Super Rugby: Best and worst of week eight; Patick McKendry; NZ Herald

Back of the week

Israel Dagg - Crusaders

Guess who's back? The amazing thing for Dagg - back in the Crusaders for the first time since returning from a shoulder injury - is that the fullback, who normally relies so much on confidence to get his game going, played with so much belief against the Jaguares. He looked fit and sharp despite playing only 30 minutes of club rugby in preparation, scoring two tries and sending a message to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

Forward of the week

Liam Gill - Reds
Coach appreciates a forward attempting a dropped goal, and one that sails over from 41m is worthy of celebrating. Step up then Reds flanker Gill, who put one over on halftime against the Bulls at Loftus. Yes,the referee had awarded advantage to the Reds so it was "risk free" but Gill's goal, which had shades of Zinzan Brooke's against England at the 1995 World Cup, displayed skill and ambition. More please.

Coachkiller

Sunwolves
The cruel among you, after hearing of the 92-17 shellacking by the Cheetahs,may wish to know if this bunch could sink any lower- perhaps when Super Rugby's first defeat by 100 points is likely to happen. I'll save you the trouble. Mark down May 14, when they host the Stormers, July 9 when they play the Bulls, and July 15 when they play the Sharks (both in South Africa). All jokes aside, this outfit shouldn't be in the competition.

1) Hurricanes

This was the Hurricanes' first return to Australia since their horror show in round one against the Brumbies, and they exorcised that humbling defeat with a solid victory against the Rebels. The AAMI Park pitch resembled a sand pit in some areas, but the Hurricanes' defence improved considerably and so did their attack. Next week's match in Wellington against the Chiefs will be a blockbuster.

2) Crusaders

The Armchair Coach expected the Crusaders to struggle a little against the Jaguares at AMI Stadium following their return from South Africa. Not a bit of it, Todd Blackadder's men displaying a huge gulf in quality between them and the Super Rugby newcomers, who looked rusty in the extreme following coach Raul Perez's wholesale changes. The Crusaders, now with six wins in a row, are looking ominous.

3) Blues

This was a tough match to watch for Blues and Sharks fans alike due to the errors which prevented the game from going anywhere meaningful. It cried out for someone to take charge and it looked like Willie Le Roux had done it when he put Paul Jordaan away for the Sharks, but George Moala's effort got the Blues back into it and Rieko Ioane's solo try from near halfway was a sensational way for his team to take back the lead.

4) Lions

A big result for the Lions, who conceded a converted try to Siya Kolisi with 18 minutes remaining to hold only a one-point lead which looked extremely tenuous until first-five Elton Jantjies, having a season for the ages, kicked a penalty to ease their worries and then a dropped goal with a few minutes remaining to seal it. These two teams are the best in South Africa.

This week

Friday
Highlanders v Sharks, Dunedin, 7.35pm
Rebels v Cheetahs, Melbourne, 9.40pm

Saturday
Sunwolves v Jaguares, Tokyo, 5.15pm
Hurricanes v Chiefs, Wellington, 7.35pm
Force v Waratahs, Perth, 9.40pm

Sunday
Stormers v Reds, Cape Town, 1am
Kingsv Lions, Port Elizabeth, 3.05am
Brumbies v Crusaders, Canberra, 6.05pm

On the SA teams, good to see the Lions play well. Glad Jantjies had a good game, he is looking more comfortable now & managed the pressure well - unlike times in the past.
On the Kiwi teams this article doesn't add much. Canes, Blues & Saders played & won all their games. McKendry says the Saders look ominous but so do the Canes & although the Chiefs didn't play this weekend they also look ominous. Landers didn't play but overall this season they look good but not in a speculator way. For the Blues, the loss of Ranger through injury & the loss of the Ioane brothers will poss a big challenge for the Blues. Dagg put his hand up this weekend & if he continues to do so Hansen will give him a closer look. 
In this article link to article by Justin Marshal he argues that you cannot do it without the set piece. Which will make CleverMike & traditionalist say "I told ya". But this weekend I had the impression the Blues won a lot of ball,  it was their lack of ability to execute final plays that meant they did not score points when they should of & they kept the Sharks in the game. Canes traditionally have been week in the set piece but last year & increasingly this year their set piece has been ok. So, of course teams the set piece to do well to be good teams but this was not a problem this weekend & more generally I think all kiwi teams are ok in the set piece. 

 Theres something rotten when you look at the ladder and the Crusaders and Hurricanes are supposedly 5th and 6th place when they have more points than the Stormers [ who in a disgraceful act have been allowed to avoid playing any NZ teams and play the 2 strongest Aussie teams at home ] Lions and Brumbies .At the very least the teams at the top of each conference should not au tomatically get a home playoff against teams on more points .Shameful.

The corruption that resulted in this conference system must have been propelled by the Trum-pet supporter. 

Major oversight in scheduling for the Stormers not to face a single NZ opponent.
Can understand the NZ'ers bitterness, but who isn't bitter about the new format? Looking likely that the NZ'ers get four of their five teams in the playoffs anyway so that has to help ease the pain some? Blues are struggling and losing Ranger and Ioane will make things more difficult but the other four teams all deserve a playoff spot at this point.

 I realise Oimatey that the vast majority of SA rugby fans arent happy about most aspects of this stupid system ,who wouldnt rather watch the stormers and the bools play the NZ teams rather then playing the hapless Sunwolves or the Kings . Be slightly more palatable though if they made the home game advantage based on overall points .I feel sorry for the Kings and the Sunwolves who have been tossed in to make up the numbers and for a few easy points .