The 2015 season continues [The Brumbies observing their final Bye]; there was a good handful of matches involving NZ sides this week – Chiefs facing The Bulls in hope to re-ignite their campaign, The Blues hoping to hold out the leading Hurricanes side in Auckland. The Waratahs hosted a classic rematch of the 2014 final with The Crusaders and on their return from South Africa, The Force hoped to trip-up The Highlanders on their way home. Some great rugby to analyse here.

The finals loom larger of course, and since The Rebels had been brought down to size by the struggling Reds the week earlier, the contenders for the knock-out rounds had dropped to only 9 teams with a realistic chance of making up the finals draw. Credit to Scott Higginbotham’s side, who had shown great improvements over this year and they now faced the determined Stormers in Cape Town. That team must grab their last chance at keeping pace with the Top 6 themselves, so Duane Vermeuelen’s men will be aiming for that vital 5 points available, as would The Crusaders.

Todd Blackadder’s men needed to turn their season around, otherwise they would be outside the finals for the first time in over ten years. That credibility is something all sides hope to build, and good news came out of the United States with a planned match in New Orleans on August 1st that involved The Crusaders and London based Saracens. Due to be played at the magnificent Mercedez Benz SuperDome, this match will contest the newly created Hemispheres Cup. A demonstration between two rugby powerhouses in front of fans hungry for quality matches, it would be a highlight for that gloried franchise but first, The Crusaders needed to match-up to a well coached Waratahs side on Saturday night.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 15 – NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

_____________________________________________________________

Match : The Chiefs v The Bulls

Venue : Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua

Score : 34-20

Venturing into their heartland, The Chiefs invited The Bulls down to Rotorua and expected a good home crowd at Sam Cane’s Bay of Plenty ground. They needed to re-start a season where they have performed in ‘fits and starts’. Not only has injury deprived them of game changers; Brodie Retallick and Sonny Bill Williams still unavailable for this match, but they had not been able to make up ground on The Hurricanes big lead, so points tonight would retain their 4th position and represent an important mental step to get over.

For the visitors, it was vital that they got right back on their winning course with a comprehensive victory, as the loss to The Blues would have startled their fanbase and threatened their conference lead. After a poor showing, they wanted to get a ‘jump’ on their hosts early and started with what appeared to be a near full-strength side. Handre Pollard led the backline and Pierre Spies had to command them from the front. Maybe it was an over reliance on forward play that allowed The Blues back into last week’s match, their much vaunted maul did not produce the tries this Bulls side are built on. When halted, they stalled and allowed The Blues to run around them, so it was possible the backs needed to work better in unison tonight and that rang true at the commencement of the match.

Early pressure was a clear strategy from The Bulls, and with a little bit of luck it forced an error from Hosea Gear that allowed Jan Serfontein to continue his run of tries [two last week] and then to compound that, Bryce Heem suffered a similar fate when he batted a loose ball into the arms of his opposite Bjorn Basson. Benefitting in that short time to lead 15-3, it was not that The Chiefs side were passive, but the visitors had better fortunes. Would this be the straw that broke The Chiefs back?

As with all Chiefs sides, matching intensity and then drawing level is a key skill they are trained in. Dave Rennie and Tom Coventry are class acts, and make good selection calls – none more so when after losing Michael Allardice, that they made an SOS call to veteran Ross Filipo. Playing at club level, the selection was based on good pedigree (he’s a former All Black) and it paid off, as he performed admirably. After the early pressure faded by the second quarter, the Chiefs pack began to match-up and it filtered through the side.

That was lead by Commander-in-Chief Liam Messam, who is in vintage form. He finished off a fine drive that revitalised his group. They grew a foot taller, and within minutes a confident backline showed outstanding interplay to allow Heem to repay for his mistake. It was great to see, Gear linking superbly as they crossed again to end a well managed first half at 15-15. In the sheds it would have been a highly energized team talk at halftime.

