Super Shots

Rua Tipoki fronted up after being caned by the judiciary. Ben Campbell / Getty Images

Painting ruts doesn't fill them
They resorted to Augusta tactics for the Super 14 match at Mt Maunganui without quite the same success. They paint the flowers, spraypaint the grass and dye water in the ponds for televisual effect at the Masters. They spraypainted parts of Blue Chip Stadium at the Mount to cover ruts left by stockcars but the players were less than complimentary about the uneven surface.

Bulls burden
The Bulls have been playing as if their pockets are lined with lead weights, with two losses and a draw from their last three games and semifinal hopes diminishing rapidly. Flanker Jacques Cronje played with an extra burden against the Reds, knowing his brother and former Springbok lock Geo was almost killed in a farming accident in South Africa before the match.

Mystery winds?
Who moved the goalposts? Stormers replacement Peter Grant missed a gimme in front of the sticks, Luke McAlister failed with a few he would normally throw over while someone stole the Hurricanes' radar yesterday.

Gritty Tipoki
Rua Tipoki is a serial offender but few others would have fronted a media conference within hours of losing their livelihood. He was solemn but showed his grit by answering questions about his folly and future.

Doom for No 10
Who would want to fill the No 10 jersey for the Force after Tipoki's victim, James Hilgendorf, became the third first five-eighths to have his season ruined by injury? What a homecoming to look forward to for the bottom-of-the-table side when they play the undefeated Crusaders this week?