Super Rugby Round 3 Review

The Super Rugby table seems to be separating into three strong teams (Hurricanes, Stormers, Chiefs – maybe harsh on the Brumbies) and then everyone else. The three unbeaten sides look comfortably better than most on show and are destined to spend a fair bit of time near the top of the table this year.

Read below for our review of Round 3.

Highlanders (20) v Reds (13)

Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr stadium (or “the Zoo” as its affectionately known) hosted a bumper crowd for Friday night’s Super Rugby Round 3 opener, and the stadium demographic (drunk students) were treated to an even encounter between the Reds and the Highlanders. The Reds are still finding their feet this year; they’ve had injury concerns, off field distractions and look a little unfit if we’re honest, and again struggled to build on a good start, this time against the Otago men. The visitors dominated the opening thirty minutes with Reds recruit James O’Connor and veteran Will Genia combining nicely, however, they fell behind when another new recruit, the Highlander’s Waisake Naholo crossed the line to effectively seal the points.

The Highlanders need to find the right balance between their world class backline and workmanlike forward pack. The forwards just dragging the chain. Still they’re on the board in 2015.

Highlanders: Tries – W.Naholo, Pen – M.Banks 4, H.Parker

Reds: Tries – J.Schatz, Pen – J.O.Connor 2, Con – J.O.Connor

Force (13) v Hurricanes (42)

The Hurricanes continued the unbeaten start to the Super Rugby season with a comfortable win over the Force in Perth. Basing their game on strong defence, the Wellington side are now three from three without having played a match at home. Chris Boyd is having no trouble getting the best out of his All Blacks – Cory Jane, Victor Vito and Beauden Barrett all going up a gear from last year. The Hurricanes are out on their own at the top of the Super Rugby table, and we’re already looking forward to their New Zealand conference showdown with the Chiefs.

The Force’s opening win is now a distant memory as they disappointed in their first effort in front of home fans. Not many positives in this one unfortunately.

Force : Tries – M.Scott, Pen – Z.Holmes, S.Ebersohn, Con – L.Burton

Hurricanes: Tries – C.Jane, M.Abbott,V.Vito, J.Savea, J.Marshall, Pen – B.Barrett 3, Con – B.Barrett 2, J.Marshall 2

Cheetahs (25) v Blues (24)

The Cheetahs are unexpectedly still unbeaten after disposing of the Blues in Bloemfontein. Mind you, they shouldn’t be. The Blues lost this one rather than the Cheetahs winning it. The Blues should have sealed the match comfortably but some questionable decision making led to the one point loss that heaps even more pressure on John Kirwan. As likeable as he is, JK just hasn’t been able to come up with a winning game plan at the Blues and his position is becoming increasingly untenable.

The Cheetahs look okay. They’ll play better than this and still lose though when they meet sterner competition.

Cheetahs: Tries – C.Hendricks 2, S.Pretorius, Pen – J.Pietersen 2, Con – J.Pietersen 2

Blues: Tries – L.Braid, C. Faumuina, J.Kaino, Pen – I.West, Con – I.West 3

Chiefs (40) v Crusaders (16)

The Chiefs signalled their title aspirations with a demolition of the consistently decent Crusaders outfit at home on Saturday night. The bonus point win, built around another fine performance from the most impressive 9, 10, 12 in the competition, is certain to worry the other sides due to make the trip to Waikato. The Highlanders make the trip next, but are unlikely to fare any better.

The Crusaders are still struggling to shake the early season rust, and while they’ll have easier matches to make up the points, they are looking fractured and unenthused. Tom Taylor struggled at fullback, Colin Slade didn’t run enough and Todd Blackadder needs to give his whole troop some advice on decision-making.

Chiefs: Tries – SB Williams, A.Pulu, C.Ngatai, T.Marshall, J.Lowe, Pen – A.Cruden 3, Con – A.Cruden 3

Crusaders: Tries – A.Ellis, Pen – C.Slade 3, Con – C.Slade

Rebels (15) v Brumbies (20)

The driving rain put paid to any chance of this one being an entertaining classic. It also curtailed the Rebels chance of winning the game, as the Brumbies’ Wallabies-packed forward unit exercised complete control to stifle their opponents. Led by the retuning Stephen Moore, the Brumbies choked the life out of the game with a possession based tip of the hat to percentage footy.

Nothing really to write home about in the entire eighty minutes, but enough to put the Brumbies in control of the Australian conference.

Rebels: Pen – M.Harris 5

Brumbies: Tries – T.Kuridrani, J.Butler, Pen – C.Lealiffano 2, Con – C.Lealiffano 2

Bulls (43) v Sharks (35)

The match of the round saw six tries and plenty of points as the Bulls finally recorded a win at home. Facing the South African conference favourites, the Sharks, the Bulls scored four tries to two and survived the boot of Patrick Lambie to get their 2015 Super Rugby campaign back on course.

The battle featuring Adriaan Strauss and Pierre Spies against Ryan Kankowski was epic, with Kankowski celebrating his return from Japan with a try, as did Spies.

Neither the Sharks or Bulls are looking like contenders at this early stage of the competition. Both have plenty to work on – and we suggest it begins with defence. The Sharks have conceded the most points in Super Rugby, and the Bulls the second most.

Bulls: Tries – F.Hougaard, D.Stegmann, P.Spies, J.Serfontein , Pen – H.Pollard 3, T. Schoeman, Con – H.Pollard 3, T.Schoeman

Sharks: Tries – R.Kankowski, C.Reinach, Pen – P.Lambie 7, Con – P.Lambie 2

Lions (19) v Stormers (22)

The Stormers have started the best out of any of the South African teams and just as everyone was singing their praises they almost suffered a shock loss to the Lions. It could have been a tie too, with the Lions turning down a shot at goal to tie things up after being awarded a penalty late on; instead seeking an unlikely win.

The enterprise wasn’t rewarded, much to the dismay of the home stand, but they put up a brave fight that was worth more than their place at the bottom of the Super Rugby table. They are a lot more competitive than in seasons gone by and will not be easy beats at home.

The Stormers have their work cut out for them next week when they meet the high flying Stormers in Cape Town. They must improve.

Lions: Tries – W. Tecklenburg, Pen – E.Jantjies 4, Con – E.Jantjies

Stormers: Tries – S.Kolisi, Pen – D.Catrakilis 5, Con – K.Coleman