Monday 27 May 2013

Super Rugby Round 15 Review

Another great weekend of Super Rugby, with shocks, attention about to switch to the internationals, and of course; plenty of entertainment and tries.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:



Chiefs 28 -19 Crusaders

The Chiefs underlined their defense of their title without Sonny Bill Williams with a 9 point victory in a cracker of a game. Chiefs move to the top of the table with 52 points, and Crusaders hanging onto 6th place and a wild card spot with 42.


Rebels 24-22 Waratahs

The Rebels push on from just peforming well, and actually take down an in form Waratahs. The hit that this would have had on the Tahs playoff hopes wasn't as big, as most of their rivals also managed to lose. But with only 5 rounds left they are 3 points off 6th and can't afford another loss. The Rebels are now closer to the likes of the Stormers and the Sharks than the teams they were expected to battle it out with at the bottom of the league.


Blues 13- 20 Brumbies

Another loss for a playoff contender, the Blues are in 7th place on the basis of less games won compared to the Crusaders. The Brumbies are hanging onto 1st place in the Australian conference, having been caught at the top of the overall league.


Western Force 19-18 Highlanders

A massive win for the Force, who like Sean Fitzpatrick said over the weekend, are earning the respect of the other Super Rugby teams. In Kyle Godwin, the Force have a future superstar on their hands, and in Nic "sweating like a gypsy with a mortgage" Cummins, they have a rival to Mark Robson's outrageous simile's throne.


Southern Kings 22 - 34 Cheetahs

The Cheetahs are one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the world. Willie le Roux and co are running riot this season, and this win lifts them to 4th place in the table and into the playoffs. A deserved place in the table based on watching them this season, and they have a bye on the way.


Stormers 20 -15 Reds

The Stormers have been having a terrible season, and this win arrests some poor form, but with 34 points and in 11th place, they have no hope of dangering the playoff spots and will just look to avoid the relegation match with the Kings.


Sharks 16-18 Bulls

The Bulls have been the only one of the SA giants to have performed this year with the Sharks and Stormers struggling for unknown reasons. Bulls are top of the SA conference, with just the Cheetahs to challenge them for that spot. Next weeks game in Bloemfontein will be crucial.


Fantasy

After reducing the gap to 40 points last week, Cillian Hogan had a terrible week, dropping to fourth and is now 150 points off 1st. Not out of it, yet but with time running out. The gap between 1st and 2nd has increased to 90 points. The battle for 5th swung again, with Murray Kinsella regaining and opening up a lead.

Australian celebrities didn't do brilliantly, with all of us gaining on them, and Tim Horan had his lead cut considerably.

Head to Head

Cillian Hogan maintained his win streak, and has a 4 point lead to 2nd, with a gap of 8 points to 3rd. Multiple Scoregasms is fighting it out with average to avoid the wooden spoon.