Thursday, March 05, 2009
Super 14 Pick of the Week - Round 3
Round 3's look at the weekends action takes us from wet conditions to dry, from Johannesburg to Christchurch and from the backs to the forwards. Australians amongst you need not worry if you find yourself thus far without a mention because its not only you who have noticed two Australian franchises in the top four (Waratahs at 2nd and Western Force at 4th) with the Bulls and Sharks.
No doubt the notoriously slow starting New Zealand teams will hit their stride and as many staunch Kiwis will point out, "If they handed out any trophies in March, the Waratahs would win everytime." It is, of course, early days and rather than telling the future we'll do what we do best.
Tom Carter's stepping igniting a try on half-time from Waratahs back rower Ben Mowen along with a Matt Giteau back door flick perhaps demonstrate why the table sits as it does. Block-busting Jared Payne of the Crusaders refused to let the likes of hat-trick scoring Cameron Shepard have all the fun as he stole the spot light with a devastating counter attack that set up Casey Laulala a phase later.
Conrad Smith and Zac Guilford combining to score in the corner for the Hurricanes early on was great to see. Pierre Spies popped up in the right place, as any back rower should, and if we are going to single out anyone, it has to be Digby Ioane for his sprint and then some against the Cheetahs.
Impressive set piece play from the Blues against the Stormers and the Force against the Brumbies also made the pick this week.
Time: 04:18
Music: Name of the Game by The Crystal Method
Posted at 7:21 am | 59 comments
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Viewing 59 comments
Phil March 05, 2009 9:39 am
Akona Ndungane bounced pretty high when he went to ground and offloaded...like the grass had a trampoline underneath lol.Great kick by Steyn.And...go the Waratahs! :P
Anonymous March 05, 2009 9:50 am
Nice trieswhat the name of the music on this footage please??
jamestheconvict March 05, 2009 9:58 am
steyn - what a kick - he kicked another one with a similar level of skill - that would be good on the site too RD JP Pietersen finished that one also sharks looking strong - again
Anonymous March 05, 2009 10:45 am
that tahs try was really good, even so they seem to focus on successful rather than beautiful rugbya lot in it, expect the crusaders to get their stuff right soon and hit the semis
TheRealSlimShady March 05, 2009 11:40 am
Some decent attacking plays...But my god alot of these teams have terrible defences, u see some of them trying to use the drift, and they like a fish out of water also so many missed tackles.
Abs7 March 05, 2009 12:41 pm
well done RD, yet another great video.... super 14 is looking good again this year! keep posting plenty of super 14 rugby dump cos some of us don't have sky and can't keep up with whats going on! Thank you again!
Anonymous March 05, 2009 12:46 pm
And there's the difference between northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere rugby.
Litet Parlan March 05, 2009 1:04 pm
hmmmm no doubting the fitness and skills involved - but not one properly contested breakdown, missed tackles all over the shop and players spread out across the pitch... looks like sub standard rugbyleague to me :)
opfazonk March 05, 2009 1:07 pm
i think pietersen's try is the pick of the week! what a gorgeous kick by steyn! he's getting better with every game and more importantly he is becoming more and more stable :)and laulala! what a season for him so far! it's too bad he got injured, hopefully he'll recover quickly and get a chance to make the AB's squad for this year's tri nation!
semperfimamba March 05, 2009 1:31 pm
@ - TheRealSlimShady said... I agree with you partner however i think the SHARKS are CRAZY good in defence, i mean they held out the CHIEFS for aprox 4 min till 80min mark then another 3 or 4 min more when the Ponzi ref gave the C's extra time to score.Have any of you noticed the hard hits being put in by the BEAST and GUTHRO...im talkin rib crackin stuff.
will66 March 05, 2009 2:21 pm
Another good 'un, cheers rd. As for Steyn, he's some player - our Saffer freinds on the site will be able to tell us: will he start against the Lions?
Alain March 05, 2009 2:31 pm
steyn porb wont start aginst the lions..jean de villiers will
Sharky March 05, 2009 2:35 pm
Steyn will probably be in the starting 22.. but come off the bench at center.. hopefully. Hes most composed and gets involved a lot there. Strong on defence too.
Anonymous March 05, 2009 3:04 pm
My god Shocking defending, nobody hitting/contesting the rucks and nobody in the stands??Nice off loading though.
