PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND
How can anyone not love Karl Tu'inukuafe? His story, as reported by Patrick McKendry in the weekend, of playing every game for the Chiefs in 2018 as if it was his last, desperate to make the 10 games that would win him a full contract, and the money he wanted for his family, was as touching as it was real. With a smile that could light up the national grid, he's Everyman, if Everyman weighed 135kg, and had a backbone of steel. A catch on his hip, and slick transfer, played a major role in Melani Nanai's try, and in the scrum he was, as always, a wrecking ball.
DOCTOR WHO BRINGS A SPECIAL MACHINE INTO THE CRUSADERS' CHANGING ROOM AT HALFTIME
If you didn't know better you'd swear that for their own amusement the Crusaders allowed other teams to take the lead before humiliating them in the second half. Nobody would have expected the Highlanders to lead 10-7 at halftime in Christchurch. By now plenty wouldn't have been surprised when the Crusaders then scored 36 effortless points in the second half, and won 43-17.
DOES BEN FROM ACCOUNTS HAVE A SECRET LIFE AS JACK REACHER'S RIGHT HAND MAN? In the endlessly impressive career of Ben Smith you can understand his aerial skills, and his speed. He is, after all, built like a sprinter who might also high jump. What's forever startling is how he bumps and fends off hulking opponents, who look as if they should be easily able to rip his arms off and pick their teeth with them. Pound for pound, as they used to say, he just may be the strongest man in rugby.
OKAY, IT'S SUPER RUGBY NOT TEST MATCHES, BUT GEE, HE LOOKS THE GOODS
Even better than the unfussy way Braydon Ennor took his try against the Highlanders was how, in the 56th minute, he caught a cross field kick by Richie Mo'unga, and then stood tall in the tackle of Tom Franklin as coolly as a commuter who knows he needn't sweat it because the 8.10 bus will be along soon. Sure enough, Sevu Reece was on hand for a lovely Ennor offload, and a stroll to the tryline. Ennor's been so good since the season opening match with the Blues he might as well be wearing a sign on his jersey saying "Future All Black".
WHEN A SECOND CHANCE WORKS
Last year Sevu Reece's rugby career was almost over before it had really started when, after being discharged without conviction in Hamilton after pleading guilty to an assault charge, the Connacht club in Ireland withdrew his contract. Remorse and counselling meant the Crusaders were prepared to give him another shot at professional rugby. He's rewarded their faith with electrifying form, and an on field work ethic like Richie McCaw's.
TALKING OF SECOND CHANCES
Israel Folau can believe whatever he likes. But a year ago it was spelled out to him by Rugby Australia, in what I'm sure was great detail, that if he wanted to continue to collect the massive amounts of money they were paying him he had to stop spreading in public his belief that gays go to hell. The hypocrisy of agreeing to zip it, and continuing to take the cash, then saying it again, and still wanting to save his contract, is staggering.
Finally a team picked only on form in the weekend
Fullback: Ben Smith (Highlanders).
Right wing: Sevu Reece (Crusaders).
Centre: Jack Goodhue (Crusaders).
Left wing: Rieko Ioane (Blues).
Second five: Ma'a Nonu (Blues).
First five: Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders) .
Halfback: Brad Weber (Chiefs).
No.8: Akira Ioane (Blues).
Flanker: Matt Todd (Crusaders).
Flanker: Shannon Frizell (Highlanders) .
Lock: Brodie Retallick (Chiefs).
Lock: Sam Whitelock (Crusaders).
Tighthead prop: Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders).
Hooker: Nathan Harris (Chiefs).
Loosehead prop: Karl Tu'inukuafe (Blues).
Reserves: Braydon Ennor (Crusaders), Marty McKenzie (Chiefs), Bryn Hall (Crusaders), Lachlan Boshier (Chiefs), Scott Barrett (Crusaders), Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues), Joe Moody (Crusaders), Andrew Makalio (Crusaders).
