You can take away our scrum but you’ll never get rid of us! That was the clarion message from the brotherhood of prop forwards during Week Two of the Vodacom Super 14 rugby tournament.
Humiliated by the law-makers by being subjected to “touchy-feely” scrums, front row forwards struck back en masse in the second round of the competition by scoring an impressive six tries.
Led by CJ van der Linde’s second long-range effort for the Cheetahs in successive weeks, this time from the halfway line, rugby’s metaphorical oxen let their dissatisfaction be known in the best way possible by getting onto the score sheet.
Apart from Van der Linde, Saimone Taumoepeau scored for the Blues against the Brumbies, the winning try nogal, Wessel Roux and Jaco Engels trundled over for the Bulls against the Cheetahs, Greg Holmes got in on the act for the Reds against the Crusaders and Tom Willis, the Chiefs hooker, burrowed over against the Hurricanes - making the broad men much more prolific than the entire Stormers team who have not scored a try in 160 minutes of rugby.
The SuperWrap spied a down-to-business element in Round Two that was reflected in both the teams, a Super XV and the Springbok Barometer, we compile on a weekly basis.
Six South Africans in the Super XV (four in the forwards) reflected a heartening overall start for local teams while the Bok Barometer, based on current form, settled on a pretty potent looking combination reflecting South Africa’s much-envied depth with the inclusion of largely unrecognised youngsters such as Heinke van der Merwe and Brad Barritt.
Lions prop Van der Merwe put some roar into the Lions in their match against the Highlanders while Barritt, playing at inside centre, is playing a key role in marshalling the Sharks’ forceful defence
There remain some problems to sort out, such as flyhalf and the loose forward combination, but at this early stage of the tournament there is a confident undercurrent in South African rugby.
As always, bear in mind that the SuperWrap’s two teams are merely a small compliment paid to good play in a specific round, but we have been doing it for a number of seasons now and it is uncanny how the weekly gauge shows up players at the top of their powers, those returning to former glories and youngsters bursting into the spotlight.
*One problem that occurs at beginning of each season is the numbering of the flankers. In South Africa we tend to give the No6 jersey to the open or fetcher flank and the No7 to the blind or tight-side flank whereas in New Zealand and Australia they prefer to make their breakaway No7 – the like of Michael Jones, Josh Kronfeld, George Smith and Phil Waugh. So, this being a South African website, our fetcher/breakaway/open-side is always No6.
The Super XV for Week Two:
1 Saimone Taumoepeau (Blues), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 3 CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), 4 Paul Tito (Hurricanes), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 6 David Croft (Reds), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 8 Mose Tuiali’i (Crusaders), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 10 Stephen Brett (Crusaders), 11 Peter Hynes (Reds), 12 Luke McAlister (Blues), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 14 Hosea Gear (Hurricanes), 15 Scott Hamilton (Crusaders).
The Springbok Barometer for Week Two:
1 Heinke van der Merwe (Lions), 2 Gary Botha (Bulls), 3 CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls), 6 Jacques Botes (Sharks), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 10 Butch James (Sharks), 11 Bryan Habana (Bulls), 12 Brad Barritt (Sharks), 13 Jaque Fourie (Lions), 14 Francois Steyn (Sharks), 15 Johan Roets (Bulls).
Game of the Week: We were tempted to plump for the barely controlled warfare between the Bulls and the Cheetahs but for sheer quality it had to be the Crusaders vs the Reds; the clincher being the highly skilled tries the defending champions constructed when they most needed to. For both teams, and for very different reasons, it was a game that shouted out “we’re back!”
Try of the Week: It’s seldom happened that a player has won this accolade two weeks running but when it’s a prop, scoring from 50 metres, against the Bulls, at Loftus Versfeld, it just had to be our friend Christoffel Johannes van der Linde – CJ to the rest of you. We have to admit to a little bias because Scott Hamilton’s try for the ‘Saders, involving a quick tap, a reverse pass, a loop-round, a cut-out pass, a perfect draw-and-pass and numerous pairs of hands was also pretty special.
Newcomers of the Week: Let’s hear it for Rory Kockott (Sharks), Stephen Brett and Kieran Read (both Crusaders), Willem Alberts (Lions), Alby Mathewson (Hurricanes), Brendon Leonard (Chiefs) and David Pocock (Force).
