Round 3 Super 14 Preview

Not only did it stun the seven-time Super Rugby champions; the Queensland Reds’ 41-20 win over the Crusaders last Friday night has also placed the side in the unaccustomed position as the leading Australian side on the Investec Bank Super 14 table. The Reds will look to continue the momentum as they line up the Blues during Saturday night’s historic return to Ballymore. The match is the first of a Saturday night double-header in Australia, being followed by the Western Force’s engagement with the unbeaten Chiefs, which will see ex-All Blacks coach John Mitchell try to take down his former team. The third round begins in New Zealand on Friday night, before switching to South Africa at 4.10am Saturday morning [AEDT], when the Brumbies tackle the in-form Stormers at Newlands. The NSW Waratahs round out the weekend’s action when they bid to snap the Bulls’ 12-match unbeaten streak at Loftus Versfeld

Friday 26 February
Crusaders v Sharks
At AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 7.35pm (local, 5.35pm AEDT)
Referee: Chris Pollock

The Sharks have never beaten the Crusaders in Christchurch, but there’s seldom much between the two sides. Although the Crusaders have won 11 of their 15 contests, with a further game drawn, the rivalry has generally been a lot closer than those statistics suggest. As well as the 26-26 draw in Christchurch in 1997, eight of the matches played have been determined by a margin slimmer than that of a converted try. This includes the Sharks’ away matches in 1999 (29-34), 2003 (18-23) and 2006 (20-22), while the 1997 match at the then Lancaster Park was drawn 26-26. Current Crusaders assistant-coach Mark Hammett may not recall this last contest too fondly – he was sent off during the game. Virtual tipsters might also do well to consider that 11 of the 15 past games have been determined in the 1-12 margin bracket, including all but two of the matches played in New Zealand. Last weekend’s loss against the Cheetahs in Durban was the Sharks’ second of the current campaign, and their sixth defeat from the last seven matches in Super Rugby – five of which have been sustained at home. For that reason, heading away on tour might not be such a bad thing. The Sharks excelled in Australia and New Zealand last year, winning three of their four matches (beating the Blues, Chiefs and Western Force). But playing in Christchurch is arguably the toughest assignment in Super Rugby. Incredibly the Crusaders have not lost in Christchurch to a South African team since 1996, with their only ‘home’ defeat against a side from the Republic in the time since being a 31-32 loss to the Cats at Nelson in 2001. In the corresponding match two years ago, the Crusaders prevailed 18-10 in bitterly cold conditions, with prop Wyatt Crockett snaring a try for the winners, while No 8 Ryan Kankowski muscled his way over for the Sharks. Kankowski’s try in last weekend’s loss to the Cheetahs is the only five-pointer the Sharks have to show for 160 minutes of effort thus far in the competition. Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has reacted to last Friday’s startling 21-point loss in Brisbane by returning All Black second row Brad Thorn to the starting line-up for the first time this year, while Richie McCaw’s early season rest has been cut short by a week, with the All Black skipper named amongst the reserves. Crockett, who toured with the All Blacks last year, is also added to the starting line-up to bolster the front row, while Ryan Crotty replaces Tim Bateman at inside centre. Further strength should be added next week with hooker Corey Flynn (ankle) and lock Chris Jack (wrist) expected to be re-introduced for the home tie against the Blues. Last week’s setback represented the Crusaders’ heaviest defeat in Super Rugby since a 19-43 loss to the NSW Waratahs at home in the opening round of the 2004 season. Perhaps ominously for the Crusaders, they lost at home the week after that defeat as well!

Last Year – Crusaders 13, Sharks 10 at Durban

The last time – While it was their biggest defeat in six years, last Friday’s 21-point loss was actually only the Crusaders’ third worst against the Reds, having been belted 52-16 by Queensland in the competition’s inaugural season, and 35-9 two years later. The Sharks’ woes worsened as they gave skipper John Smit little to celebrate in his 100th match, falling by five to the Cheetahs.

