Super Sundays

This is going to be another one of those scheduled blogging things. I think I can do it. It's worked for the last two months - this whole "I've got a plan to blog regularily". Apparently plans work.

I think I just need to plan to not turn 30 or maybe plan on something more reasonable...like lose 30.

But last night I decided that I would start blogging once a week about the rugby that I follow. This weekend marks the beginning of the SuperXV league in the Southern Hemisphere. Five teams from South Africa, five from Australia, and five from New Zealand all lock horns in a four month tournament. Some of the best players in the world play in this league. And by best - I mean not only do we have all of the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks split up on the teams (they're on contract and can sign with whoever they want...most stay with the team where they grew up playing) but you've got some European folk who know that they can get some great rugby in during this season.

Now I realize that I'm going to be alienating most people who visit here on a regular basis (all you non-commenting folk) and those who comment will not have much to say. But I have to have a voice about it somewhere and this seems like the right place. Maybe I'll educate some so much that when you come to watch some games or when I have Rugby World Cup (RWC) parties in September, October, and November (see countdown to the lower left) you'll actually recognize player's names and positions.

So let's get on with it. There were five games that, in my opinion were worth mentioning. Mostly because they were televised...I probably won't make a huge effort to talk about the Waratahs until there's reason too but it was the Melbourne Rebels maiden voyage in the SupeRugby league and we must talk about Danny Cipriani, if anything to just talk about his Hollywood antics.

Wellington Hurricanes (9) vs. Otago Highlanders (14)
Hurricane player likes: Hosea Gear (11), Cory Jane (14), Ma'a Nonu (12), Conrad Smith (13), Victor Vito (7/8), Neemia Tialata (3), Piri Weepu (9),
Hurricane player dislike: Andrew Hore (2)
Hurricane player-jury-is-still-out: Rodney So'oialo (8)

Highlander player likes: Tom Donnally (5), Jaime MacIntosh (8)
Highlander player-jury-is-still-out: Jimmy Cowan (9)

Seriously this just breaks my heart. The Highlanders should really not be anywhere close to the Hurricanes if you just look at the stats on paper. Sure, they have Jimmy Cowan (NZAB) and Tom Donnally (NZAB) but they've always been scraping the bottom of the league and the Hurricanes are always vying for top four. This shouldn't have been the contest that it was. But one of the things that has been consistent in all of the games this weekend is how the officials are cracking down on offside. Ma'a Nonu took a team yellow card (Sin Bin) in the first half which didn't show up on the scoreboard too much but then...he had to charge Cowan on that kick...stupid stupid move. That translated into a red card and Nonu being ejected out of the game leaving the Hurricanes with 14 for the rest of the game. I do have to say that I hated the coy smile that Cowan gave after the card got pulled. Poor form Cowan, poor form.

Nonu is not helping himself with this red card. He'll go up against a judicial hearing this week to see if there's further action that needs to be taken. Hopefully they'll decide that the red card was enough but with Sonny Bill Williams breathing down Nonu's neck for that #12 spot on the All Blacks, Nonu can't afford to mess up. Conrad Smith is in top form right now...the man is just unstoppable. I'm also a huge fan of Hosea Gear and Cory Jane - they're the two wingers that I will be rooting for come September.

Besides, he's hot and aside from Tana Umaga...he's got the best dreads ever. That's gotta count for something, right?

New South Wales Waratah (43) vs. Melbourne Rebels (0)
Waratah player likes: Berrick Barnes (10/15), Lachie Turner (back three)
Waratah player dislikes: Phil Waugh (7),
Waratah player-jury-still-out: Kurtley Beale (back three)

Rebels player likes: Danny Cipriani (10), Stirling Mortlock (12), Adam Brynes (5)
There aren't any dislikes at this point as there are a lot of new players or internationals that I'm just getting to know...Like Danny Cipriani who is dating Kelly Brook...playboy model. Cipriani has been advised to keep a low profile off the field...I wonder why.

