Chris Rattue: Super 15 form hard to nail down
At the heart of what is among the most inept run of performances in NZ rugby is Andrew Hore, rugby's thug of the year in 2012, writes Chris Rattue.
At the heart of what is among the most inept run of performances in NZ rugby is Andrew Hore, rugby's thug of the year in 2012, writes Chris Rattue.
The much-hyped match to decide Australia's dominant Super 15 team proved inconclusive after the Reds and Brumbies were deadlocked in a 19-19 draw.
This weekend marked the halfway stage of Super rugby's regular season, and as the dust settles on another round in which the New Zealand teams were less than impressive, it's worth asking - what's going on in our game?
The game see-sawed, emotions were high, punch-ups nigh - and the battle for the top of the Australian conference was spiced by individual battles for Wallabies jerseys against the Lions.
For the first time in Dave Rennie's coaching reign, the Chiefs' performances and results are posing more questions than providing answers.
The hunt for a victory continues for the Highlanders. For the Crusaders, a different quest - how to rediscover their attacking edge.
Join us here for our live blog of the Crusaders taking on the Highlanders from AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
The Crusaders perform best when they play with desperation and a burning sense of injustice, so the Highlanders would be advised to prepare to dodge the metaphorical kitchen sink in Christchurch tonight.
The tension between the Brumbies and Queensland has reached boiling point ahead of tonight's huge Super rugby derby, with both sides taking pot-shots at each other's ill-discipline.
Hurricane Dane Coles has been ruled out of tonight's match against the Western Force with a fractured eye socket and could be sidelined for up to six weeks.
The Blues' fortunes have risen in the Super 15 and so have their crowds.
The Blues are being primed to overturn an unpalatable Super Rugby pattern which has affected New Zealand teams.
The tough part for the Blues is still in the distance, nine games on the trot including a trip to South Africa.
The Super 15 took another smack to the chops and this time it was delivered by the greatest of All Blacks, Richie McCaw, who has extended his Super holiday.
The Blues are talking about defence like it is rugby treasure. They have unpicked the lock on that booty and are discovering the gleam it can deliver.
Multiple pitch invasions in the final minutes of the thrilling Western Force defeat of the Crusaders in Perth last night have been described as "unacceptable''.