For the visitors, if they could not alter their gameplan, the game itself would get away from them [again]. When facing a Chiefs side who have taken all that you can throw at them, that task was made so much more difficult when a tactic of “push-and-shove” was rebuffed easily, punctuated by some individual brilliance from halfback Augustine Pulu who will have impressed all rugby followers. He is a genuine threat to Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s hold on the 9 jersey, and is responding to internal pressure on him too by Brad Webber. With agility and vision, he combined well to score twice himself before the 60th minute and the match had flipped towards the hosts favour.

Possibly shocked, The Bulls would again mount a challenge, and a greater side may have wrestled back the lead but execution now failed the Pretoria based side. This was especially true when the most penalised NZ side lost Cane to another Yellow Card. That should have been a clear opening for a conference leading team to drive through. But a better Chiefs side stood above their South African rivals, even with a Lappies Labuschagne driving maul try, they were ineffective in the wider context. Kicking away possession, it invited The Chiefs to play out time and when Damian McKenzie set-up Tim Nanai-Williams, a 5th try had the fans screaming in delight. Their class was clear by the final whistle and the former Super Rugby champion side Bulls now fell all too easily for the second week in a row.

Their ninth consecutive away loss overseas, that means The Stormers and Lions could leapfrog them in the South African conference. Their task that gets even more difficult as they head to Canberra now to face The Brumbies next weekend. And traveling is now in the minds of The Chiefs too, as they visit Invercargill and try to hold out a focused Highlanders side. Confident in their abilities, no matter the issues of player health, coach Rennie said “Attitude-wise, everyone keeps talking about the number of guys injured, but we’ve got good depth and a lot of character. You wear the jersey, you’ve got to front, and we saw that again.”

Obviously the focus on reserves will impact their chances, but with such a resolute team culture, it means they are likely to put up another fine challenge for that all important first NZ wildcard spot. We look forward to a traditional North v South fight at Rugby Park next Saturday night.

_____________________________________________________________

Match : The Blues v The Hurricanes

Venue : Eden Park, Auckland

Score : 5-29

Some teams build a strong home record where they become known for earning themselves a ‘home fortress’. For The Blues, that statement is nothing more that wishful thinking in many ways in this season especially. Firstly, this was only their fourth home game of this year (plus 2 games at North Harbour Stadium) and secondly, as they had lost to The Chiefs late in 2014 in similar conditions, so their record does not match the rhetoric. And that might sum up the season in Auckland – all talk, and little action.

Coming up to the Queen City, the visitors had started the season fantastically well and surprising many, had continued in that momentum for 12/13 games. Coming in as favorites, the Eden Park fortress would not have been so daunting, even though all NZ sides have a true underlying respect for their derby opponents. They would have known that injuries had ravaged The Blues, but they themselves were without Conrad Smith, sidelined as a precaution over a head knock. Cory Jane was also a late withdrawl, with a hamstring complaint halting the All Blacks claim for more time to impress national selectors. Not discounting the many injuries to their hosts, this team were in a winning mode and would be better able to cope with internal change.

Due to the late change, Chris Boyd introduced Otere Black at first-five, with James Marshall taking the fullback role as Nehe Milner-Skudder was placed in Janes’ absent wing position. Would that allow The Blues to expose any weakness? If that was to happen, then it would have been helped by the weather gods. The conditions on the night were horrid (I know, I faced the rain and wind that came later) and it did dampen the action in the first half. Both sides tested the other hands early on; lofted kicks were mostly taken cleanly before the sides started to mix it up, with Ma’a Nonu choosing the grubber kick and The Blues halfback Jamieson Gibson-Park opting for a poorly directed series of box kicks. I note that, because he first kicked out, then kicked too short and then he kicked too long, as if he was unsure himself. That is a coach-killer which frankly, the under pressure Sir John Kirwan does not need.

