Super Rugby Pacific Round 10 (Super Round)

Chiefs 51 v Waratahs 27

Blues 35 v Fijian Drua 18

Hurricanes 30 v Reds 17

Brumbies 28 v Highlanders 17

Crusaders 42 v Rebels 17

 

For the first time in this competition, we had the NZ teams go up against our teams in the so-called Super Round. The brainchild of a management/ marketing company, the idea of having all twelve teams in the one location for a weekend of rugby had a lot of appeal. The success of the venture has divided opinions but due to a deal done with the Victorian government, we’ll do it all again in Melbourne next year.

 

The curse hanging over MOANA PASIFIKA struck again and their game with the FORCE had to be postponed. Therefore, on Friday it was just the one hit-out between the CHIEFS and the WARATAHS. As the “home team”, like all NZ teams for this round, the Waikato men looked at ease throughout the game. Dominance was asserted via early tries and they coasted from there.

 

On Saturday, the early game went as planned with the BLUES putting away the DRUA in a canter. Expectations were much higher for the headliner.

 

The REDS put seventeen points on the board before the HURRICANES could respond. They did so just before halftime and then promptly ran away with it in the second half. To see the Queenslanders so comprehensively outclassed when the game was on the line was disheartening, to say the least.

 

Sunday brought some joy for local fans. The BRUMBIES showed a lot of class in beating the HIGHLANDERS. It was a complete team performance and, despite a lot of handling errors, showed the Canberrans still have the most flair of any of the Australian teams.

 

Melbourne’s own rounded out the carnival of footy by duly exhibiting their obvious inferiority to the CRUSADERS. The REBELS may have been the nominal hosts for all the other teams but didn’t take the opportunity to exert any sort of intimidation.

 

There were five games of trans Tasman rugby and, not unexpectedly, only the Brumbies flew the flag for the green and gold.

 

Next week the NZ teams stay here and scatter to the four corners of this great brown land. The Drua get their first home game in Fiji too. I’ll be in Sydney for the ‘Tahs hosting the Crusaders on Saturday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval. It will be nice to experience top-flight sport at a suburban ground.

 

It could get ugly with our cousins from across the ditch giving us regular touch-ups but it is great to see them here. Let’s see how long my jocularity lasts.

 

 

 

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