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**dudeabides** · 03-12-2010, 04:34 AM

Chiefs v Crusaders:

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The Crusaders bounced back from their upset loss to the Reds last week with a hard-fought 26-19 victory over the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium.

The Game of the Week featured arguably the best half of the Super 14 season so far as the two New Zealand sides turned on the running rugby in the opening period, before the Crusaders fell back on the exemplary kicking of All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter to lock up the victory in the second 40 minutes.

Both sides seemed to leave the kicking - and the tackling - in the dressing rooms as the Crusaders built a half-time lead through two tries to Kahn Fotuali'i, while Richard Kahui touched down for the hosts' only score shortly before half time.

Carter moved second in the all-time Super Rugby point-scorers list after a string of expert kicks in windy conditions. He finished the match with 996 points, just nine behind Stirling Mortlock.

The Chiefs were without captain Sione Lauaki, who was left out after being charged with assault during the week, the Crusaders could call on All Blacks lock Isaac Ross after injury and Fotuali'i was in at No.9 for the injured Andrew Ellis.

Cool conditions assisted the remarkably high intensity and three penalties had been kicked before some in the crowd had taken their seats as Carter pegged back one of Stephen Donald's pair of early strikes just six minutes in.

Fotuali'i grabbed the first try after the Chiefs' clearing kick landed inside their own half while they were down to 14 men with Liam Messam off, and not yet replaced, with a hip knock. The Crusaders took swift advantage with a sweeping passing move that put the scrumhalf through after he backed up well.

There was almost an instant replay for Fotuali'i as the thrilling tempo continued and his opposite number Brendon Leonard made progress for the Chiefs in yet another counterattack, but neither break came to anything.

Donald and Carter then traded a penalty each as the teams earned further shots at goal by galloping over the advantage line. Under the new rule interpretations, running rugby can lead to more three-pointers than tries as defences are penalised for slowing down the breakdown, and that's how this match panned out.

Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw was lucky not to receive a yellow card for lifting in a tackle, and he showed his relief with a smile and a thumbs up to the referee after he got away with a warning.

Events in the 30th minute summed up the half as the ball travelled to all corners of the field before ending up over the Chiefs' line in Fotuali'i's arms for his second. First Lelia Masaga made a try-saving claim of Carter's long kick ahead of the onrushing Zac Guildford, and two counterattacking kicks later Masaga was caught isolated by the Crusaders defence.

The ball spilt out into the hands of Fotuali'i and he took the clever option of going down the blindside, where a quick exchange of passes sent him free to take it out to 20-9 courtesy of Carter's conversion.

The allergy to effective tackling through the middle continued soon after as Colin Bourke made a bust for the Chiefs, and the ball was quickly cycled out to Donald who offloaded expertly to put Richard Kahui in and bring the margin back to four points.

There was just enough time left in the frenetic first half for Carter to give his side a seven-point advantage with another penalty.

The No.10 clinically managed the field position in a more timid second half, and although his early penalty was again matched by Donald to take the margin back to a sole converted try with nine minutes to go, the Chiefs were too often pinned on their own line and too wasteful when urged upfield by their parochial home supporters.

The Crusaders' pack was impressive in the second half, dominating in the tackle and driving forward relentlessly, but with patience, with possession. They almost pushed over for a game-sealing try with five minutes remaining but the video review could find no sight of the ball, let alone a score, through a mass of forwards on the Chiefs line.

Carter then tried the drop-goal route to certain victory but it sailed inches wide, and Donald's incredible 22-metre drop out found touch just four metres from the visitors' try line, giving them valuable field position in the hunt for a score-equalling converted try.

The Chiefs failed to capitalise though, and the Crusaders took their fourth victory of the season to go to the Super 14 summit at the start of round 5, leaving the home side with a consolation bonus point.

Crusaders claim Chiefs scalp | Rugby Union | Super 14 2010 | Rugby Match Pack | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-12-2010, 02:10 PM

Waratahs v Lions:

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The Waratahs broke all sorts of records and answered all sorts of critics on route to smashing the Lions 73-12 at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday.

The Waratahs had come under pressure from fans and media for their kick-heavy win over the Sharks last week, but they responded by scoring their most points ever, scoring their most tries ever and sending wing Drew Mitchell over the line a record-equalling four times.

The woeful Lions lacked discipline with and without the ball, coughing up possession at almost every opportunity and missing simple tackles to make life easy for the hosts. The Lions brought their all-out-attack brand of rugby to Sydney and played just as exciting a style as the Waratahs, but the scoreboard revealed those aren't the tactics required on an intercontinental away trip to a team desperate to impress.

Many of the Waratahs' tries came directly from turnovers by the impatient Lions, and many subsequently came from long range, thrilling the fans. Lachie Turner's effort after the final hooter epitomised the night as he raced the full length to score after the Lions lost the ball in their desperate attempt to score a further consolation.