Arnaud March 05, 2009 4:00 pm
What a kick...Really great one. I would not have done a better pass with his hands.And true that's really strange to me to see nobody who tries to contest the ball in the rucks...
Anonymous March 05, 2009 6:37 pm
It's amusing to read the "shocking defending" comments flying in from the NH. This would be the same hemisphere that notched up how many wins in the Autumn against their SH counterparts? This would be the same hemisphere that has how many nations in the IRB top 3. It's not great defending that keeps the scoring low in the NH. It's shit attacking play and a culture that no longer seems concerned when players kill the ball because they are to unfit/unwilling/unable to do the work required around the break down. (With the exception of, perhaps and to an extent, the French - and even less so the Welsh).
HansGook March 05, 2009 6:46 pm
@ anonymous above meThe shocking defence comments are about the S14 not international rugby.
Anonymous March 05, 2009 7:11 pm
The pass of Moa in the Stomers Trythe pass of this men is incredible
GoochCramp March 05, 2009 7:20 pm
I shall not want XD for Shepherd's try. Biblical rugby commentary, I like it !
Elliot March 05, 2009 7:38 pm
I'll agree to the comments about poor tackling in the tries shown in this clip, but there are some great attacking plays here...man, can those S14 players run!Also, that mid-air offload for the Bulls try was crazy!
i have aname March 05, 2009 7:49 pm
How offside was that flanker on the up and under that led to spies' try? At least 5 yards I say.
steve March 05, 2009 11:23 pm
the attack here is awesome but there have to be question marks over the deffence.whos the front likely to be for sa against the lions?maybe an area that the lions will a upperhand? sa have an embarassment of riches in the backrow.
steve March 05, 2009 11:23 pm
the attack here is awesome but there have to be question marks over the deffence.whos the front likely to be for sa against the lions?maybe an area that the lions will a upperhand? sa have an embarassment of riches in the backrow.
Anonymous March 05, 2009 11:25 pm
You NH lot. You think the Aus, SA and NZ players don't come from the S14? They learn the game there, and when they take it to international level they dominate.These are the same players that you lot can't score tries against. It's cuz the NH style of play doesn't produce good enough strike runners who can bust tackles.The game is also light years faster than what you lot serve up in the NH. That's why there are fewer in the rucks, the ball is cleared too fast. It's one of the reasons we beat you lot at international level.You lot play posession rugby, slow, painfully slow build ups. It takes you ten or twenty seconds to get set and get the ball to another lumbering forward so he can gain two metres and then set the ball again. That's the kind of rugby that won Australia the 1999 World Cup, but it doesn't really work well anymore.The way to get sides on the back foot, so you can start busting tackles and making plays like you see in the S14, is to play really fast, especially at the breakdown and either go for the try (attacking creative play) or kick for field position. Holding posession and patiently grinding your way up the field to win the odd penalty might work up north where almost every team plays that way but teams like that get blown away in the S14.The fact is, the S14 is a step up from European rugby, which is why you lot are constantly recruiting S14 players to star in your competitions.
caucau's no.1 fan March 05, 2009 11:36 pm
so much bollocks on this page!firstly the defenses in S14 look bad at times because the games played faster so theres not as much time to organise. then the whole thing about the northern hemisphere having no attacking play is also bollocks! cedric heymans, vincent clerc, shane williams, all playing in the NH as well as loads of PI's. watch gloucester or toulouse play in the summer n its pretty close to S14, so both sides need to take their heads out their asses n appreciate good rugby for a moment!back on topic, would love to see danwel demas in a one on one race with habana, reckon demas may be able to take him!
elliot March 06, 2009 2:20 am
Jesus, man, you can't make one comment about any league (NH or SH) without people flipping off the handle and going insane, as if you attacked them personally.I'm not NH or SH - I'm in the US, where our team loses well-nigh every international game we play against top teams.But I can say that the defense in this clip was lacking. That's all I was saying; don't read into it. It's just that most of the tackles here failed to wrap up and prevent the offload. As someone else stated, there was no real challenge to the ruck - yes, that's because the teams know that there's going to be a quick ball and they need to get out wide, but it also means there's a lack of turnovers at the break down.That's all. Chill out, you wieners.
jamestheconvict March 06, 2009 5:29 am
Elliot - you really have no idea read between the lines here - APPARENTLY S14 defence is bad - but thats where the international teams come from - which the NH teams find difficult to score tries against. and lose spring test series by SH 19 - NH 1So in summary - the defence is actually good - AND the attack is a step up hence the continuous domination of SH teams - forever - and the amount of games where the scores are divisible by 3 !! cheers
jamestheconvict March 06, 2009 5:31 am
but there are still good attacking teams in europe - with players like Heymans, Williams , clerc - just like Caucau says - also lots of great PI playersbut anyway - agree with all who get upset at me - time to end the debate.
