game
This game was there for the Hurricanes to win with ease - the Blues being one of the weaker sides in the tournament.  They are better than the Kings though, but that does not make them a team with real credentials.
I think the real disappointment on the Hurricanes side is Julian Savea - he looked very, very average in all the games he played in this year.  It seems as if he slowed down in pace and his ball handling also seemed to have deteriorated.
Waratahs - Highlanders game
The highlanders thoroughly deserved their victory - but they went backwards badly in the second half.   However, what was clear is that the Waratahs have a serious problem this year - their Tight 5 is really not up to standard.   The return of Foley may solve a problem in their backline for them - Beale is like a headless chicken and a serious liability for them.
Bulls - Sharks game
This was a very difficult game for both sides since it was played in atrocious weather conditions.   The Sharks should have won the game - but for a missed penalty virtually in front of the goal posts - missed by Joe Pietersen.   He caved in under pressure.  
Sunwolves - Rebels    
I rate the Rebels highly and thought they would win - but the big score in their favour was indeed surprising.   They are at present on 13 points and on par with the Brumbies at 13 points on the log.  Wonder how the rest of the Tournament would go - especially bearing in mind their huge loss against the Bulls.
Crusaders - Kings
This game was a Christmas gift to the Crusaders and they won the game easily.  What bothered me a bit was the fact that they let in three tries scored by the Kings and donated them 24 points.
Reds - Blues
The junk rugby dished up in this game requires only one description - not worth watching this game.
Lions-Cheetahs
A top class performance by the Lions and they thoroughly deserve the win - very entertaining rugby.
Stormers-Brumbies
The Brumbies was very competitive in the first half - but caved in in the second half.  Their fighting spirit was shown in the fisticuffs -which resulted in a red card at minute 65 - fist-fighting is not allowed in rugby and a red card destroyed their competitiveness.   The fact is that the main contributors to the Stormers win were their locks combination.   Opposing teams will have to learn how to contend with that weapon of the Stormers. 
Jaguares - Chiefs
A very competitive and entertaining game on both sides.  There was a serious lesson for the Jaguares - handling errors and aimless kicking in the end cost them the game.