Almanac Rugby: Super Rugby Pacific Quarter Finals

Crusaders 37 v Reds 15

Chiefs 39 v Waratahs 15

Blues 35 v Highlanders 6

Brumbies 35 v Hurricanes 25

 

 

Home ground advantage proved too great an obstacle to overcome for the teams placed fifth to eigth after the home and away of Super Rugby Pacific. The Australian teams who had to travel across the ditch never looked likely in their two games, while the one team who got to host showed a lot of courage and fortitude. Rightly, the BRUMBIES are the flag-bearers once again for Aussie rugby.

 

The CRUSADERS picked up where they left off the week before against the REDS. They are in ominous form heading into the semi-finals. That trademark finals grit holds them in good stead.

 

The WARATAHS never really challenged the CHIEFS, but the Waikato lads still don’t seem to have that killer instinct to get them a title this year.

 

The HIGHLANDERS were determined to slow the pace of the game and control the ball as best they could in the early phases of their game against the BLUES. They managed to get two penalties on the board before the Aucklanders kicked into gear and promptly ran away with the game.

 

The best contest was most definitely the last quarter-final in Canberra. The HURRICANES played expansive rugby and looked dangerous when not hobbled by handling errors. The hosts looked frazzled in the first half but dictated terms in the second half to earn them the win that takes them into the semis next week.

 

The matchups next week are:

 

Blues v Brumbies

Crusaders v Chiefs

 

For the sake of the game in this country, I hope the Brumbies put up a real show. There were enough signs in their QF win to suggest they may very well be up for it. I’ll be playing the Stones’ “Wild Horses” all week in solidarity.

 

 

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

 

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