Round two been and gone, and a higher standard of rugby all round as the rust and cobwebs of the off season is blown out, and the ELVs are gotten more used to.  Again only saw the Kiwi teams games, and they are all coming to grips with the new rulings - more than can be said of the Biltong Biting Bastards from Boerland - the AUssies seem to be stuck somewhere in between.

Crusaders and Blues a class above all others at the moment, then a pack of Chiefs, Horrorcanes, Brumbies, Waratahs, Force et al chasing in behind, and then the Boers, who don't seem to have come to grips with them at all. 

Anyway, the games...

Horrorcanes 23, Reds 18

A win's a win's a win, and after last weeks horrible effort against the Waratahs in Sydney, the Horrorcanes will be happy with the points on the board, but still will not be happy with the way they played.

To be fair, it was a huge step up from last week, so they are heading in the right direction, but they were still guilty far too often of just biffing the ball away to no one, and forgetting that rugby is a simple game, and despite the ELVs, you still need to do the basics well to win.  Hopefully if they watched the Crusaders crush the Pathetic Bulls, they will realise that the game does not need to be reinvented. 

Anyway, another disjointed effort, but an important 'W' for the results column.  It will be worrying to the coaching staff that they have been unable to score tries from set pieces, and unable to score a try from phase play, and no tries until about the 100th minute of play this season.  Two tries, both on the counter, from long range, with a healthy dose of luck mixed in has been their lot after 160 minutes of football.  But the most worrying thing about these figures is that coach Colin Cooper seems to be one of the anointed ones that will be heading out with the All Blacks on the end of season tour to coach the mid-weekers.  He and Ferrit Foster.  I am sure their results warrant it...

The Hurricanes only method of attack seemed to be 'give the ball to Nonu', or picks and drives and close in sniping around the breakdowns, which did work pretty well, but hell, what is the rest of the backline doing?  Perhaps having the worst ten in the Super 14 cancels out the back division.  Conrad Smith would love some front foot ball delivered I am sure.  Perhaps Nonu off the wing and into 2nd five might be the answer.  Has to be a pretty desperate question though eh!!

Anyway, standouts for the Horrors this week, up front Andrew Hore backed up last weeks half decent effort with a fully decent one.  Back to his burrowing best in the tight, picking and going and getting the momentum going in the right direction.  His sub though was pretty bloody good too, Hiki Elliot.  Elliot put in a couple of huge hits on defence.  I would almost like an injury to Hore to see if Elliot can hack 60 or 80 minutes, a powerful young bloke that had a huge NPC last season, and looks at home a level above.

Eaton was not as stand out as last week, but still showed he is a class footballer, and 'who the fuck is' Clark played well too, certainly not out of his depth at all.

So'oialo was again everywhere all day.  Having to play well with Tuialli'i also cutting it up with the Crusaders over the first two rounds this season.  A few handling dropsies, but that seems endemic if you are wearing a yellow jersey this season.  He was ably backed up by Masoe, who had probably the best game I have seen from him for a while.  With the new ELVs making an out and out foraging opensider almost a thing of the past, he is a much more effective player.  Collins had another quiet game by his standards

Jerry Collins, down to 103kgs getting fitter than he was last season for the new ELVs, could be a mistake, he does not look as effective as he was last season to me after two games - but then, all the Horrors have looked pretty average over the two games, but for So'oialo and Eaton.

Hurricanes 23 (T Tuipulotu, M Nonu, tries; J Gopperth 2 con, 3 pen
Reds 18 (V Humphries, J Roe, tries; C Schifcofske con, 2 pen)

Bulls 19, Crusaders 54

My goodness, how the mighty have fallen.  I'm betting that the Bulls and Boer sides in the Super 14 are hoping like hell that the ELVs are shelved after this season, as they were plain horrible.  Clueless.  A big fat unfit forward pack, backs with about as much vision as Stevie Wonder, and a game plan that combines the two to perfection about sums up the Bulls in this match.

