1. Pacific Super Rugby franchise moves closer?
A historic game took place in Fiji over the weekend and to be honest it was nothing short of great success. The Chiefs and the Crusaders put on a great show in the ANZ National stadium in Suva and despite the inclement weather the fans came out in force to create a very unique atmosphere.
The three tries scored were of the highest quality and the experiment of playing in the Pacific Islands was certainly a gamble worth taking.
Either Super Rugby needs to make this an annual fixture, or better still, serious consideration needs to be had with regards to a franchise of their own. The people of Fiji would certainly lap it up.
2. Not just a passing Faddes
If there was one area of the All Blacks game that looked vulnerable and unsettled during the Summer Tours, then it was their midfield but lo and behold, another gem has appeared out of nowhere to potentially solve the problem.
Matt Faddes played at full back to score a hat-trick against the Southern Kings on Saturday but he can also play on the wing and in the centre, as he has spent many of his ten Super Rugby caps so far in the 13 jersey.
The reason people are linking him to the All Blacks outside centre jersey is his speed off the mark in both defence and attack, as well as his obvious versatility. In a squad containing Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo, he is rumoured to be the fastest member.
Keep your eye out for the Otago man as the season heads towards the playoffs.
3. Underdogs roaring like Lions
They started the season as rank outsiders for their four team group, let alone the Super Rugby Championship itself, but the Lions have wrapped up the Africa 2 group after giving the Sharks a comprehensive beating in Johannesburg.
To a man, they outplayed the Sharks and yet again it was the players that dug the Springboks out of their second test hole against Ireland that did all the damage.
Jaco Kriel and Ruan Combrinck led the way but Elton Jantjies was the main orchestrater of their five try, bonus point victory.
The Lions will be a team to avoid in the play offs, especially at altitude at home.
4. Storming set piece repel Rebels
It was an absolute barn-stormer of a match in Melbourne as eleven tries were scored in the Stormers’ victory over the Rebels, and although it was a great all-round performance from the Cape Town outfit this game was won up front.
The pack dominated from the first scrum and after just 28 minutes Rebels prop Cruze Ah Nau was hauled off for Laurie Weeks to try and sort out the mess that Vincent Koch was causing.
Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit were imperious in the line out and in the loose as the Rebels just could not match their physicality.
5. Port Elizabeth has a third test hangover
You always hope that major events inspire people to either participate or watch more of sport, but this clearly wasn’t the case in Port Elizabeth.
Last week the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was packed to the rafters as South Africa wrapped up the Test series against Ireland, but unfortunately it was more of a ghost town this weekend which is a shame because the game between the Southern Kings and Highlanders was an entertaining one.
Hopefully more can be done in the area to promote the game and get the locals affiliated to the team as the thought of there not being top class sport in that stunning stadium would be extremely sobering.
6. Amy Perrett breaks new ground – it must continue
Rugby broke new ground over the weekend as after 20 years of Super Rugby, Amy Perrett became the first female match official to officiate in a match as she ran the line in the Rebels vs Stormers fixture.
Perrett comes with a great pedigree of refereeing at the top end of the sport as she took charge of the last Women’s World Cup Final and will also be in Rio to ref in the Olympics.
There was no spotlight shone on her and the utmost respect was shown to her, as you would expect.
Let’s hope she continues to be appointed to matches and in the future is given the whistle herself to take charge of a senior Super Rugby game.
By Andy Daniel
(@scrum5ive)
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