Stormers v Brumbies
At Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 7.10pm (local, 4.10am, Sat 27 Feb, AEDT)
Referee: Craig Joubert

Just how good are the Stormers? That and many other questions may be answered on Saturday morning [AEDT] as they face up to one of their bogey teams in Super Rugby. So dominant have the Brumbies been in this relationship that the Stormers’ 10-point win in the corresponding match at Newlands two years ago was their first success in 11 games, ending a sequence of nine defeats and a draw which had stretched back to 1998. The 20-10 success, in a game which saw both sides score two tries, was just the Stormers’ second win over the Brumbies. Last year, each side scored a try as the Brumbies won by seven at Canberra Stadium, with halfback Patrick Phibbs scoring for the victors while the now Ireland-based Springbok Jean de Villiers replied for the Stormers. De Villiers scored in each of the last two matches between these sides so his presence won’t be missed by the Brumbies. Neither will Stormers skipper Schalk Burger who is out after retiring in the first half last Saturday with a hamstring strain. Springbok lock Andries Bekker led the side in his absence. First choice loosehead prop Wicus Blaauw is also unlikely after missing last week’s win due to a shoulder injury. While last weekend’s 32-50 loss to the Bulls had its good points, including a strong Brumbies debut by Qantas Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom, coach Andy Friend will be concerned by the manner of the Brumbies’ second half capitulation, which at one stage saw the visitors concede 30 points without reply. The loss dropped the Brumbies’ recent record in South Africa to 12 wins from their last 23 matches. They have come through the Pretoria match relatively unscathed on the injury front making just one change, with Ben Hand replacing Justin Harrison in the second row. Last year’s Qantas Wallabies tourist Mitchell Chapman is again on the bench but will play his 50th game of Super Rugby if he takes the field. After ending the 2009 campaign with consecutive wins in Cape Town, the Stormers find themselves bidding for their fifth win in a row at Newlands. They are also chasing three wins on end at any venue for the first time since 2008 when their victims were the Western Force, Cheetahs and Hurricanes.

Last Year – Brumbies 17, Stormers 10 at Canberra

The last time – It was hard graft, but the Stormers gradually got the Waratahs measure, drawing out in the second half through two tries by new recruit Bryan Habana, to score 27-6. The Brumbies led at halftime but couldn’t sustain the effort on the high veldt, as they were over-powered by the Bulls, 32-50.

Saturday 27 February
Hurricanes v Lions
At Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 7.35pm (local, 5.35pm, AEDT)
Referee: Nathan Pearce

The Hurricanes have never lost at home to either the Lions or their forebears, the Cats. Overall, the Hurricanes have won 11 of 14 matches with the Johannesburg-based franchise, including last year’s contest at Coca-Cola Park, where All Black centres Conrad Smith (twice) and Ma’a Nonu were try-scorers, as was flyhalf Willie Ripia. While the Lions did pick up a win on their overseas tour last year, knocking off the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, they were soundly beaten in both matches in New Zealand and have not won on Kiwi soil from 11 tries since they resumed as a single entity in Super Rugby four years ago. The wretched sequence in Super 14 continued the barren run that the then Cats (who were a combination of the Lions and Cheetahs provinces) endured in the Super 12 Era. The Cats’ last victories in New Zealand were achieved in 2001, where they beat the Blues and Crusaders (at Nelson) back-to-back en-route to that year’s semi-finals. When you include Super 12 defeats sustained by the Cats in the equation, the Lions or their forebears have now lost 21 straight since the Johannesburg-based Super Rugby team’s last win in New Zealand. While history is made to be broken – as the Queensland Reds proved so emphatically last Friday night – the touring record hardly bodes well for a Lions team that shipped nine tries at home last weekend against the Chiefs. Even their miraculous achievement of scoring 40 second half points in 20 minutes to snatch two bonus points was dampened by the fact that the match was ultimately lost. The aftermath of that defeat further added to coach Dick Muir’s woes, with second rower Willem Stoltz rubbed out for one week by the judiciary for striking. The Hurricanes, who were the leading try-scorers in the league last year, ran seven past the Western Force last weekend on the way to their second consecutive win, and first in Wellington of the new campaign. The Hurricanes won five of seven at home last year on their way to the semi-finals, with the losses being sustained against the NSW Waratahs and the Bulls. After scoring the team’s only try on opening night against the Blues, All Black winger Hosea Gear missed last weekend through injury, which allowed his replacement David Smith to touch down twice. All Black second row Jason Eaton will also come back into contention for selection after being stood down from last weekend’s game due to an off-field misdemeanour.

Last Year – Hurricanes 38, Lions 32 at Johannesburg

The last time – The Hurricanes were always expected to have the measure of the injury-plagued Western Force and so it proved, with the locals powering away in the second period for a comfortable 25-point win. The Lions scored the most tries they’ve ever managed in a Super Rugby match – nine – but let in just as many, picking up two bonus points during a bizarre 65-72 loss to the Chiefs.