Since injuries had removed two Blues captains already, James Parson was given the armband and hoped to inject some youth and fresh energy into his side, but the inexperience started to show with Lolagi Visinia choosing to return kicks far too often, being overly trusting in his forwards to give him support. That meant they lack of possession, which in turn led too all the good work his side made in the opening 30 minutes being lost when the visitors pushed deep into the Bluezone and repeated phases resulted in a clean try from Chris Eves. That buoyed the ‘Canes and it was only a matter of a few minutes until the pressure mounted again and The Blues cracked, with TJ Perenara scoring his 8th try this season. Boom! 14 points in quick succession. 17-0.

In the stands, we were flummoxed, as if someone had pressed the ‘skip’ button and points had been leaked unwittingly, but if the players had that senstaion then they’d need to wake up or else a wave of ‘Canes pressure would mount. And The Blues did have some ball, and knew to retain possession and head directly to the tryline, but were halted by a composed backline and resolted forwards who acted in unison. While their opposites began to try ‘a little bit outside their systems’ even the powerful George Moala found it difficult to break-out . Commendable work from Ray Lee-Lo is of benefit to The Hurricanes, who still need to rest Nonu again before the playoffs (by All Black decree).

The big moments in this match occured whenever Julian Savea took the ball. The ‘ bus’ comes into set-play well, is covering defense better now and his tackle on Visinia was worthy of the highlights; but also on the edge of a penalty call. But the best players always ride that edge of glory or failure. Right now, The Blues cannot see the sun beyond the corporate cloud and this Hurricane side were better manned to withstand all that the hosts threw at them.

In a brief glimmer of sunshine, repeated phases allowed Moala to free his hands and replacement back Matt Vaega restored a sense of respectability to the score (the conversion was wide, as were several other penalty attempts); by that stage, Blues fans were calling for the ball to stay in hand. But as much as they may have wished for it, the ball was used well by The Hurricanes, Milner-Skudder on the end of a nice passing movement to bring them their bonus point. A fine display of match play and control.

With a considerable lead over their fellow NZ sides (and everyone else for that matter), they have secured their position atop the conference and overall standings. Well done. With a week off post the regular season as their prize, its important that they face the next 3 derby matches as ‘preliminary finals’. A big away match next Friday against the wounded Crusaders is a tantalising match-up. Each derby game will of test match quality from now on, no disrespect to The Blues. Try as they might, their season is over. A bye and two local derbies now await, and only the players can determine their next few results. For some, their careers will be pegged on how they perform now – not what any board of Directors can devise for them.

_____________________________________________________________

Match : The Waratahs v The Crusaders

Venue : ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Score : 32-22

If any match this weekend was significant, it was in Sydney. A rematch between 2014 finalists, but also potentially a game for a coveted position in the Top 6 (I know I am repeating this fact). It meant everything to both sides – 5 possible points to the winner, and an end to the campaign for the loser, so much was to be gained from this encounter as much for fans as for the franchise.

The Crusaders began with much intent, showing their capabilities with captain Kieran Read showing flair to help open the backline, Daniel Carter to Ryan Crotty and on through Colin Slade releasing Nemani Nadolo to delight those ‘Saders fans sitting at ANZ Stadium. A great early strike, but that was almost immediately answered by The Waratahs. They too have a big weapon on the wing, and Taqele Naiyaravoro made as much of an impact … and then some. Crossing out wide; that was a perfect response.

With this thrust and counter-thrust the match then went into a period of combat with The Crusaders looking the less likely to impact. It was a tough watch, as their hosts did little to show they are the leaders in the Australian conference, but holding out the visitors. A tight contest until we had the typical ‘referees moment’. In the heat of a tackle, big Silatolu Latu appeared to pick-up (the equally big) Sam Whitelock and with Will Skelton’s help, looked to drop him unfairly. A hard tackle, it had the follow-up all in scuffle and the resulting decision was for a Yellow Card penalty to Latu only. I’m not here to determine’who, where, how’ but subsequently both players have been cited – so the judiciary will make its decision. Wouldn’t be surprised if a referee panel are also busy Monday.

