Written Tuesday 01/05/2007

WEEK 13 SUPER 14

Week 13 of Super  rugby could have been said to have been dominated by the last game in Canberra of Gregan,  Larkham and Paul.  For mine,  the game lived up to expectations,  it was a beauty.  you don't need lots of tries,  or any in fact to make a game tense and enjoyable as a spectator.  Stephen Larkham's beaming face and smile during the  full course of the interview is what remains in my mind,  after so many games,  after so many command performances,  after so many injuries,  he really enjoyed that one,  or so it seemed.  As you would expect,  he turned on a special performance,  there is no one just stepping up to the plate yet to replace this guy.

George Gregan too,  happy and humble,  and another magnificent performance and magnificent performer for the Brumbies and Australia for a long time.  There is no one stepping up to replace him yet either,  and he still has the best short passing game in the country,  his ability to find runners close and flat and in space is uncanny.  It's hard no to notice just how cool and composed both these guys are under pressure,

Many years ago,  I watched Easts in Brisbane I think play GPS in a Grand Final,  can't name the year,  long time ago.  In that East side was one Jeremy Paul.  My comment to those around me at that time was that he would be the next Wallaby hooker.  I turned out to be right,  and not only right for a short time,  he has been there for a long time and like his other two moving on counterparts,  has served his province and his country very well.  Not sure what Queensland experts didn't see way back then that I could,  and obviously better judges than me,  those at the Brumbies.  Like Gregan and Larkham,  I don't quite see the next hooker of this guy's stature actually knocking the door down.

It is testament to these guys that they stayed out signing autographs for a long,  long time,  when in reality they would have had something better to do.  If professionalism is guilty of one thing,  it is restricting the public,  and particularly the kids,  of contact time with these stars of the game.

They have given us all alot of years of fond memories,  alot of games to talk about.  Don't know how Gregan has stood up to the media criticism,  but he has,  and he will go out on his own terms.  That is what you want as any sort of player,  to go out playing well,  when you want to.

I thought hte other striking feature aside from the great game of footy,  was the humility of Richie McCaw,  another great Warrior of the game,  just so humble in defeat,  the game really misses that at times.  With what is going on at the moment amongst young All Blacks,  McCaw may not stay in NZ that much longer with the big call of the British Pound and French Franc taking guys away before their time.

That was the only game that happily I tipped wrongly for week 13,  the rest went as scripted.  The Waratahs did that let's try and win it in the last bit thing again,  misjudged the time a little bit.  The Chiefs certainly are making a run for the finals.  week 14 will be a cracker with plenty of combinations available.

The Blues are the ones in some trouble,  and the Force could well get them.  I have my own theory on why the Blues have faltered,  and will keep it that way for a patch yet.

The Sharks continue their run home and look like getting a home semi,  heaven help whoever has to play them in Africa.

The Bulls too look the goods,  and should account easily for the Reds in Africa this weekend.

The Force had a nice win,  and of course there is plenty going on with young Digby Ioane,  allegedly committing verbally to the Force for 2008, then signing with the Reds.  You don't need legal advice to tell you that a verbal contract is a binding contract and will stand.  However,  Peter O'Meara,  Force CEO has said they are releasing him in any case on compassionate grounds.

The Force do however have some very interesting stuff going on and will announce some key signings over the next period I am told by people very close to the whole thing,  been asked not to write it so I won't until after it is public.

Looking forward to week 14,  should be a beauty.

I Missed 100% of the Shots I Didn't Take,  Michael Jordan.