It’s created its share of comment, but last Friday’s match involving the Lions was not unprecedented, in terms of the number of tries scored. The nine tries that the home side conceded was not the highest ever conceded by the Johannesburg-based team, with the Cats having let in 10 during a 16-64 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra eight years ago. Indeed the Lions let in a league worst 56 tries last term, twice conceding eight in a match, during a campaign where they gave up try-scoring bonus points on seven different occasions. And these aren’t isolated cases of defensive woes involving the Lions. Theirs is a historical problem; with last year representing the ninth time in 14 Super Rugby competitions that the Lions/Cats have had either the worst, or the second worst, defence in the league. Perhaps the only surprise about last weekend was that the Lions scored nine tries themselves in the 65-72 defeat, which goes to show what they can do when they have the ball, although the Chiefs might also point to the match circumstance (in terms of them being so far ahead) and altitude, as other significant factors. The 65 points scored was the most by the Lions in a single Super Rugby game – yet they still lost!

The colourful career of Carlos Spencer comes a full circle as he returns to Wellington in the colours of South Africa’s Lions. Originally from near-by Levin (about an hour’s drive from the Cake Tin) where he schooled at Waiopehu College; Spencer was plucked from the NZ Schools team as an 18-year-old by current All Black coach Graham Henry. Brought to Auckland, he kicked off his senior career in 1994 playing alongside legends of the ilk of Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke with Auckland, the Blues and then the All Blacks. First selected by New Zealand for the close season tour of France in 1995, Spencer made his Test debut two years later as a 21-year-old. This came against Argentina in Wellington, and saw the sometimes erratic genius run up 33 points. He wound up playing 35 Tests for the All Blacks, the last of which came during an 18-23 loss to Australia at Homebush in 2004. It is for a Test at the same venue a year earlier that he is perhaps best remembered on this side of the Tasman, throwing that pass which Stirling Mortlock intercepted and scored from, during Australia’s Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat of New Zealand. Spencer concluded his Super Rugby career in New Zealand in 2005, heading to Northampton after 96 games and 608 points for the Blues. He later linked up with Gloucester after Northampton was relegated from the Premiership, featuring against the Qantas Wallabies when they played at Kingsholm last year. Spencer’s return to Super Rugby and Wellington rekindles a link back to the inaugural Super Rugby match at Palmerston North in 1996, where Spencer appeared at flyhalf for the Blues and steered the visitors to a 36-28 win over the Hurricanes. The now 34-year-old is the only player from Super Rugby’s first season still playing in the competition. Saturday will be his 99th appearance in Super Rugby.

Queensland Reds v Blues
At Ballymore, Brisbane
Kick-off: 6.40pm (local, 7.40pm AEDT)
Referee: Steve Walsh

The opponent for the Queensland Reds’ return to Ballymore could not be more appropriate. The Blues visited the ground in Super Rugby’s first season, 15 years ago, copping a 51-13 belting that still ranks as the Auckland-based team’s heaviest defeat by margin (38 points). In all, the Blues tried their luck five times at Ballymore in Super 12, finishing up on the losing side each time. Queensland played one match at Suncorp in each of the 2004 and 2005 seasons before relocating to the inner-city stadium on a fulltime basis in 2006. They have subsequently lost both matches to the Blues at the old Lang Park, falling 20-21 in 2006 and 22-35 two years later. Saturday night sees the Reds bidding for consecutive wins over the Blues, having nailed their first Super Rugby win in Auckland last year, when Digby Ioane and James Horwill were among four try-scorers in a seven-point success at North Harbour. Sadly Horwill has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, which sees the captaincy pass to Will Genia. This time a year ago, the now 22-year-old Genia wasn’t even the Reds’ starting halfback! The Qantas Wallabies number nine will be supported by ex-All Black and Blues flanker Daniel Braid, who made 59 appearances for the Blues before coming to Queensland, and also captained Auckland in the NPC. While the Blues have won seven to the Reds’ six in this rivalry, with the 1999 clash drawn 12-12 in New Zealand; the Reds’ five wins is the most by any franchise against the Blues on Australian soil. Saturday night will be the Blues’ 24th appearance in Australia, from which they have secured 10 wins, while losing 13. The Reds would do well to keep an eye on Blues lock Kurtis Haiu, as he has scored against them in each of the last two matches. Isaia Toeava was also a try-scorer during last year’s match, but is doubtful for this one after injuring his hamstring during last weekend’s narrow win in Dunedin. The Reds have not won on consecutive weeks in Super Rugby since they beat the Cats and the Bulls at home during the first Super 14 in 2006.