Although, the 'blind faith in fat bastard forward packs' game plan did work for 30 minutes, and a 12 point lead.  But a large part of this game plan that the Biltong Biters used relies on the opposition making unforced errors, and a team like the Crusaders, well, they are not going to drop the ball for 80 minutes.  In fact, once the Crusaders had stopped dropping the ball, they piled on 54 points in 50 minutes, carving the Bulls to pieces with pace, precision, vision and some good old fashioned 'up the guts' forward driving.

So the Bulls crap, and the Crusaders class, led by "Mr Who" from last week Stephen Brett.  Well, Brett and Carter in 12 and 10.  They looked like they were getting to know each other a little better this week, running some great angles, putting Brett into some gaping holes and ripping the Bulls defence to shreds. 

They were delivered some nice ball from Ellis, who looks at this stage of the season the form halfback in New Zealand - he and Blues veteran Danny Lee.  No surprise really, both behind the two best performing packs in the Super 14.  Ellis classy though, swift clearance and marshalling his fatties well.

MacDonald was quieter this week, as was Laulala, but both still playing good rugby.  Rookie winger Poki looking more comfortable at this level, plenty of gas, and like most youngsters, plenty of confidence to go with it.  He needs to give some of that confidence to Scott Hamilton though.  Hamilton must have had the worst game I have seen from him in a long time.  He will need to pull finger next week, if selected that is - veteran Caleb Ralph might get the start, he was tidy when he came on at centre, as he always is.  Hamilton though, just seemed to make every decision a wrong one.  Hopefully it was 'one of those games', and he will have got the shit out of his system for the year!

The fatties again were dynamic around the paddock.  The difference between the Crusaders forward pack, and the dinosaurs that wear numbers 1-8 for the Bulls was mind boggling.  But I come not to slay the Bulls, but to praise the Crusaders (I am sure there is a quote about Caesar from Shakespeare that I have just butchered in there somewhere).

Starting from the loose trio, McCaw bought out his 'A' game, his support play, and passing game once there was dynamic.  And he has got skin thicker than the average Boer too.  Watch the game, probably watch any game that he plays, and the amount of 'attention' that he gets off the ball, after the tackle, after rucks and mauls have broken up would cause the average man to snap.  Fortunate for NZ rugby, McCaw is far from average!!

He was closely supported by then other two members of the Crusaders flying squad, Reid and Tuiali'i.  Reid was a cut above from last week, a Reuben Thorne-esq game from the rookie, but a bit more dynamic with ball in hand.  And I mean the Thorne dig in a good way folks!  Does the work before getting out and about in the loose.  Tuiali'i not as dominant as last week, but still huge game, a hard man to bring down in the close quarter exchanges, and about the field like an eight has to be these days.  Something the Bulls need to look at - for all their loose forwards.  As Mrs BartMan says to me, size isn't everything...

The tight five had to work hard, and came out on top after absorbing some early pressure, before their fitness took over, and the Bulls lost the plot.  It must be good for a tight five to know that they are not going to have to go racing all over the park to make tackles - that all attacks from the opposing fatties are going to be within 6 feet of the last breakdown.  Certainly saves on energy!

The dynamic locking duo of Thorn and Williams were quieter this week, more involved in fighting off the dinosaurs in close, but they still managed a few ball carries, and Williams, despite throwing 48 dummies (none successful) still managed to give Poki a try after running the young rookie almost out of room!

The front row, Somerville, Franks and Flynn were unbowed at the end, Flynn out in the open running like the loose forward he ended the game as.  And no, he would not have scored a try if he had not shelled that pass last in the game, there were 3 players converging on him like lifeguards onto a drowning man.  I expect though he could have linked and a try been scored, but give a hooker a break will you!!

Lets be frank though, the Bulls were just plain terrible, you could call their play one dimensional, but I don't think it was even that, the Chiefs played their fringe players in a trial a week before the Super 14 started, and that mishmash of players, NPC players in the main, together for an hour before the game, had more collective nous and ideas than the Bulls did.

Bulls 19 (JP Nell try; Morney Stey con, Derick Hougaard 4 pen)/
Crusaders 54  (Stephen Brett, Andy Ellis, Richie McCaw, Kade Poki, Nasi Manu, Dan Carter, Leon MacDonald tries; Dan Carter 5 con, 3 pen).