Mitchell's explosive finishing style, which is built on fending, busting tackles and a raw determination to wrestle to the line, was on full display as he bagged a double in each half, including the opener on six minutes. Tonderai Chavhanga responded for the visitors before scores to Dean Mumm, Tom Carter and Turner made safe the result and the bonus point before half time.

Wycliff Palu crossed in the corner after collecting Berrick Barnes' cross-kick to get the second half scoring started, before Mitchell completed his fantastic four. Janse van Rensburg grabbed a consolation for the visitors before Josh Holmes got a quickfire long-range double - the second of which should have been disallowed after Turner clearly stepped on the sideline in the build up. It was no matter though, and Turner's 100-metre finale made sure the crowd was sent home happy this time.

Waratahs thrash hapless Lions | Rugby Union | Super 14 2010 | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-13-2010, 11:16 AM

Brumbies v Sharks:

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The Brumbies continued their impressive start to the Super 14 season by edging out the Sharks 24-22 in an absorbing encounter in Canberra on Saturday.

England's Andy Goode enjoyed a perfect evening with the boot, landing five penalties as well as converting his half-back partner Ruan Pienaar's try just before the interval. However, Goode's flawless goal-kicking was not enough to prevent the Brumbies racking up their fourth win of the campaign, with Matt Giteau's 70th-minute penalty ultimately deciding the game in their favour after an earlier brace of tries from Ben Alexander either side of half time had put the hosts in control.

It was another difficult defeat to take for the Sharks, who were beaten 25-21 by the Waratahs last weekend. They had started well, too, with Goode kicking them into an early 6-0 lead. However, Giteau replied with two penalties of his own to level matters and the Brumbies moved ahead for the first time in the match just after the half hour when Alexander crashed over from close range after a spell of incessant forward pressure.

However, in a see-saw game, it was the Sharks who would go in ahead at the break. Just five minutes after Alexander's touchdown, Pienaar cruised over unchallenged after pouncing on a loose ball some ten metres from the Brumbies line. Goode converted and then nailed a penalty right on the siren to give the Sharks a 16-13 half-time lead.

The Brumbies wrested the initiative back from their visitors, though, shortly after the restart, with Alexander wriggling his way over the whitewash after he and his front row colleagues had decimated their Sharks counterparts in a five-metre scrum. However, Giteau failed to add the extras and that enabled Goode to put the Sharks in front with a penalty on 52 minutes.

Giteau responded in kind just before the hour but Goode posted an almost immediate riposte after Alexander had been pinged for a shoulder charge. It was advantage Sharks as the game moved into its third quarter. However, with just over ten minutes remaining Ryan Kankowski was rather harshly penalised for stepping out of the line too early to try to intercept a crossfield pass and Giteau landed the resulting strike on goal to ultimately win it for the Brumbies.

Waratahs thrash hapless Lions | Rugby Union | Super 14 2010 | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-13-2010, 01:17 PM

Bulls v Highlanders:

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The Bulls won their 10th straight Super14 match at Lofus when they beat the Highlanders by 50 points to 35 in Round five.

The Bulls last Super 14 loss was against the Brumbies in April 2009 and their last loss at Loftus Versfeld was in April 2008 .
The Highlanders managed to save some face as they scored five tries - three by Israel Dagg which earned them a bonus point.

For the Bulls - who scored seven tries - Pierre Spies and Francois Houggard both scored two tries a piece.

The Bulls might have beaten the Highlanders and set up their fourth "fifty" in five matches but again there will be a few questions about the defending champions' ability to retain their concentration for 80 minutes.

Too easily they conceded five tries when they were exposed out wide and from turnover ball - and despite, leading at half-time (33-21) for the first time in the present campaign, they were pinned in their own territory too often to feel comfortable about tough opposition waiting on them.

With last year's final against the Hurricanes included, only the 48 points against the Waratahs two weeks ago did not exceed the 50-mark.

The Bulls were outstanding for just a little more than the first quarter and good thereafter - but their defence again leaked five tries as they struggled to bury a willing but very average Highlanders team.

The Bulls for a change started off in top gear, and Gerhard van den Heever's (pictured) 70 metres run of sheer speed on the outside set up what should have been a huge win after Gary Botha and Francois Hougaard had earlier scored.

It was 21-0 after 12 minutes. When a wonderful Bulls try followed to set up their try-bonus point in the 23rd minute, the gates were expected to open.

The Highlanders kicked from their 22, Zane Kirchner fielded on his own 10 metres line, kicked high and tapped back as the visitors awaited the ball.

Dewald Potgieter fielded and when tackled off-loaded to Derick Kuün who sent out an overhead pass for Wynand Olivier to score in the corner.

Amazingly, Morne Steyn missed the difficult conversion, but converted six minutes later after a pick-up from Dewald Potgieter was moved on for Pierre Spies to dot down under the posts. After 29 minutes, it was 33-7 and the Bulls had equalled the Stormers final tally of last week.

In between, a set move from the Bulls backfired in the Highlanders 22 and Israel Dagg finished after a 60 metre run with a conversion from Matt Berquist making it 21-7.

