The Chiefs' win over the Crusaders has been lauded, but the game was littered with sloppy passing and ball-handling errors. According to the Herald's stats guru Tracey Nelson, the Crusaders alone made 14 handling errors.
The impact zone is so tough and the field so crowded that it is difficult enough to retain possession, let alone do anything imaginative and spectacular with the ball. Sonny Bill Williams is operating at about 25 per cent compared with the brilliant ball playing he displayed in league.
This is not to knock rugby, per se. It is a different game, with different facets that turn the fans on. The forward exchanges are fascinating in themselves. Watching Andrew Hore rumble upfield or steal possession is a thrill in itself in a way that is unique to rugby.
But the balance is wrong - there is not enough open-field razzle-dazzle. Penalties still dominate. The kick and chase is on the rise.
Rugby's problems are exacerbated because it is played under artificial lighting and New Zealand's climate doesn't help. A hint of moisture is enough to degrade the ball handling while wind and rain turn games into a stodgy mess.
I've argued before that rugby needs to make the ball smaller and easier to grip. Indoor stadiums with sterile conditions might also be an answer, although an expensive one.
The issue here isn't just about retaining possession or reducing errors. More importantly, it's about creating conditions in which rugby players can do a lot more than just hang onto the ball, and provide the sort of thrills the Warriors did with that try at Parramatta.
There were 12 ball-handling errors in the nail-biting encounter between the Highlanders and Waratahs in Dunedin on Saturday night, which is seven less than the Super 15 average according to Tracey Nelson.
"The advantage of a covered stadium was evident when it comes to limiting the number of handling errors," she wrote in her summary to the Herald. She is almost certainly correct, although a lack of errors can also result from a lack of attacking verve.
Then again, rugby diehards might be happy with what they are seeing. We've all got different tastes.
MALONEY HAS THE GOODS
The small figure of James Maloney is casting a large shadow over the Warriors, and their future. He was quiet in the opening-round defeat to Manly, and dominant in the second-round win over Parramatta. Apart from what he contributes in running, kicking and defence, his control of the tempo was superb and Maloney is - by all reports - the major talker on the field. In a frantic game, his clever kicking bought the Warriors a couple of breathing spaces at just the right moments.
Around Maloney is a lot of extreme talent, to the point that this is potentially among the most brilliant sides ever in the NRL. Any coach who can put Kevin Locke, Manu Vatuvei, Krisnan Inu, Shaun Johnson and the magnificent Feleti Mateo on the field has a right to believe he has a try-scoring machine on his hands. And that's not to mention some of the emerging talent like the bullocking Konrad Hurrell.
But Maloney is the key. With him, these Warriors are major title contenders. Without him, I'm not so sure. His departure to the Sydney Roosters next year is a body blow. The great news, however, is that Monday night's match revealed Maloney is not swayed from the task at hand.
RANGER'S LUCK
Blues wing Rene Ranger is a lucky lad. He deserved a lot more than a two-week suspension for his flying late tackle on the Bulls wing Bjorn Basson at the end of Sunday morning's game.
Ranger went hip first on the back of an unprotected Basson, who had scored a try. The tackle could have inflicted very serious damage. Judicial officer Mike Heron ruled the tackle was reckless, but also claimed Ranger had attempted a legitimate tackle and there was no bad intent. Unless he is a mind reader, how on earth can Heron know that?
ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS
Iain O'Brien is a gem. The former New Zealand cricketer's Twitter attack on match fixing reflects the frustrations that many fans feel. There has not been enough outright condemnation by leading players of the crooked people in the sport.
