Super Rugby - The Reds are hot, and the Crusade continues.

The Reds are hot! (picture from http://bit.ly/mqCI87 )

Brisbane was the venue for the opening clash of the semis. It’s not so long ago that the Reds where the whipping boys of the competition, fighting it out for the wooden spoon with the Lions and the Cheetahs, even the newly created Force eclipsed them. Nothing much has changed for the Lions – and just when you think things couldn’t get worse for them , they go bust. The Reds meanwhile, have blazed a trail in the opposite direction, lighting up the sky with a string of stellar performances, winning and playing eye catching rugby at the same time. They ooze confidence, and have a practically watertight defense.

 The Blues never really seemed to turn up for this match, they spent most of the time looking like rabbits caught in the headlights, and one try against the general run of play was all they really had to show for themselves. I was a bit disappointed that some of the ‘names’ in the Blues ranks, Rococoko, McAllister and Rene Ranger (when he was on couldn’t spark something), while the Reds threatened to break through every time they had the ball. The Blues were outmuscled by the Reds pack as well, so the Reds are not just about flashy backs. The Reds claim their first place in a Super final, and at home as well. It was a class match, end to end stuff, and a brilliant advertisement for Super Rugby. Cooper and Genia are in a class of their own.

There was a lot for the 2nd semi to live up to then , which it didn’t in the slightest. the only similarity was that the Stormers gifted the Crusaders a try early on, just like the Blues did to the Reds. The big question was were the Crusaders going to be able to cope with all the travel, and the resounding answer was yes. Remember how I said the Stormers looked a bit iffy on the big occasion? Well, iffy doesn’t come close to describing this performance, they were absolutely smashed by the Crusaders, physically as well as mentally. The Stormers need to get themselves a decent front row in a hurry, it was men against boys for them in the scrum, and I don’t think I’ve seen a South African team so comprehensively outmuscled at the breakdown since oh, the Springboks played the All Blacks in last years Tri-Nations.

What Ireland should be learning from Super Rugby is that the South Africans possess a set of competent if not outstanding forwards, and a set of backs with zero creativity among them. It’s the Boks Ireland should be targeting for win out of their World Cup group, not Australia. The Springbok pairing of De Villiers and Fourie didn’t produce one line break between them the whole match. The Crusaders meanwhile, seemed to break through at will, Fruean and SBW were in devastating form, and their pack was absolutely world standard. They book a place in the final, in a match I really can’t wait for. The Stormers had their injuries, that must be third choice scrumhalf, Peter Grant was just back from injury, they missed Duane Vermuelen and lost Burger with a broken finger. But they are a long, long way off winning the tournament.

Saturday , July 2

Reds 30 - 13 Blues

Stormers 10 - 29 Crusaders