KEY POINTS:
Anyone doubt how Springbok coach Jake White will play it at the World Cup? Just watch the Bulls and Sharks. The Bulls probably displayed the template in taking the Blues apart: hard, rugged, uncompromising, ferocious etc etc up front and a quality No 10 to organise it all. Pretty uncomplicated, pretty effective.
Thank goodness we've got more
And then there were three. Jason Eaton's six-month absence with cruciate knee damage makes it three All Black locks sidelined during the Super 14. While Chris Jack is targeting a return to the Crusaders for the playoffs after knee problems, both James Ryan and Eaton are out of World Cup contention. There's still (in no special order) Ali Williams, Keith Robinson, Greg Rawlinson, Troy Flavell, Reuben Thorne ... don't panic.
Keep your mind on the game
Memo Mex: Re Hurricanes v Highlanders. Enough with the innuendo. Stick with the play. You know what we're talking about ...
When the coaching never stops
Pity the poor blokes on the end of coaches' microphones. What on earth is all the yabber about? Rassie Erasmus is only the latest to catch our eye with his constant babble during the Cheetahs' loss to the Force. And don't get us started on all those waterboys relaying the instructions. At what point do coaches leave grown men to make decisions for themselves? Unless, we've got it all wrong and Erasmus was merely ordering takeways for after the game.
Fond farewell to all that tape
A farewell to three fine Brumbies, George Gregan (135 Super rugby games), Stephen Larkham (115) and Jeremy Paul (111), all off to pastures new, lucrative and European. And they left Canberra with the right result. The Brumbies physio will be glad to see the back of Larkham in one respect - he'll have more tape left in his kitbag at the end of next season. He must work his way through a few kilometres of the stuff, judging by all the wrapping the Brumbies need.
The head has it
Is Crusader Scott Hamilton heading for the Newcastle Falcons? He must be a contender to join Jonny Wilkinson and Carl Hayman after producing a beauty off his bonce against the Brumbies when he misjudged an up-and-under. (Falcon, by way of explanation, is the popular Aussie slang for an unintended header).
