Joe blows the whistle on .....

THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE 2010 VODACOM SUPER 14 SEASON

MATCH 1: CRUSADERS VS HIGHLANDERS

In 2009 these two teams created history as the Highlanders claimed their second consecutive win over the most successful Super Rugby outfit by 6 points to 0 (The lowest aggregate score in the history of the competition)

For much of their meeting in 2010 the Crusaders looked untroubled and on course for what seemed to be an easy victory before the Highlanders launched quite a comeback.

Replacement flyhalf Michael Hobbs ignited the Highlanders backline as the visitors clawed their way back from a 15 points deficit to only trail by the narrowest of margins (18-17). Hobbs had scored two converted tries and a penalty before the Crusaders stemmed the tide with two tries in the final 10 minutes to win by 32 points to 17 also securing the bonus point in the process.
Scorers:
Crusaders (32) - Tries: Andy Ellis, Jared Payne, Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland. Conversions: Daniel Carter (3). Penalties: Carter (2).
Highlanders (17) - Tries: Michael Hobbs (2). Conversions: Hobbs (2). Penalty: Hobbs.

MATCH 2: REDS VS WARATAHS

In the last couple of year’s the Reds have been Australia’s perennial bottom-dwellers in the Super 14 Competition but on Saturday the Reds were only 1 minute away from causing a major upset against one of the Tournament’s Title favorites.

The return of former Reds player Berrick Barnes, this time sporting the Waratahs blue jersey on his back added just the extra spice needed for a real rugby feast in Brisbane….

Throughout the match the Reds kept their noses in front and looked to have done enough for their first win over their neighbors since 2003 but their would be late drama.

The Waratahs, reduced to 14 men after Dean Mumm saw yellow for a needless shoulder challenge seemed to draw inspiration despite trailing by 5 points with 2 minutes to play.

Wallaby number 8 Waycliff Palu delivered the knockout blow with a try under the poles converted by Daniel Halangahu as the Waratahs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by 30 points to 28.

SCORERS:
Waratahs (30): Tries - Rory Sidey, Wycliff Palu. Conversion - Daniel Halangahu. Penalties - Berrick Barnes (4), Halangahu (1). Dropped Goal – Barnes (1).
Reds (28): Tries - Daniel Braid, James Horwill, penalty try. Conversions - Quade Cooper (2). Penalties - Cooper (2). Dropped Goal – Cooper (1).

MATCH 3: AUTO & GENERAL LIONS VS VODACOM STORMERS

Personally, the match at Coca-Cola Park, between the Lions and the Stormers was the one I most looked forward to watching this weekend.

So many talking points before the match saw both sets of supporters pack the Lions den in anticipation of something special.

How would Carlos Spencer fit into the Lions squad?, could Dick Muir inspire the Lions this season?, Bryan Habana on the wing for the Stormers, Jaque Fourie included to meet his former mates and Schalk Burger leading the Capetonians after Luke Watson’s decision to further his career in Europe.

The match turned into a tale of two halves, totally dominated by the Stormers in the first 40 as Joe Pietersen and Fourie both crossed the try line while the Lions could only answer with two Earl Rose penalties.

Unfortunately Spencer struggled to assert himself early on forcing a re shuffle in the second half while the Stormers were tipped to run away without to much difficulty.

The Lions however turned things around stepping up in both defense and on attack. The Stormers failed to score a point in the second half, a real feather in the cap of the Lions defensive structures while the hosts closed the gap through a converted try by Michael Killian.

In the end, the Stormers certainly deserved the win but the Lions can draw inspiration from their second half performance that will surely stand them in good stead for their second match of the season.

SCORERS:
Vodacom Stormers (26): Tries - Joe Pietersen, Jaque Fourie. Conversions - Joe Pietersen (2). Penalties - Joe Pietersen (4).
Auto & General Lions (13): Try - Michael Killian. Conversion - Earl Rose. Penalties - Rose (2).

MATCH 4: THE SHARKS VS CHIEFS

While writing this article I am still shaking my head in disbelief at the poor disciple showed by especially the Sharks senior members with both Springbok Captain John Smit and Bismarck Du Plessis sin binned in the first match of the season.

Referee Keith Brown followed in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi Steve Walsh’s 2007 Super 14 final showing with a performance that will long be talked about in Durban but the Sharks did themselves no favors as the penalty count kept mounting against them.

In pouring rain Stephen Donald and Rory Kockott traded penalties in a match that would always be decided by the boot.

It all came down to the final 5 minutes as the visitors scored the only try of the match after Chiefs captain Liam Messam took the quick tap, and the eventual movement down the backline ended with midfielder Jackson Willison easily crossing the chalk. (This all happened in the absence of Du Plessis who was looking on after being sin binned in the 74th minute)
From the kick-off, the Sharks received a penalty after Richard Kahui impeded Ryan Kankowski.

Kockott again obliged as the Sharks moved into a narrow two-point lead with a minute to play.

The Chiefs were rampant from the restart but with the Sharks in control at the ruck, the ball popped out shifting the pressure onto Kockott who fumbled under pressure, Andries Strauss managed to get his hands on the ball but from an offside position.
Donald, who stretched his personal contribution to 14 points, dealt with the resultant penalty breaking Sharks hearts in Durban.
Scorers
Sharks (18) – Penalties: Rory Kockott (6)
Chiefs (19) – Try: Jackson Willison. Conversion: Stephen Donald. Penalties: Donald (4)

The Vodacom Bulls will go into the second week brimming with confidence as they remain where they finished in 2009, at the top of the pyramid while the Vodacom Stormers are South Africa’s second representative in the top four.

1 Vodacom Bulls 1 1 0 0 51 34 17 6 3 1 5
2 Crusaders 1 1 0 0 32 17 15 4 2 1 5
3 Hurricanes 1 1 0 0 34 20 14 1 2 0 4
4 Vodacom Stormers 1 1 0 0 26 13 13 2 1 0 4
5 Brumbies 1 1 0 0 24 15 9 3 0 0 4
6 Waratahs 1 1 0 0 30 28 2 2 3 0 4
7 Chiefs 1 1 0 0 19 18 1 1 0 0 4
8 The Sharks 1 0 0 1 18 19 -1 0 1 1 1
9 Reds 1 0 0 1 28 30 -2 3 2 1 1
10 Western Force 1 0 0 1 15 24 -9 0 3 0 0
11 Auto & General Lions 1 0 0 1 13 26 -13 1 2 0 0
12 Blues 1 0 0 1 20 34 -14 2 1 0 0
13 Highlanders 1 0 0 1 17 32 -15 2 4 0 0
14 Vodacom Cheetahs 1 0 0 1 34 51 -17 3 6 0 0

WEEK 2 FIXTURES

FRIDAY 19 FEBRUARY

Highlanders Vs Blues – 08.35
Reds Vs Crusaders – 11.45
The Sharks Vs Vodacom Cheetahs - 18.00
Auto & General Lions Vs Chiefs – 20.00

SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY

Hurricanes Vs Western Force – 08.35
Vodacom Bulls Vs Brumbies – 17.05
Vodacom Stormers Vs Waratahs – 19.10