Chiefs 20, Waratahs 17

You could have built a sandpit in the middle of Waikato Stadium last week, put up a dozen sandcastles, lined up Stephen Donald and Kurtley Beale to kick them over, and after 80 minutes, you would still have had a dozen sandcastles.  Yes, the kicking was that bad, from the hand as well as place kicking - for Donald in particular.  It used to be a crime to miss touch from penalties, but with them being a much rarer fish now (in the happy new world of the bent arm free kicks), those opportunities to gain 50 metres and the lineout throw are fewer and far between.  I would like to know who touted Donald as an All Black this season, what gimps...

Anyway, for the Chiefs, as the Horrorcanes, a win's a win and all that.  No waiting until the 6th round like last season to get into the 'W' column (or was it 7th).  The only disappointing thing would have been missing out on the four try bonus point, but with the horror injury run in the back division hitting the same day that Foster decided to pack his reserves with five forwards and two backs.  Fortunately loose forward Liam Messam is not too out of place at 12!

Not the most pretty of games, but as mentioned, a win is a win for the Chiefs.  Also showed up how badly the Hurricanes must have played last week to lose to this pretty average Waratahs outfit that fired next to no shots at the Chiefs, but still managed to almost grasp a win, thanks to the Chiefs backline disintegration giving an intercept and leaving a hole in defence that you could have driven a Kenworth through to bring the Tahs into striking range.

For the Chiefs playing well, ahhh, well, no one really stood out, it was an all round team performance.  There was some magic, mixed in with a lot of dross from Sivivatu, who dotted down for a five pointer after a 60 metre kick return.  Apart from that, I am struggling to recall any real touches of class.  I must remember to take notes next week when watching.  Ahh, I do remember once class piece of play though, Simms Davison feeding the ball onto Ben May, who then gave Davison the return pass for probably the slickest piece of ball passing from anyone in the match...

Chiefs 20:  Liam Messam, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Richard Kahui tries; Stephen Donald con, pen.
Waratahs 17: Ben Jacobs, Sam Harris, Lote Tuqiri tries; Kurtley Beale con.

Brumbies 22, Highlanders 20

Looks like this season could be a 'Chiefs' season for the Clan.  Two losses, two games they could have won for an ounce of luck and competence from the match officials (the first loss to the Reds, not this one to the Bumboys).

James Wilson with a penalty in the last minutes, from a very handy spot would have won the game.  But the youngster, who had already slotted 4 from 4 I think, choked when the winning of the game was in his hands. 

Not the most inspiring of matches, Mrs BartMan succumbing to sleep before the first half was over telling me that for the general fan, the game was snore inducing.  However, when I nodded off in the second spell too (those ten minute half time breaks are murder), I knew it was an average game!!

However, the end stanza, and the first half were all not that bad to be fair.  Once again, the Clan put up a tidy display, another genuine team effort with few standout players.  But it would be rude not to write up at least some that stood out, one being Vainakolo.  Fark that lad has wheels.  I would love to see him in that Blues baclline at the moment - hell, he would probably look fast even among all those speedsters!!

Steven Setephano was again outstanding carting the ball back up, and around the field in general - NZ seems to have a plethora of 8s at the moment in top form, with Williams, So'oilao and Tuiali'i all on fire at the moment too.  Up front angry bogan Jamie MacIntosh showed that he does have what it takes to compete at this level, as does his propping partner, veteran Clint Newlands.  Two big men who relish the tight exchanges first and foremost, living for scrums, rucks and mauls!  One yellow card between them for the season thus far, I think there will be more!

Brumbies 22:
Highlanders 20:  Fetu'u Vainikolo, Chris King tries;  James Wilson 2 pens, 2 cons.

Lions 10, Blues 55

If the Bulls were clueless against the Crusaders, than the Lions were even worse against the Blues as they were torn a new one by as pretty a display of rugby as you will see in a week or three - maybe the ELVs are not all bad, but then, a good side playing good rugby, under any law variations, will still be a good side - it just removes the bad side from the equation.  Which at the moment, is not all bad, as the Biltong Biting Boers seem to have a mortgage on being the bad side with no skills at the moment!!