The Rebels had a great start, pounding the fringes of the rucks and keeping it tight. But for anybody that has been a forward...that can't last for 80 minutes. The 'Tahs, led by ugly Phil Waugh started scoring tries late in the first half and plowed through the Rebels all through the second.

Cipriani didn't start the match but was soon brought on and made a pretty good showing for his first time down under. He comes to the Rebels from the London Wasps and has a couple of caps with England. I wonder if the pretty boy from England can partner with the experience of Stirling Mortlock to lead the Rebels through a successful first season.

Blue Bulls (24) vs. Lions (20)
Consider that this is a South African team...I will still list players as 'like' but when September hits...there's no liking here...except maybe Spiess and Matfield)
Bulls player likes: Danie Roussouw (4/5), Victor Matfield (5), Pierre Spiess (8), Morne Steyn (10), Wynand Olivier (12), Zane Kirchner (15)
Bulls player dislikes: Gunthro Steenkamp (3), Bakies Botha (4)**REALLY DISLIKE, Fourie du Preez (9)
**But just a note- there's a guy with the name 'Chiliboy' and also 'Fudge'...real names.

Golden Lions player likes: Cockett (9), John Strauss (5) - seriously...look at this man's beard.

Okay, so this should have been a walk in the park for the Bulls. They won the league in 2010 and the Lions got last place (14th). They should have cleaned the park...more than even how the Waratahs did the Rebels in. They pushed hard, right out of the gates but they couldn't quite get it over the line but they were end to end with the Bulls and playing some pretty half decent defense. Bulls got up about three tries and I figured that would be it.

Then the Lions scored twice and a couple of penality kicks and it was 21-20. The Lions could actually win. Unfortunately a penalty at 80 minutes sealed their fate...and let's face it Morne Steyn doesn't miss many clutch kicks. Maybe the Lions have it in them to get out of the bottom and hope for something better. If they can do this against a starting line up that has 7 out of 8 Springboks on it and a backline that has 5 out of 7 certainly shows potential.

Auckland Blues (24) vs. Canterbury Crusaders (22)
Canterbury player likes: Dan Carter (10), Richie McCaw (7), Sean Maitland (15), Keiran Reid (8), Isreal Dagg (11/14), Andy Ellis (9), Owen Franks (3), Brad Thorn (4/5), Sam Whitelock (4/5), Sonny Bill Williams (12)
Canterbury player dislikes: Andy Ellis (9) - I didn't make a mistake here, Corey Flynn (2) aka: Meathead

Blues player likes: Jerome Kaino (6), Joe Rokocoko (11), Rene Ranger (14), Keven Mealamu (2), Tony Woodcock (1), Isaia Toeava (15), Ali Williams (13)
Blues player dislikes: Stephen Brett (10)
Blues player-jury-still-out: John Afoa (3), and there's a possibility that Ranger and Brett could move into this category

Before this game was played I would still say to keep your eye on the Crusaders to win the SupeRugby league this year...and I'll hold to that. They've got too much pure talent to fail. And I don't want to say that Richie McCaw makes all the difference but seriously, the man has leadership and talent. That can't be denied. And then they were missing Sonny Bill Williams who recovering from one of his boxing matches that the NZRU allowed him to participate in. I'm going to say that this was a hiccup or a mishap. I mean, something was going on with the heavy hitting teams this week...the Bulls almost losing to the Lions, Hurricanes sucking it to the Highlanders, and the Chiefs coughing up everything including their pride...doesn't really surprise me that the Crusaders had performance glitches either.

It was pretty clear from the outset that the officials were going to be pretty tight with the offside calls. Could it just be that the refs in the NZ games had a stick up their butts? But then there was the whole set piece...I get that the Blues have Mealamu and Woodcock. They start for the All Blacks for good reason. But it's not like the Crusaders have nobodies in the front row. O.Franks plays for the All Blacks and even though I had to admit it but Corey Flynn (Meathead) is considered an All Black too because he's been on the field with them...though, he is NOT deserving of the title. WHAT THE HECK? Scrum! Props have maybe 3 jobs on the field and set piece take up two of the jobs. It's not complicated. And yes, locks play a part there too but the Whitelocks should be able to inject some brotherly love and haul - practice at home or something. And Meathead - seriously...nobody except you can get that ball straight in the line out...IT'S YOUR JOB! You will never see an All Black jersey again if you can't do the simple things right.

