KEY POINTS:
Got your number
From the peculiar refereeing file - and, let's face it, there are several candidates - comes this from New Zealand whistler Chris Pollock in the Force-Bulls game: Bulls forward Anton Leonard upended an opponent at a ruck, right under Pollock's nose. He glanced up at Pollock, who didn't signal a penalty and appeared to give him the okay. At the next stoppage on came a touch judge who reckoned, from considerably further away than Pollock, it was worth a yellow card. Which Pollock duly handed out. What gives?
Do me a Fava
And in the wake of that Force win, how many of their players ran the risk of a Scott Fava-style stand-down by coach John Mitchell. No 8 Fava was punished for breaking Mitchell's alcohol limit after the win over the Stormers nine days ago. We're picking a few Castle lagers slipped down many Force throats in Pretoria.
The great Lateemer
Is it too much to ask South African commentators to get their pronunciation right? The man with the mic in Cape Town persisted in referring to Chiefs flanker Tanerau Latimer as "Lateemer" - as in redeemer. Which, incidentally, is what the Chiefs need.
Huge comeback
And welcome back to former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad who came on for the final minutes of the Sharks' win over the Highlanders. His contribution? Apart from a distinctly dodgy haircut, he missed a tackle in the leadup to Jason Kawau's late try which gave the Highlanders a sniff, and wasn't seen to touch the ball apart from being first on the spot to hug Percy Montgomery for his match-sealing second try.
Eye for trouble
Best glare of the week? Reds coach Eddie Jones after Lloyd Johansson's coathanger on Stirling Mortlock late in Brisbane, which cost the match-winning penalty by Julian Huxley. As Johansson took his seat on the touchline, the camera zeroed in on Jones, whose eyes were drilling holes in his player's back. You didn't need to be a mind reader. "You bloody goat," he was clearly thinking.
No false positives
Also a pat on the back for honesty from Mortlock after the first of two tryless games at the weekend. Asked what the positives were out of the Brumbies' 6-3 win, the Wallaby backline rock paused and said, "I don't know if there was much good in the game tonight." Amen to some straight talking.
No trainspotting
And when was the last Super rugby round to include two games - ie, 160 minutes - without a try? Some statistics are worth chasing up. Not this one, and not an event we're in a hurry to see again any time soon either.
