HURRICANE WARNING: Ma'a Nonu and the Hurricanes beat the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday morning to make it two-from-two to start their Super Rugby season.
Week two of Super Rugby saw three home winners (three times more than week one), four teams left unbeaten and four still searching for their first win of the new season. Here are the latest Power Rankings:
1 Hurricanes (last week #3)
Is this the year? Week two is early to pronounce anything, but a first South African clean sweep since 2005 is as good a start as these guys have made. Two grind-out wins, albeit with a huge dollop of luck in Pretoria, have long-suffering Canes fans almost combusting with optimism. Next stop, Perth.
2 Chiefs (last week #4)
It was hard to shake the feeling we were watching the two best teams in the competition battle out a near stalemate in New Plymouth on Friday night. The Chiefs are a long way from where they need to be, but they're still tucking away wins while figuring things out and getting healthy. Good sign.
3 Stormers (last week #6)
Possibly over-achieving, and certainly were gifted victory against the Blues by Hayden Triggs' stupid decision to punch Duane Vermeulen. But two from two to open the season is impressive from an outfit not rated a big chance in 2015.
4 Brumbies (last week #1)
Yes, they lost. But they'll play worse than they did in New Plymouth and win plenty the rest of this year. The Chiefs exposed a chink or two, but still look formidable with a big, capable pack and a backline that understands the game plan. Sooner Pocock returns from his ankle injury, the better.
5 Cheetahs (last week #5)
Didn't play – so difficult to drop them too far on the back of that eye-catching opening win in Durban. Got the Blues this week, too, so a real chance to stay unbeaten.
6 Crusaders (last week #11)
It wasn't quite the juggernaut rumbling back to life, but a much-needed bounceback win in Dunedin was a vast improvement on the opening shambles. Rookie lock Scott Barrett looks a find and Colin Slade fired a significant shot in his battle with Dan Carter at No 10. Backs still lack punch, and when will Todd Blackadder realise Robbie Fruean is not a wing?
7 Sharks (last week #10)
That was more like it. A bonus point win on a wet track represented a vast improvement from an opening home loss to the Cheetahs. But it was against the pussycats from Jo'burg. Jury remains out till they beat someone a little more resembling a proper rugby team.
8 Waratahs (last week #12)
From champs to chumps to, well, winners at least as the Tahs took care of business pretty efficiently in Melbourne. Much better. Good to see Kurtley Beale getting column ink for his rugby skills too.
9 Rebels (last week #7)
From cloud nine to ground zero, that huge opening win in Christchurch rather cancelled out with a home loss to the Tahs. But this is the Rebels. And four tries even in defeat suggests some significant improvements in 2015.
10 Western Force (last week #2)
As awful in week two as they were impressive to start with. A distant second against the limited Reds outfit suggests Jekyll 'n Hyde qualities that don't bode well. Will be pleased to get back home after an opening fortnight on the road.
11 Reds (last week #15)
Omens didn't look good after the Karmichael Hunt story broke and then James O'Connor was a late pullout. But a grind-out victory over the Force suggests redemptive qualities entirely absent week one.
12 Highlanders (last week #8)
The opening-week bye was a hospital pass and, sure enough, Jamie Joseph's men were covered in rust as they started with a checkered display in front of a big crowd in The Glasshouse. Malakai Fekitoa looked good though.
13 Blues (last week #9)
It's going to be hard enough for this group to win with 15 men, playing 55 minutes with 14 was always going to be fatal. Hard to escape a feeling this season is teetering on the brink already, with an 0-3 start a distinct possibility as they head to Bloem.
14 Bulls (last week #13)
Back-to-back home defeats to start the campaign suggests this is one of those off years for the suddenly beat-a-Bulls. Sharks visit this week is a must-win on the high veldt.
15 Lions (last week #14)
Hard to believe two such poor sides could reside just 40 minutes drive from one another. But early evidence suggests that's very much the case.