I do think that in all of his beefy wingerness, Joe Rokocoko might be done. Maybe not done done in the SuperXV's but I can't see him getting played over the likes of Hosea Gear (Hurricanes). And Rene Ranger did some pretty spectacular things too. Sorry Joe, maybe it's time to move over and let some younger guns take the wing.

Back to the game. Talk about momentum though. I thought the Crusaders were controlling reasonably well but the Blues got on a roll and steam-rolled over the the Cru. Lowry? Who's is this guy? But he had a super special game. I may have to start paying attention. Keven Mealamu played is 118th Super rugby game and successfully field almost every kick. Moral of the story - stop kicking it to him. He doesn't mess up. I'm beyond concerned about where the All Blacks will be if Mealamu ever decides to retire. I think he should play until a suitable replacement has been found. At this point - the options in New Zealand aren't very good. Well - as much as I love the Crusaders...I got to give it to the Blues...it's their first victory over the Cru in 4 years, good way to start the season, I think.

ACT Brumbies (28) vs. Waikato Chiefs
Brumbies player likes: Ben Alexander (1)**Favourite prop, Matt Giteau (10), Mark Chisholm (5), Adam Ashley-Cooper (13), Edmonds (2), Steve Moore (2)
Brumbies player-jury-still-out: Toomua, Faingaa, Ma'afu

Chiefs player likes: Mils Muliaina (15), Tana Umaga (13), Liam Messam (7), Sitiventi Sivivatu (14), Lelia Masaga,
Chiefs player dislikes: STEPHEN DONALD (10)**biggest dislike EVER...right next to Bakies Botha, Aled de Malmache (2)
Chiefs player-jury-still-out: B. Leonard (9), T. Latimer, Isaac Ross (4/5), Scott Waldrom (6)

So I pretty much have the HARDEST time liking the Chiefs because of Stephen Donald...who BUTCHERED his chances with the All Blacks in 2009/2010 when Dan Carter was still recovering from his achilles surgery. He made terrible decisions and possibly even cost the All Blacks some games in the Tri-Nations and their fall/spring tour. He's poo.

I do have a very soft spot for the Brumbies...mostly because my first Pronghorn jersey was the Brumbies' design. So they were the first Super team that I paid attention to. And Ben Alexander...is a prop to look up to. He doesn't pass like a prop - he passes like a flanker, he runs like a flanker...and he scores! He was the overall score-holder for the Brumbies in 2010. I want to be like him when I grow up. I don't like Matt Giteau at 10. He belongs at 12...which is what he's going to get playing for Toulon in 2012 with Jonny Wilkinson. I'll be sad to see him go.

And enter TANA UMAGA. The first international rugby player I could ever identify. This guy was known around the world as one of the best centres and line breakers. He played for and captained the All Blacks for 7 years. He was actually New Zealand Time's Man of the Year and has coached internationally before returning this year to play for the Chiefs at 37 years old. I have to wonder how his body will hold up but he's still in phenomenal shape and I can just imagine that he's worth more than just 60 minutes.

The Chiefs...straight up should have won this game. And all of the opportunities were there. How many times were they thundering down the park within 5 or 10 yards of the line and they would knock it on or do something incredibly stupid like turn the ball over. And it wasn't just Donald Duck making the stupid mistakes...Muliaina knocked one on too and well, two locks on a 20 yard break can't be blamed for much...they're just being locks. The Chiefs are a very experienced side (winners in 2009).

I would say that the Brumbies got away with one this weekend. I doubt that they would be this lucky again. But I guess we'll see.

Other games this weekend:
Reds over Western Force (21-20)
Sharks over Cheetahs (21-9)

That's it for Super Sunday.
peace out,
.:bear:.