28th March 2010

Magners League, Super 14, Guinness Premiership


Magners League

There was a bit of déjà vu here, memories of Croke Park at Thomond Park … Scots front row giving problems, Dan Parks landing his penalties, but in the end Munster dug deep and ground out a lead, before Jean de Villiers produced a little magic to put the match beyond doubt. Johnnie Sexton managed to save Leinster’s blushes the next day at The RDS. Ireland and Scotland have their stamp on the Magners League with two each in the top four. 27-19

Super 14

The Sharks v the Hurricanes was a very entertaining match. Blooper of the match went to Ma'a Nonu as he failed 22 Drop Out 101 by just dropping the ball and picking it up, then glowering at the referee. You actually have to kick it you know. He did score a try as well though. The men from Durban were never behind in this match, they’ve FINALLY found a bit of form, winning by 29-26 with the last kick of the game and catching the Hurricanes not at the best after the long trip back from the Republic. Jaques Botes was busy as ever for the Sharks and Aaron Cruden injected purpose and energy into the Hurricanes back line. Elsewhere the Force made the Bulls toil but they turned it round in the second half to win 28-15. The commentators seemed to think a 13 point losing margin was some sort of victory for the Force – as apposed to the more traditional victory, when you score more points than the opposition. As for the rest, the Reds look Hot, the ‘Tahs scraped past the Blues, the Chiefs lost out to the Brumbies and the Highlanders have two wins now, thanks to the hapless Lions.

Guinness Premiership

Bath got in a good win over Harlequins in what sounded like a good match at the Rec in the early match. Northampton then dug deep at Franklin Gardens to overcome a determined Wasps side 14-9. This is one that will gone off Paul Sackey’s Sky Plus ASAP as there was a pantomime ‘HE’S BEHIND YOU’ moment before he was caught from behind by prop Brian Mujati. The Saints’ try was a mite controversial but Wasps weren’t robbed, they had their chances. Saints kicked a lot in the first half but came to their senses in the second half – why would you kick with Geraghty, Foden, Reihana, and Aston in your team?