Last Year – Queensland Reds 31, Blues 24 at Auckland

The last time – A ray of hope? Certainly the Queensland Reds have enjoyed few sweeter moments than last Friday night’s thrilling 41-20 demolition of the seven-time champion Crusaders. The maximum point haul has allowed the Reds to climb to fifth on the championship table. Earlier on the same evening, the Blues earned their first points of the campaign, coming from behind at halftime to shade the Highlanders by four in Dunedin.

It was fitting that John Eales was one of the first on the phone to commiserate with injured Reds skipper James Horwill on his knee injury this week, as Queensland’s return to Ballymore on Saturday night recalls one of the great moments in the amazing Eales’ career. That was in the 1998 match at the ground between the Reds and Blues when Eales leapt into the air, Spiderman-like, to bat back a penalty attempt on goal from the Blues fullback Adrian Cashmore. The move was successful, with Eales knocking the ball away, and the visitors never recovered from the shock of the Queensland skipper’s miraculous deed. The Reds went on to win the game 33-18.

Western Force v Chiefs
At Member’s Equity Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 7.05pm (local, 10.05pm, AEDT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper

Both sides have whistled up the reinforcements as ex All Blacks and Chiefs coach John Mitchell faces up to his former team. Already riddled by injury after just two weeks of competition, the Force get back experienced backs Mark Bartholomeusz and Ryan Cross, while new recruits Scott Staniforth and David Hill could also be involved if clearance can be gained from the Japanese Rugby Union in time. The acquisition of Hill is especially interesting, after he played 58 games for the Chiefs earlier in his career, and was coached by Mitchell at both the Chiefs, and then on his introduction to the All Black midweek side in 2001. Well travelled, having played for Marlborough, Southland and Waikato in the New Zealand NPC before stints in Italy and Japan, Hill was a cadet sports reporter at the Marlborough Express newspaper in an earlier life, and is a cousin of New Zealand Test cricket captain Daniel Vettori. He will be familiar to Saturday night’s visitors, who have sent home suspended No 8 Sione Lauaki, as well as the injured winger Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), lock Craig Clarke (groin) and prop James McGougan (back). In their place come winger Lelia Masaga, lock Toby Lynn and prop Toby Smith, while loose forward and ex-NZ Sevens captain Liam Messam will take over as skipper. Of the new additions, it is the presence of Masaga that the Force could have done without. Just back from shoulder surgery, with one development squad hit-out behind him; Masaga has consistently tormented the Force in the past, scoring in this match in each of the last three years. While the Force scored their maiden win over the Chiefs two years ago, with Qantas Wallabies flanker Matt Hodgson supplying one of their three tries in a 22-21 success at Subiaco; the Kiwi side has generally held the upper hand in this rivalry. The Chiefs won 26-9 on their first visit to Perth in 2006, and have scored comfortably in the two matches played in Hamilton. All Black flyhalf Stephen Donald always enjoys this clash, having run up 54 points from his previous four outings against the Force. Donald converted all of the franchise record nine tries scored by the Chiefs last weekend in Johannesburg. Halfback Brendan Leonard is another the Force will need to keep close tabs on, after he scored a hat-trick against the West Australians in Hamilton in 2007, and backed that up with a further try against the Force last year. While the first up loss to the Brumbies at Member’s Equity Stadium dropped the Force’s home record to 11 wins from 27 matches, the Chiefs are bidding for their best ever start to a Super Rugby season, having never before opened up with three wins. Last week’s high-scoring 72-65 win in Johannesburg allowed the class of ’10 to match the 1997 and 1998 Chiefs teams which won their first two matches.

Last Year – Chiefs 31, Western Force 13 at Hamilton

The last time – There was plenty of fizz at Coca-Cola Park as the Chiefs and Lions split 18 tries during a 137-point spectacular, with the Chiefs scoring and conceding the most tries from one game in their history – and all in a single 80 minutes. The Force were practically boring by comparison, scoring three tries but letting in seven during their brave but ultimately unsuccessful visit to the Hurricanes.