Alain March 06, 2009 8:00 am
please dont say there no turn overs in super 14..with the likes of macaw smith and co..there are alot..peace
steve March 06, 2009 8:43 am
na james defence is actually bad and yes attack is gud. i dont see why every comment made shud turn into a NH SH arguement.each has its different strengths and weaknesses and i enjoy watchin both.
.JTS March 06, 2009 12:52 pm
Ah the old world rankings quip again! Aren't you all so clever! With back-to-back World Cup Finals under "proper" rules - let's see if the perennial bottlers of international rugby can actually make a final now they have the SHELV's (Southern Hemisphere's Experimental Law Variation's for those slow on the uptake) in place. Rugby is now a "one-style-only" game with little-to-no diversity. With thoughts of expanding the game and making it more accessible across the globe you would think those in charge would make the game all encompassing, not merely beneficial to three nations. So yes, SH Rugby will dominate in the coming years because they already play that style of Rugby. Every other nation on the planet must now revamp their coaching methods, training methods and professional game to accommodate this fact while the tri-nations sides reap the benefits. Rugby was such a good spectacle, particularly on the international stage, pre-ELVs because of the clash of styles. Now we are presented with a mish-mash of 7s and Rugby League style play which is so boring to watch. It's like a watered down version of the real thing.What many of you Kiwi's still fail to grasp is that you do not win World Cups based on your IRB Ranking. You will bottle it once more as you have done repeatedly for years with SA or Australia making the final. No amount of favourable law changes will amend that intrinsic character flaw of bottling it on the biggest stage of all.
will66 March 06, 2009 4:16 pm
Man alive, these comments are so repetitive it makes me sick. This is the last one from me, I don't think I'll bother looking at the comments section again. These pointless NH vs SH debates have ruined what was an interesting feature of the site.
Cape Crusader March 06, 2009 7:21 pm
Some great tries and bits of skill such a great competition to watch. I have to say though, if you defended like that in the Top 14 or the Premiership you would get ripped to shreds. SH rugby looks lovely, but it has just as many defiecencies as we do up North.
good1 March 06, 2009 9:19 pm
The only reason the defense MIGHT LOOK better in the top 14 and the premiership is because there isn't any attack like that what you see in the SUPER 14! With attack & pace like that the top 14 & premiership would be ripped to SHREDS!!
Anonymous March 07, 2009 2:42 am
JTS is ignoring the fact that historically the SH has always been better than the north.England's world cup victory is the exception to the rule.Obviously the European teams have really closed the gap in recent years.The fact is though, the SH teams are dominating now because they play better rugby, no more and no less.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 2:43 am
The Premiership teams would leak tries in the S14, they aren't asked to defend against teams like the Bulls or the Crusaders.They would not be up to the speed of play, they'd get battered.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 7:17 am
I see what jamestheconvict means now.Highlanders v Crusaders 0-0 after 38 minutes with a multitude of errors in the whole of the first half.Welcome to "Super" rugby!Oop, another knock on. Zzzz.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 7:48 am
55th minute, another knock on by Thomson, crossfield kick by the Crusaders out on the full.Still 0-0, does the game goto extra time and penalties?