And the Schlepper goes to… Schlepper is a word coined by the inimitable Phil Kearns to describe something verging on the idiotic, something embarrassingly bad and the Academy unanimously awarded a Team Schlepper to the Stormers - and by team we mean the whole bang-shoot, managers, coaches, medical personnel, fitness trainers and players. Also in this category was Highlanders flyhalf Callum Bruce; all on his own.
And the Jorrie goes to…The Jorrie was created some years ago in honour (if that’s the word) of a player making a terrible mess of a kick. And Gio Aplon provided the perfect example with the mental shutdown that caused him to grab a ball that was going out, turn in the face of three oncoming Force attackers and attempt a clearance that was charged down to give Ryan Cross the only try of the match at Newlands. In this category an honourable (if that’s the word) mention goes to the drop-kick attempted by Lions wing Wylie Human that could have cost his side the match. Coach Eugene Eloff must have been crossing himself! A touch of class: The Sharks trying to emulate the Crusaders’ use of Vangelis’s ‘Conquest of Paradise’ by playing some stirring classical music as the teams ran out at Absa Stadium. Just to show that the SuperWrap also has some class we thought Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary, a.k.a. the “Prince of Denmark’s March,” which is one of the most frequently requested bridal procession pieces, used in royal weddings for generations, including the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, was particularly well chosen. Bet that floored ‘em in Durban!
Talking of taking partners: A juicy titbit from Kiwiland concerns Melodie Robinson, the rather accomplished Black Fern (NZ women’s rugby) flanker who appears on Sky’s broadcasts. Not only was she a fine rugby player but Melodie was a former Miss Canterbury and she and top referee Steve Walsh are said to be an “item.”
If you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em? South African firm Investec sponsoring the Australian Super 14 teams.
Mysteries of the Super 14: Why do the Stormers (Western Province) do so badly in the rain when they are the one SA side who get to practice in it?
Mysteries of the Super 14 II: How did the Crusaders and the Reds know what referee Mark Lawrence was talking about when he shouted “Leave it red!” – seeing as one team was wearing red and the other is called Red?
Why they’re great: The Crusaders. In Week One there were complaints about not being able to make out their black numbers on a red background. In Week Two the numbers were neatly etched in white and clearly distinguishable. As they say, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
Congratulations to: Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Adam Freier, Ma'a Nonu, Danie Rossouw and Wessel Roux on reaching 50 Super Rugby caps.
Close to a milestone, of caps: Western Force hooker Brendan Cannon is on 99 Super matches. He made his debut for Queensland Reds vs Auckland Blues on 26 April 1996 when he replaced Michael Foley and has since gone on to play 19 times for the Reds (1996 -1999 ), 69 times for the Waratahs (2000 -2005 ) and 11 for the Force (2006-2007). It has to be said that Cannon, who also has 42 tests for the Wallabies to his credit since making his debut against the British & Irish Lions in 2001, could not have picked a worse place to reach his century than up against a fired-up Bulls side at Loftus on Saturday.
Close to a milestone, of points: Andre Pretorius who is currently on 498 Super points, could become the second South African to reach 500 points if he plays this weekend. The only South African to have reach the 500-mark is Louis Koen with 555.
Out of Fava: You have to ask – what is the game coming to? As if no rucking and “moffie” scrums (that’s what our Afrikaans friends call them) aren’t bad enough the following Press release came down the wires. “Western Force player Scott Fava has breached a team protocol and accordingly will not be selected in the 22 to play against the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday.
“The team’s protocols are internal standards aimed at achieving optimum recovery and preparation for next performance.
“An alcohol level of 0.04 was agreed by the team as an appropriate limit for Saturday morning after the Stormers match, with the day being a non-training day. Fava’s reading was 0.043.” It’s just not rugby.
Quote of the Week I: “It’s almost like a bunch of children that are out there.” – Robbie Kempson on the efforts of the Stormers.
Quote of the Week II: “The Stormers have been bumbling, almost idiots actually.” – Joel Stransky on said Stormers.
Quote of the Week III: “I’m not expecting a running commentary from this man about whether my decisions are good or not. He stops it now.” – Referee Lyndon Bray to Luke Watson about something Jean de Villiers did do well.
Quote of the Week IV: “You can chalk that one down to psychic energy.” – Murray Mexted on Mose Tuiali’i’s try.
Quote of the Week V: “I wonder how much nuance he’s got for rugby.” – Mexted, who else?
Quote of the Week VI: “He’s a tough bugger.” – Mexted, bless him, telling it like it is about David Croft.
