SUPER 14, ROUND 1  2008

ADDED SATURDAY 16/02/08

Game one saw a new look Brumbies take on the white hot favorites,  The Crusaders over there on their home patch,  a confronting task at the best of times,  but coupled with the pure New Zealand conditions of deepwater rugby,  rain,  rain and more rain,  it was almost going to be impossible.  The Brumbies did compete quite well for most of the match,  but as the Crusaders do,  they just kept building and choking and eventually got the game by 34 to 3. 

It looks like Robbie Deans has a good take,  and a different take on the new laws,  and is already close to playing some structure out of a set of laws designed to give a lack of structure and more attack.  Do check out their work at the breakdown,  they are just so potent and accurate,  and the interesting stat flashed up was Crusaders Maul metres 64 to Brumbies 0.  Now that is going to warm the cockles of my old friends Matt Ryan's and John Bermingham's heart,  let me tell you.  Mauling is very close to their heart and soul.

The Crusaders look the goods already,  with McCaw and Tui'alii very damaging and their scrum putting the Brumbies scrum to the sword.  Good to see Greg Summerville back after a long injury layoff,  and scrumming and playing really strongly.

For the Brumbies,  it was always going to be difficult,  they would have stayed drier playing in an indoor swimming pool,  so there was never going to be too much opportunity for wide running footy.  I think their new halves combination looks pretty good,  Holmes is a big solid unit,  and George Smith as always is one of the tough guys that we have,  and that new Wallaby coach Robbie Deans wants emulated by others.

The Brumbies scrum needs some work,  and with a couple of Wallabies holding it up, I'm not sure where they can take it,  the Crusaders scrum embarrassed them on several occasions.

I haven't seen the Reds game yet,  but I hear it wasn't pretty,  however when you finish ahead of your opponents on the scoreboard,  after a season like the last one,  you take it and move on.

SHARKS VS WESTERN FORCE:

I thought the Sharks would win much more emphatically than they did,  in again what was a scrappy game with alot of turnover pill.  I think all sides that have played so far will be having a look at how Robbie Deans side played under the new laws.

The Sharks didn't show,  or weren't allowed to show the upfront grunt I thought they would use and demonstrate,  and the Force had some very good players.  I like very much this Pocock kiddie,  and can fully understand why he left Qld with Dave Croft in front of him.  He will put pressure on Smith and Waugh in 2008 as a 20 year old,  a pocket dynamo,  with an outstanding skill set.

Ryan Cross too looked good with ball in hand,  as did Mitchell and Shepherd at times.  Richard Brown really stood up and without doubt has offered a choice in the number 8 department, his ball in hand game was potent,  and Scott Fava had his usual strong game.

Giteau showed some nice touches bit for mine was frustrated by the extra duties of flyhalf,  but given his class if that is where he is to play,  then he will get a handle on it.

REDS VS HIGHLANDERS:

I am not sure who told me this was a scrappy game,  I found it most enjoyable,  in fact the weekend to date (Saturday night after the Waratahs game) has been very entertaining.  I thought the Reds toughed out the last part of the game when last year they probably would have folded under that pressure.

I am happy to be wrong tipping against the Reds and then having them win.  Another positive would seem to be a lack of injuries to anyone.  Hopefully they can build on that,  a tough one in NZ next week without question.  Certainly gives them something to build out of,  and still with a full battalion of soldiers still on the ground.

The Highlanders had some great hair manicures,  very futuristic.

 BLUES VS CHIEFS:

Almost as much speed in this match as an olympic 100 metre final,  and I thought a strong match, plenty of fatigue.  Lots to impress and the Blues must be up there with the Crusaders in the betting,  some great speed and feet,  and good strong fast big men,  Troy Flavell,  how good is he.

WARATAHS VS HURRICANES:

Another entertaining match,  and I did like alot of Beale's touches tonight,  maybe last year was a bit early,  silky hands and feet.  Lachy Turner also is on the way up and a bloke I liked a few years back in club footy,  Tom Carter I thought was nice and direct at 12.  They will go OK,  defence was good.  From the Hurricanes,  Jason Eaton,  what a beard but what a player,  gee he is going to step up to be one of the world's best locks.  I thought David Pusey's beard was good,  but Eaton has the bigger beard,  and much better hair.

Probably won't get to watch the next two games.  Seems though that the administrators have got the law changes just about right,  the breakdown seems tidier,  there are plenty of turnovers breaking down structure,  and plenty of play,  the scrum is still a force as is the lineout and some mauling is back in fashion,  as well as a heap of running.

It will be interesting to see how the bigger and heavier guys do go as that fatigue sets in at about 50 minutes it seems,  benches will be even more important.  Looks like an entertaining season.

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