It was the first of Dagg's three tries, two of them handed to him on a platter. With the Bulls slightly off the boil, probably because of their big lead, the visitors scored again after 37 minutes.

From an attacking scrum in the centre of the Bulls 22, scrumhalf Romans used the pop-up off the back of the scrum to run wide and give the reverse pass to Dagg who crossed the line unchallenged for his second try under the posts (33-14).

Steyn added a penalty on the half-time whistle for the Bulls to go into the change room at 36-14.

A six-minute attack from the Highlanders early in the second period was effectively quelled, but then some half-hearted Bulls tackling saw Tim Boys get the ball with no opponent to stop him.

With Berquist converting, the 36-21 scoreline did justice to some Highlanders perseverance and the Bulls' lethargy on defence.

But there was nothing wrong with the Bulls' ability to score tries, and when a rolling lineout maul was halted on the tryline Fourie du Preez off-loaded sublimely to Hougaard who had run a perfect line for his second try.

Steyn, who had just returned from the blood bin, made it 43-21.

The frailties on defence, for whatever reasons, were again exposed when the Highlanders created an overlap and with replacement James Paterson kicking ahead Robbie Robinson ran in their Highlanders' fourth try.

Again Berquist converted (43-28) before the second Spies try took it to 50-28.

The Highlanders took it wide whenever possible, and despite second tries from Man of the Match Spies and Hougaard, who both touched down for their brace in the second half, the Highlanders "won" the second half 21-14.

Bulls score 50 against bonus point Highlanders | Super 14 Rugby News, Super14 Fixtures,Results

**dudeabides** · 03-13-2010, 05:41 PM

Stormers v Hurricanes:

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The Stormers followed up their rout of the Highlanders with a comfortable 33-13 victory over the Hurricanes at Newlands on Saturday evening.

The hosts had the game wrapped up at half-time, reaching the interval 17 points up after tries from Sireli Naqelevuki, Joe Pietersen and Duane Vermeulen, the Hurricanes' solitary reply a penalty from Willie Ripia.

The Stormers sealed the bonus point when Brok Harris crashed over shortly before the hour mark and eased up significantly in the final quarter, managing just one more try through Jaque Fourie, which was sandwiched in between touchdowns for Hurricanes duo David Smith and Tyson Keats.

The Stormers couldn't have hoped for a better start to the game. Pietersen kicked them into a three-point lead with less than 60 seconds gone after the Hurricanes had been caught offside almost from the kick-off. The home side extended their advantage seven minutes later, Fourie and Pietersen combining to put Naqelevuki through to score.

Ripia got the visitors off the mark with a penalty midway through the first half but the Stormers reasserted their dominance on the half hour when Naqelevuki ripped through the Hurricanes defence before leaving Pietersen with a straightforward finish. The Stormers struck again with the last play of the first half, Vermeulen bounding through to score after an excellent spell of possession from the home side which had been sparked by a rampaging break from Schalk Burger.

The third quarter was all about the Stormers' quest for the bonus point and it ended when Harris touched down after Peter Grant's initial charge-down. The game and the bonus point now in the bag, Allister Coetzee decided to empty his bench for the final quarter and the understandable lack of cohesion in the Stormers' player which followed afforded the Hurricanes a sustained spell of dominance.

David Smith crossed after capitalising on some sloppy play in the scrum from the Stormers. Fourie touched down late on for the Stormers, who still appeared capable of scoring at will, but the Hurricanes had the final say, with Keats nipping in for another consolation scoring after more lax play from the home side.

Waratahs thrash hapless Lions | Rugby Union | Super 14 2010 | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-14-2010, 05:31 PM

Reds v Force:

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The Reds showed their confidence with a rampant display in hammering the hapless Force 50-10 in Brisbane on Sunday.

The result leaves John Mitchell's Force rooted to the bottom of the table and yet to register a point while the rejuvenated Reds remain in the early play-off hunt after their third success of the season. A stunning first-half burst from the home side opened up an unassailable 36-3 half-time lead.

Centres Anthony Faingaa and Digby Ioane were on electric form, both collecting first-half braces. Quade Cooper notched 13 points with the boot and created both of Ioane's scores, the first coming following a well judged chip off turnover ball and the second a deft inside pass. Winger Luke Morahan followed up his winning try against the Chiefs with another this week, crossing inbetween Ioane and Faingaa.

The Force briefly rallied after the break with a try from Nick Cummins after Reds' fullback Peter Hynes saw yellow for a professional foul but an intercept try from flanker Scott Higginbotham reasserted the home side's dominance. Higginbotham became the third player to register two tries with moments remaining, sealing an emphatic victory.

Waratahs thrash hapless Lions | Rugby Union | Super 14 2010 | Rugby News | Scrum.com

From the top of the Super 14 table:

1. Bulls (4-0) 20 pts.
2. Stormers (3-1) 19 pts.
3. Crusaders (3-1) 18 pts.
4. Chiefs (3-2) 16 pts.
5. Brumbies (4-1) 16 pts.