Supershots

Tah for a Lote of the memories
A quick question after watching the Waratahs semifinal loss, with an easy answer: Name rugby's best buy from league. If you chose Lote Tuqiri, give yourself a prize; if you opted for Wendell Sailor, time for a long holiday.

Master Jack
Was Chris Jack's try for the Crusaders the finest piece of rugby continuity this year? Seventeen phases, a blend of skill, teamwork and composure, and it decided the semifinal, moving the Crusaders to 23-8. Game over.

Super-ton Yoda
Well done, Yoda. Crusaders All Black prop Greg Somerville is the latest to join an elite club of Super rugby centurions. For company, he's got Reuben Thorne, Caleb Ralph, Justin Marshall, Anton Oliver, Tana Umaga.

Bulls locked down
The celebrated Bulls/Springboks locking combination had a night to forget at Jade Stadium. Bakkies Botha's 50th game ended before halftime with a recurrence of an Achilles injury picked up during the week. The upside was that his replacement, Danie Rossouw, had a storming game.

Dan fills the breach
This was not Dan Carter's first experience at halfback. The All Black No 10 stepped forward after Andy Ellis was injured and his replacement, Kevin Senio, went to the blood bin. Carter, who wore the No 9 at school, filled in for 10 minutes.

Trio had boots on
And from three halfbacks, how about three goalkickers for the Hurricanes. David Holwell and Piri Weepu had both kicked penalties before substitute first five-eighths Jimmy Gopperth plonked his 50m special to put the Hurricanes in the final.

Did the eyes have it?
Was that an insinuation of eye gouging from the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium? Some of them were clearly unhappy.