The game carried on, with The Crusaders a man-up, but it made for no advantage as a promising move across the field was fumbled by Slade and Wallaby Rob Horne ran 65 metres to score. That single 5 pointer could have been more, as a Bernard Foley try was ruled out due to a knock-on. A close call, but the hill got a little steeper as Slade soon left the field with a thigh injury that shifted Carter to his preferred position, Tom Taylor into second-five and while Carter did show glimpses of quality, a stifling defensive line saw them often go side-to-side with little penetration. Having Israel Dagg pull out in the warm-ups had already reduced their attacking firepower, so it would have to be a vintage Crusaders performance now.

By the end of the half, the home side had managed a lead of 12 points [17-8] and if Todd Blackadder had not made his side aware that it was “do or die” for their semi-final hopes now, then a kickable penalty infringement would not have been a good response. They had time, they had experience and they just had to focus. The ever dangerous Israel Folau was a real concern from the get-go, having come close in the first half himself, the upset Crusaders backline had their hands full, Folau now ranging with some menace. Slick passing down the blindside resulted in Naiyaravoro collecting a brace and the ‘Tahs fans were euphoric.

That made it all so difficult, now with every ounce of energy from The Crusaders going into an all-out assault and their combined class saw a good result soon, when Nadolo entered the attacking line and a fortunate pushed-ball ended up in Richie McCaw’s hands as he crossed between the posts for his first try this season. He has very few doubters after a decade at the top, but this Super Rugby Round 15 clash was another test for McCaw and his team mates. They needed to push hard, and the next generation of warriors in red, including the injection of Matt Todd, made a dent in the opposition through a direct driving maul. Try time, and they had rebounded to be 25-22.

Great footy; and if they could maintain their momentum it would be one for the storybooks. But the tables were turned on them when in a contested ruck McCaw was called for being off his feet and sent to the bin for ‘cynical play’. While not as glaring a call as in 2014, he walked off to the chair with the geers and sarcastic applause of the home fans ringing in his (and his team mates) ears. An indiscretion, it sure didn’t stop The Crusaders from attempting their comeback though. In years, they would have overwhelmed an error prone Waratahs side, but that menace has past I’m sorry to report. Foley rubbed salt in when a wicked bounce-of-the-ball evaded Jone Macali-Tore, and he was the hero again. The Waratahs flyhalf gained them a crucial bonus point try, and it was Game over. Quite probably, The Crusaders season is over too.

We have to commend the champions. While Kurtley Beale is still a ‘hit and miss’ player, they are going to hit more than they miss if Foley can maintain his calming input, Dave Dennis can work hard for 60 minutes and Folau can entertain with his super-charged injection of excitement. For them, their biggest obstacle will be a tough trip to the republic. They face The Lions in foreign territory, and that result is still vital and they are secure yet – but they are looking stronger now and will hope any penalties handed down on their two forwards by the judiciary are not competition ending.

__________________________________________________________

Match : The Western Force v The Highlanders

Venue : nib Stadium, Perth

Score : 3-23

Last week I reminded you of The Force’s record against returning NZ sides. After two tough matches away, the stop-over in Perth is no longer a ‘cocktails & sunshine’ visit. You are now more likely to be tipped-up by a defiant Force team who no longer wish to be the whipping-boys in Australia. They are a plucky, versatile team characterised by crowd favorite “The Honeybadger” Nick Cummins. The larikin moniker might not suit all, but the will to win is ever present, so all sides must be on their toes.

Only just before kick-off, co-captain Nasi Manu was ruled out through injury, so Dan Pryor was introduced at number eight with Gareth Evans slotting into flanker. That put the leadership squarely on Ben Smith who was celebrating 100 caps with his beloved Highlanders. While he is the quiet achiever of Super Rugby, his threat is very real. Statistics tell the story: he leads the competition in run metres, tackle busts and linebreaks since his debut in 2009. Now that’s impressive, but he would need to gather his men for this task ahead.

