A dismal week for my tipping this week, almost as dismal as the performance of the ref in the Blues v Hurricanes and Crusaders v Lions matches, Donald's goal kick miss in the Chiefs v Stormers match, Matfield captaincy in the Bulls v Force match, and Whitcombe's tough guy act in all games so far this season...

Of the Stormers game, it was there for the taking.  But everyone's favourite Chief gave it back.  Yes, I blame Donald, it is the easy thing to do, and not just because of his shit play, his sideways running before throwing a hospital pass to his midfield, his miss timed kicks, his, in general, less than professional play, but because he missed the simplest of goal kicks.  This kick was no more than 25 metres out, just wide of the posts, a sitter, considering that he had landed some pretty wide ones already in this match.  Had he slotted this goal, the Chiefs would have stretched their lead to 19-14, and that would have been the winning of the match.
Chiefs forwards got stuck in and got the upper hand by the end of the match I would say, although their scrum buckled and bent.  Their lineout was surprisingly efficient, despite having two dwarfs for locks, and perhaps the loss of Gibbes and the non playing of Robinson thus far won't be so bad.

Standout players from my lazyboy were Bates, who would make an outstanding rugby league prop, carting the ball forward all day, making the hard yards, and occasionally slipping a nice pass.  Ormsby too was a massive presence in the loose, and deserves a mention.  Other than that, most players went pretty well I thought, nothing too disgraceful anyway - even Donald to be fair - it was just the no pressure miss that blew this game...


Bulls 27 v Force 30 @ Pretoria
Managed to watch most of the second spell of this game , and quite enjoyable.  The Force using the 'recycle for ever' game plan, as devised by the Brumbies a year or 5 back, and using it well.  The Bulls big and strong and thick as pig shit (Victor Matfield, take a bow as the first winner of the thick as pigshit award from the TSF).  Not taking the shots at goal which would have tied the game up, first with about 4 minutes on the clock, then twice after.  Take the free points you big moron.  Then you get back into the Force territory, and apply the pressure again, win another penalty, and win the game 33-30.  Even with time up on the clock you take the draw, and earn yourself 2 log points instead of 1.  I hope that the Bulls miss out on the top  4 by 1 point this season, would be the ultimate payback for thickness.
Moment of the match the try to the Force fatty Hardy (I think it was, the prop).  That boys got pretty handy ball skills, dummies, short passes, the lot, and the ability to score tries after multiple phases.  Officially my favourite Australian prop since Harry!


Hurricanes 23 v Blues 22  @ Wellington
Serge Lilo's try from the blatant offside position sunk the Blues in this game, and my tipping!  He was almost playing halfback for the Blues in ruck when the ball popped out and he gleefully scampered the five metres to score.  Umaga behind him looking around waiting for the ref to call him back, but no, no call, 'fair' try, and game over.

Not the most exciting of matches I thought, but for the closeness of the score.  Standouts, like in the Chiefs match, no one head and shoulders above the others, most played to potential and how we know they do! 

Whitcombe Watch:  Carried on his twatish 'look at me, I'm the tough guy' act again, and was answered by Schwalger and Schwalger.  John on the field where they had a peacock strut beside a ruck, and Moe when the Hurricanes scrum buried the Blues, and Moe reminded him that he is kak, and that is why he got that neck injury a season or two ago.  Was all good nasty stuff.

Question.  Are the Blues again going to be the Blues that we know and love, looking shit hot on paper, all the players, all the talent, zero results, or are they going to be the Blues that we saw guts out a win against the Brumbies two weeks ago.  Stay tuned next week when they take on Steady Eddie and the Reds.

Reds 3 v Brumbies 6  @ Brisbane
Didn't see this game, and all I have heard is that Steady Eddie Jones his been whinging again.  Along the lines of 'our scrum is better than theirs and we are getting penalised' and shit like that.  If your scrum is that much better Steady, you are obviously not using it LEGALLY, as the two games now, and two different refs have been penalising you.  Learn from your mistakes you mental midget, and don't repeat them.  You would think that losses are easy to take now for Eddie, after his wonderful last season with the Wobblies when they lost 10 out of 12 or whatever it was...

Great scoreline too - Robbie McDuff would be proud of that.

Cheetahs 30 v Waratahs 26 @ Kimberly
Saw nothing of this game either, but the biggest thing out of this game would be the loss of their captain and Aussie stalwart Phil Waugh.  The nuggety little flanker tore ankle ligaments and is excepted to be out for up to 6 months.

Lions 9 v Crusaders 3 @ Johannesburg
Another Robbie McDuff special.
The Crusaders certainly looked leaderless and All Black-ess in this match.  But despite that fact, it also took one of the worst reffing displays I have seen for quite some time to kill off the Crusaders in this game.  The Tipoki to Laulala pass that was called forward, well, that call was a farce.  Not even marginal.  The pass went backwards, was perfectly legal, but called forward.  Unlike the other 400 passes in this game, and in others so far this Super season that have gone begging, and as per usual, some howlers have not been called.  Makes it hard work though when this happens.  Not only that, there were also many other calls that to me, just seemed to sit on the wrong side of the ledger for no other reason that the ref was looking though one eye during the game.

I hope he enjoys his gold watch.

Sharks 23 v Highlanders 16 @ Durban
Bloody hell, I have not seen the Highlanders play this season.  Will rectify that next weekend, and then can decide which Kiwi team is the most useless this season - them of the Chiefs...