Cheetahs v Highlanders
At Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 5.05pm (local, 2.05am, Sun 28 Feb, AEDT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson

The Highlanders might have lost their first two matches of the campaign, but they arrive in Bloemfontein comforted by the knowledge that they know how to beat the Cheetahs. All four matches between these sides since the Cheetahs returned to Super Rugby in 2006 have fallen the way of the New Zealand side; including two played in Bloemfontein, with the Highlanders winning 17-12 in 2006, and 31-28 two years later. Those wins were split by a hard fought 21-17 win at Invercargill in 2007, before the Highlanders cut loose last year, laying on five tries during a 24-point success. Flanker Adam Thomson can expect to be a marked man this weekend, with the All Black flanker having scored in each of his last three appearances against the Cheetahs, including two tries in the corresponding match last year. Fullback Israel Dagg, who scored in the narrow loss to the Blues last weekend, also bagged two last year against the Cheetahs. The Cheetahs return home buoyed by last Friday’s 25-20 win over the Sharks in Durban which was just their 13th success from 54 in Super Rugby. Nine of those wins have been secured at home (from 27 matches), including wins over previous Kiwi visitors the Hurricanes (2006) and the Crusaders (last year). The Cheetahs also drew with the Chiefs at home in 2007. The Cheetahs last won consecutive matches in 2006 when they beat the Stormers and the Queensland Reds. They beat the Sharks in Durban that year too but – perhaps ominously – lost at home to this weekend’s visitors the following week! The Cheetahs did beat the Highlanders in a previous life, in 1997 when the forerunner to the current side, the Free State Cheetahs, won 49-18 at Invercargill. Current Cheetahs coach, Naka Drotske, who played hooker and was capped 26 times by South Africa between 1993 and 1999, scored two tries in that win.

Last Year – Highlanders 32, Cheetahs 8 at Dunedin

The last time – The Highlanders always appeared likely, but couldn’t quite master the Blues, blowing a 12-7 halftime advantage as they lost by four at home. The Cheetahs continued their recent hold over the Sharks, repeating last year’s Currie Cup semi-final win in Durban with a 25-20 success.

Bulls v NSW Waratahs
At Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 7.10pm (local, 4.10am, Sun Feb 28, AEDT)
Referee: Marius Joubert

The Bulls have won all four matches against the NSW Waratahs in the Super 14 Era. This includes last year’s 17-point win in Sydney, which snapped an Australian record run of 11 consecutive victories for NSW at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Waratahs now have the opportunity to return the favour as they arrive at Loftus with the Bulls on a record run of 12 straight wins in Pretoria. The South Africans last lost at home against the Hurricanes on April 12, 2008. The Bulls are also enjoying their best ever home run against Australian teams, having won the last six matches, with the last defeat being a 27-30 loss to the Western Force in the second round of the 2007 tournament. Overall, the Bulls have won 16 and lost eight from all matches against visiting Australian teams. The Bulls’ last two home wins against the ‘Tahs have come in close contests: 16-13 two years ago, and 26-17 in 2006. Last week’s 18-point win over the Brumbies maintained the Bulls’ position at the top of the table. They have also come out of the game unscathed with No 8 Pierre Spies (knee) and flanker Pedrie Wannenburg (neck) both being cleared to continue, after being forced from the field with what looked like significant injuries during that performance. Skipper Victor Matfield is also available, after successfully fronting the judiciary this week where he was cited on two counts, but subsequently cleared. NSW lost prop Benn Robinson to shoulder trouble at Newlands, but he has been named to play, and will be needed to counter the power of the Bulls’ pack. There are two changes to the run on XV from last week, with last year’s Qantas Wallabies midweek tourist Dave Dennis replacing Will Caldwell in the second row, while Berrick Barnes has moved to inside centre in the place of Kurtley Beale, with Daniel Halangahu the new flyhalf. The Waratahs, who have based themselves in Cape Town, trek up to Pretoria later this week coming off their heaviest defeat (21 points) in Super Rugby since a 7-34 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2008. Last weekend’s loss in Cape Town was the ‘Tahs 15th in South Africa, as aside 14 wins and a draw.

Last Year – Bulls 20, NSW Waratahs 6 at Sydney

The last time – While they trailed at halftime, the Bulls asserted their superiority in the second period, at one stage piling on 30 unanswered points during a 50-32 success over the Brumbies. The Waratahs started confidently but gradually were squeezed out of the contest as the Stormers ground out a 27-6 win in Cape Town.