The majority of possession and territory in the opening stanza was shared, though there was always the feeling the New Zealanders could strike from anywhere on the field. While many highlights shows will celebrate the trys, it is more than likely the little things that build towards a win. Support play is key, and this was obvious to everyone, including the Fox sports commentators; “Their support play is amazing. They’re lining up” was the comment from Greg Martin that summed up The Highlanders strengths in 2015.

As the game progressed, the more energetic Highlanders team increasingly played to their style as they settled into patterns and counter-attacks. There was plenty of forward thrust, but it is supported by a halfback on top of his game with a bullet pass the envy of 14 teams in this competition. Combine that with Backs and loose forwards who are ready to attack in a flash, only great Force resistance was able to defend well (as Highlanders dropped ball ended a few attacks) in the first half, it limited scoring to penalties alone. Kicking for territory was good from the visitors, but capatilising on opportunities would have been the main subject spoken about during the halftime break.

With 40 minutes to show their metal, The Force would be the more desperate side, showing some good work alongside the all too common infringements at the breakdown. In the tight, their captain Matt Hodgson was always strong but his opposite also had a good game. John Hardie was playing his 50th game for the Dundein side, and he was involved in some good work to put his side near The Force tryline. The lineout drive was unstoppable as the ball went to Hardie and he crossed for the first try of the contest. That cracked the drought, and The Force started to make errors as The Highlanders became more dominant. It looked menacing from here.

Handling errors were mounting against the home team, The Force side encurred a massive 22 turnovers. Possession was going the way of The Highlanders and poor kicking options only reinforced that. Force chasers were often nowhere near the ball when it landed and that just gave the likes of Patrick Osbourne and Waisake Naholo good chances to run the ball back. That placed territory in the hands of the visitors, not something you should really aim for. Repeated efforts bore no fruit though, so Lima Sopoaga showed his skill by dropping a goal to retain a good lead. At 3-16 they had played smarter and were looking the stronger side, and his goal is something representative teams might likely see as a great skill come Rugby World Cup time..

As time ran down, the Force side were guilty of not holding the ball, again the ping-pong kicking battle was won by the visitors. Replacement Marty Banks grabbing a high ball and sharing it with an ever present Richard Buckman. The ‘Barracuda’ set it up well, passing off the ground to my MVP Aaron Smith. In support yet again, it was fitting reward and while they were thrilled with the win, I suspect the missed fourth try bonus point will prove to be vital.

Now just a single point behind The Chiefs, that only makes this next game all too important to both sides. Heading home, a short turnaround is the only impediment now to this Highlanders side maximising a fine trip abroad. 2/3 wins is good by any means, don’t let that be ignored but if they can manage their trend of leaking points to teams after 60 minutes, it might be another “party at Tony Brown’s house” in Southland come the end of play Saturday night.

The coaching staff too deserve a mention, in maintaining high performance levels from this squad over a 6-8 week period and not ‘stubbing their toe’ at nib Stadium. That side of rugby is ignored too often, as momentum is a goal that The Sharks would die for right now. The only downside for me is that they must still rest several key All Blacks. When they choose to do that [against The Blues more than likely] it will determine their final standings, but Jamie Joseph will be happy enough when he lands back in Highlanders HQ Monday. Take a minute Jamie, you’ve done a grand job so far, and it’s back to work mate. Your teams goal is now within sight.

__________________________________________________________

NZ conference standings | Hurricanes (Position 1st) 57 points | Chiefs (4th) 44 | Highlanders (5th=) 43 | Crusaders 9th) 31 | Blues (13th) 20

Future fixtures – Friday 29th May : Crusaders v Hurricanes, Christchurch | Saturday 30th May : Highlanders v Chiefs, Invercargill |

“Main Photo”