First game of the weekend saw the Chiefs lose their second home game of the season, and their second game of the season, in the second round of the season.  So instead of heading off to Boerland with 8-10 points in the bank, they team based on last seasons NPC champions are heading offshore with 3 points for being 'heroic losers', and without former All Blacks Jono Gibbes and Soseni Anesi, out with a calf injury and fractured neck respectively.  So, business as usual for we Chiefs fans, with the normal protocol being followed over the season...

1.  Write Chiefs off   2.  Get excited as they come back mid season with a string of wins and start challenging for a top 4 spot.  3.  Become gutted as they lose to some third rate side they should spank, thus giving them a finish outside semi final contention, again...

Three times the Chiefs bombed try scoring chances with the line begging, but still managed to snatch a lead late in the game before the big Taranaki ginga, Paul Tito galloped away for a five pointer after David Smith chipped and the Chiefs botched the regather.

Jono Gibbes also continued business as usual, not lasting more than a game or two before being injured - blowing out his calf muscle this time, leaving the Chiefs with next to no locking cover - more so when you look at the non selection of the Bay's Mark Sorenson at the start of the year.  The Chiefs have called in Counties Manukau lock Andrew van der Heidjen to cover both Gibbes and Robinson, who has not yet played a game in anger this year, also due to a calf strain.

Soseni Anesi also broke his neck in this game - or at least fractured it - A CT scan late Saturday morning revealed a fracture to the C6 and C7 vertebrae in Anesi’s neck. He is currently in a stable condition at Waikato Hospital - so will be out for the season one would expect, though no official word on him yet.

Stephen Donald.  I will say nothing about his play, as his play speaks for itself.  OK, one word then.  Ratshit.  Or is that two words.  Either way, that is an apt description of his play.

The Hurricanes were not a lot better than the Chiefs, or not as bad, I don't know.  But they did enough to win, obviously, despite Tana acting like a spoilt child at times.  His dropping the ball over the tryline while doing the one handed plant just unforgivable.  That is probably why he was in such a prick of a mood!

The Hurricanes tight five did enough for the win too - but the tight five without Hore and Eaton, and in fact the whole pack without that duo and the loose trio is a defeinice poor mans version.  The Hurricanes probably the team most hurt by the R&Ring All Blacks.  Taking 5 first string players out of a pack is pretty tough.

David Smith - start the little man - although Hose Gear was pretty magic too, for the first time in his career, living up to his name - probably stole the magic from Rico, who had a less than memorable game for the Crusaders as they struggled to beat Steady Eddie's Reds.

That Crusaders game, it looked ready to split open time and time again for a big Crusaders win, but the accuracy and option taking of the rookie Crusaders side kept this from happening.  Hell it even looked at one stage that the Reds might pull off an unlikely win.

Rico Gear with a game to forget - and his attempted grubber that the Rd winger scored from to bring them right back into the game - a bullet for that please.  I am sure Greg Zampach of the Highlander would be thinking the same thing too, as his kick was scored from too - and the Highlanders lost by 5...

The Reds though, well done to them - smashed the Crusaders lineout to pieces, thanks to good jumping and bad throwing from Flynn, and in general competed well, without really looking good enough to win.  Steady Eddie though was not happy, but then when is he.  Bitching about the scrums and the refereeing of them, but as per usual he is the empty vessel making shit loads of noise.

Storming game from Corey Flynn but for his lineout work, and the young first five, Brett seems the goods - some union should snap him up quick, as he'll get little game time once Carter comes back.  I am sure the Chiefs would like him on board!

I didn't see the Highlanders game, have just read reports and comments and such.  So I won't say how shit they are, as they might not be, but all things are pointing towards that.

The Blues, well done the Blues.  They toppled the Brumbies at their lair, and with style - waiting until the 80th minute to score the match winning try in their 2 try to none victory.  A very character building win for the Blues, and a portent of good things to come.  Maybe now would be the wise time to slip a few bucks onto them for finals time.

Standout players, for various reasons from the weekend, that I haven't already mentioned.

Derren Whitcimbe.  Someone mentioned on the forum that in a pre season game he was running around looking like he was trying to be a tough bugger.  Well, we saw all that again this weekend.  I think the unhappy hooker must have overdosed in angry pills in the off season.  Lots of littlie niggling things from him (and last week I seem to recall too).  It'll come back and bite him on the arse at some time I am sure, and probably the Blues as a team too.

Doug Howlett.  Busy, busy, busy.  Now that he is injury free, he is looking bloody class allround.  Would be first onto my team sheet tomorrow if the All Blacks were playing a test match.

Isa Nacewa.  Curse his minute on the field in the 2003 RWC for Fiji.  He's be a shoe in for the All Blacks I reckon - able to play from 10-15, and kicks the pressure goals!

Campbell Johnson and Nathan White.  Have these two taking to the eating plans for the Welsh props, Jones and Jones?  Both sporting over the top motors at the moment!! 

Brendon Leonard, the Chiefs halfback.  Is this poor bugger the worlds oldest looking 21 year old?  Even my hair wasn't receding that fast when I was 21...  Going to be a Sid Going look a like by 25.  Now, if he has half the skills...!!

Saimone Taumoepeau starting to look Steve McDowell-esque with his running with the ball.  Great to see another prop getting the ball in open spaces, and not because he is lurking and shirking, but because he is breaking through close in and doing the hard yards.