Anonymous March 07, 2009 7:59 am
63rd minute, penalty to the Crusaders directly in front of the posts.. hooked wide. This is hilarious. It's a good job it's so early in the morning otherwise I'd feel like I'd wasted my time.Still 0-0 with an error count in the 50s, in the land of rugby religion where the sport is the first choice game of the country.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 8:18 am
Yeah, must really hurt that these same players then make bitches out of every national team in Europe. Sucks to be you.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 8:27 am
Full Time 0-6. In the words of Michael Lynagh, who's also in the northern hemisphere making some proper money (in a nation where rugby isn't even the second most popular sport let alone first). The game was "dire".Welcome to "Super" rugby.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 8:33 am
"Anonymous said...Yeah, must really hurt that these same players then make bitches out of every national team in Europe. Sucks to be you."Not really, because rugby isn't a first or second choice sport anywhere in Europe and still the southern hemisphere players come here. It would be the equivalent of Ronaldo moving to New Zealand football in his prime, which we know would never happen.
jamestheconvict March 07, 2009 10:32 am
yeah unfortunently the super 14 standard this year has dropped abit,i predicted that the lions will beat sa 2-1.
Anonymous March 07, 2009 12:19 pm
`In a game that too often lacked structure, with consistent errors in handling plaguing both teams, the main talking point of a scoreless first half came when All Blacks captain Richie McCaw limped from the field after 30 minutes.Things improved only marginally in the second spell, as both teams were consistently guilty of errors and poor option-taking.`
Anonymous March 09, 2009 10:59 am
if the defence was as bad as everyone says then how could crusaders v highlanders be the lowest scoring game ever? and about the NH having to catch up with the ELVs, thats crap cos refs in the NH are still giving mostly straight arm penalties- thats not catching up. i welcome the rules cos the game is faster like sevens or league but still has unique aspects like more massive players and huge hits.SUPER rugby is exactly that. and dont use the excuse that rugby isnt your first choice sport cos its the same in oz and SA. players from NZ and everywhere in the SH come over here for a change of scenery and the huge amount of cash offered, which u guys fail to spend on improving academies and popularity of the sport at lower levels. whether its the climate, passion for the game, better training, speed no one can deny that the SH has the edge, but saying that the premier league has improved a lot in the last couple of years and looks to improve in the future. thats my 2 cents long live rugby i love it
Brent March 09, 2009 11:10 am
I reckon jacobs and de villiers will start for SA v lions, with Steyn and jaque fourie on the bench (all on form!) habana (lost some pace but improved on defence) and pieterson wings, fullback- janjes (if not injured) flyhalf- james/pienaar scrum half- du preez, 8- spies/kankovski, 7-smith, 6-burger, 5- a.bekker/botha, 4- matfield, front row beast,steenkamp,smit, mujati, B du plessis..... now thats a team with some weaknesses in the front row but otherwise solid. i reckon SA will clinch it 2-1. bokke
Anonymous March 10, 2009 12:55 am
"if the defence was as bad as everyone says then how could crusaders v highlanders be the lowest scoring game ever?"lol retard, read the NZ press, they described it as one of the worst Super 14 games ever. Full of handling errors and bad decision making. Michael Lynagh was lost for words at half time.Ger a grip it was terrible.
Anonymous March 10, 2009 6:26 am
Bad game yes, they happen.NZ's sides, except the Hurricanes sort of, are not doing well this season so far.Not sure why but it's the Saffas and to a lesser extent the Aussies preforming so far.But they'll pick up it's only early.And clearly overall the rugby's better in the south, it's obvious, you'd be retarded not to see it.
Anonymous March 10, 2009 12:59 pm
Yeah it's so great that attendances in Oz and NZ are down again from last season whilst Heineken and Guinnes Premiership attendances have both improved.
Anonymous March 11, 2009 2:23 am
Yeah, becuase crowds equal quality of rugby right?So all you lot in the north have to do is get more people to come to the games, and your rugby will magically improve to the point you can compete with the SH. Brilliant.
Litet Parlan March 12, 2009 4:54 pm
As one of the first to make a comment on the tackling/defebce/ruck etc... You don't see international teams playing that way - NH or SH. The international game is always played differently no matter the rules - different teams, different criteria etc...If the rugby is so inferior in the NH how come it is played in front of huge crowds? how come it is more popular than ever? I think that the Munster v All Blacks showed how teh club gam ein Europe may very well be of a standard with the Super 14... why are the international teams so crap if that is the case? who knows... but club rugby in teh NH is just as strong as the SH... if not stronger
Anonymous March 13, 2009 2:36 pm
Statistics don't lie. In the last six years the NH has won about 20% of games against SH sides. The reason crowds are larger in Europe is simple. Larger populations, more money.Doesn't mean shit, the rugby in the south is better it's why we win more.
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