RUGBY

We have now passed the midway point in the competition and by my calculations, 13 teams are still in the running for the six playoff spots up for grabs. The New Zealand conference will always be tough and although they aren’t necessarily putting teams away, the Chiefs and the Crusaders are business-end specialists. The Australian …

The Super Rugby competition of 2014 has reached the halfway mark and this year’s version has certainly continued to reiterate the power the southern hemisphere possesses in terms of scoring exceptional tries, making huge hits defensively and generally, manufacturing some enthralling play. Round nine saw the Highlanders (vs Bulls), Brumbies (vs Reds), Chiefs (vs Rebels), …

In what was one of the more ‘predictable’ weekends of rugby so far this season, round eight dealt up the traditional upsets, more injuries and all-round solid rugby. The round got underway with the Highlanders edging the Rebels in a high-scoring affair and it was followed on Friday evening by a Brumbies routing of the …

Round seven of Super Rugby proved once again why it is the most arduous and entertaining provincial rugby competition on earth with some jaw dropping upsets, outstanding tries and results that have just led to an even more congested competition log. The round started with the Hurricanes leaving it late to beat the Crusaders and …

  Super Rugby produced a customary mixed bag last round that saw upsets, further injuries to key players and some horrendous displays of refereeing that were very costly to certain teams and at least one of my best bets! The round started in Dunedin where the Highlanders pipped the Hurricanes in a high scoring contest …

Round five of Super Rugby was the most entertaining of the season so far with 429 points scored at an average of 61 points per match! Player skill levels are high, but although there would’ve been a huge emphasis on defense in preseason, offensive play has been far superior. The fifth round kicked off in …

  Four rounds of exhilarating Super Rugby action have come and gone with last week seeing the highest-scoring matches (or weakest defense) of the season thus far. The top three remains the same with the Sharks securing a bonus point victory against their above ground equals, the Lions, whilst the Waratahs and the Chiefs had …

  After three rounds of fascinating Super Rugby action, the genuine contenders are starting to make themselves known, dark horses are lurking and some of the perennial superpowers are occupying unfamiliar spots in the lower half of the ladder. The Chiefs, Waratahs and Sharks remain unbeaten, whilst the Crusaders, who were tournament favourites, sit just …

The first full week of Super Rugby fixtures has concluded and what a weekend it was with blockbuster clashes, more upsets, broken records and some of the predicted front runners really staking their claims for potential premiership glory in 2014. As always, Super Rugby is a tipping nightmare and on Friday, the Chiefs reaffirmed their …