So the Blues.  Again, forward power, backline panache, and tries galore from great support play, slick set plays, and before you know it, the Blues are two from two - who is their coach again, that bloody no-hoper Nucifora isn't it...

The forwards just bullied the Lions into submission, to strong, to fast, to skilled, from numbers 1 through 8.  Kaino was again superb at 6, pace, power, handling skills - Jerry Collins had better pull finger, the youngster wants to come into his inheritance now, not in a year or two!!  About half a yard behind Kaino was Nick Williams, back into the sort of form that saw him scoring a bucket load of tries for the New Zealand Juniors in 06.  A pity that the New Zealand union is pinching pennies and not fielding a Junior side this year, a lot of class players are going to miss out.  The power games of these two players were complimented by Justin Collins at openside, who was revisiting the old days when he was a genuine opensider.  Collins support play and nose for the ball was a masterclass - the loose trio as a whole was just Class with a capital 'C'.

They were allowed to roam loose though thanks to the dominance the tight five had - the ball running and skills from Haiu, Flavell and Mealamu in particular better than even the Lions backs at times.  Haiu had a busy game, two tries, a yellow card and in the thick of action for 80, or rather 70 minutes!!  Flavell repeating his form from last season, where he was up there with the best of the New Zealand locks.  Lets hope (for the Blues fans) that he is not burnt out come the business end of the season and gets a game or two off as the season progresses.

The Blues backline is pretty to watch at the moment.  The Evans try from the set piece scrum on the halfway was spectacular.  Two passes wide, and then two back in, and there was no defence left, and Blues players lining up to score.  Again, Class.  Everything the back division did though was at pace, and they always seemed to have time to do things in traffic.  The whole team in fact, their passing in contact was accurate and timely.  If it wasn't on, it would not be thrown, if it was, the pass went, and yards gained.

Back to the backline.  Evans in top form in everything he does, from goalkicking through to field kicking, calling the right backline moves, and lightning quick with the ball.  Looking fit and loving getting some decent ball from an angry forward pack - a lot different from last season with the Highlanders.  Inside Evans is veteran halfback Danny Lee, who is showing his class too.  An 'easy' job though with the armchair ride that he is getting, any half decent halfback would be looking good here.  Lee is more than half decent though, so is excelling. 

Anyone worried about second five any more?  Benson Stanley looks international class after two games to me.  Add in Stephen Brett, and in six months time it'll be 'Aaron wh'o and 'Lucky he left before he was dropped'.  Stanley's wiper kicks from second five were huge, he has plenty of pace, and has been feeding his outsides well.  A very steady looking player, he has combined well with Toeava, who is looking classy too.

Wingers, Rokocoko and Tuitivake both on fire and hungry for work. Tuitivake in this game the busier of the two, but can't complain about either's work rate or effectiveness.  Then you have Nacewa at fullback chiming in at will too.

Is it just me, but does every Blues back outside of Lee at halfback seem to possess express pace, and the ability to clap on the after burners to clear out of traffic at will?  They to me, man for man, are probably the fastest backline in the competition - move over Chiefs, you guys like like Brown's cows heading into milking compared to them!

So all is rosy for the Blues at the moment, up front and out back, at the moment the Super competition looks like a two horse race, Blues and Crusaders.  Early days though.

Blues 55 (Kurtis Haiu 2, Nick Evans, Jerome Kaino, Isa Nacewa, Nick Williams, Rudi Wulf tries; Evans 2 pen, 6 con).
Lions 10 (Jaco van Schalkwyk try; Louis Strydom pen, Chris Jonck con).

Two weeks of ELV's so far - liking them more, but then have been watching good teams use them - I expect if I had watched the Sharks v Stormers game I would be hating them too - although, most of the Biltong Boys will be hating them regardless, being on the receiving end of 50 point drubbings, or having to watch dross when they play their own sides...

Oh, so the other results, the bloody Force snatched a win over the Cheetahs 16-15, and the Sharks snuck past the Stormers 12-10.