Slick Tahs bury Canes
14 May 2010
The Waratahs produced their best performance of the competition to beat the Hurricanes 32-16 and book their spot in the play-offs.
The Tahs took to the field in a jersey that probably matches the wallpaper in Phil Waugh’s bathroom. Perhaps the jersey designers felt not enough people knew exactly what a Waratah was, or perhaps the coaches wanted to distract the Canes with a design so bad it put Stade Francais’ atrocity to shame.
The official line is that the Tahs donned the strip for charity, and they seemed to thrive in the new colours, hammering the Canes up front and scoring some spectacular tries thanks to their sublime support play. The wet conditions should have prescribed a tighter approach, but the Tahs’ tendency to look for the offload had the Canes’ defence scrambling.
The hosts went into this crucial match without their star scrummager, Benn Robinson, and were dealt a further blow when Dan Palmer cried off with injury in the 11th minute. Unfortunately for the Canes, they also lost captain Andrew Hore early on, a loss that seemed to have a greater impact on their scrumming prowess.
The Tahs bossed this set-piece and piled on the pressure through a relentless forward assault on the Canes’ line. The Kiwis were able to withstand the forward barrage and even managed to snaffle a couple of timely turnovers on their own line. But it was when the Tahs ran it from deep that the visitors struggled to get back on defence.
Great offloading complemented penetrative supporting lines until Kurtley Beale received the final pass to dot down. Lachie Turner then created something from nothing, chipping behind the Canes’ defence, collecting the ball, and sprinting upfield. The pass at pace was accurate as Drew Mitchell took the score to 18-6.
Piri Weepu managed to goal a penalty before the break, but the Tahs struck decisively after half-time. Having absorbed plenty of punishment in the first stanza, the Canes defence was lethargic and allowed Mitchell to cut the line. The Wallabies winger found Rob Horne in support and was on hand when the Tahs centre delivered the final offload.
The try and subsequent conversion took the Tahs to a 25-9 lead, and the way the hosts were firing, a Canes fightback seemed unlikely. The hosts had the better of possession and were winning the collisions, a battle that was made easier thanks to the tiring Canes defence.
Another chip over the top eluded a seemingly well-placed Cory Jane as Beale collected his own kick to score. The bounce of the ball was favouring the Aussies, and the try ensured they claimed a bonus point.
The Canes played themselves into the Tahs’ 22, but their desperation was exacerbated by elementary handling errors. Jane knocked the ball over the tryline, and while you could say that the slippery conditions were responsible, the Tahs were getting all their passes away despite the wet.
Turner was sin-binned in the 67th minute but the Canes failed to make the most of their numbers advantage. They spilled a pass from the resulting penalty and then butchered another opportunity when they ran it from deep. The Tahs defended spiritedly, but eventually conceded a try to David Smith.
The Sydney side has played some uninspiring rugby to date, but this performance confirmed why many teams consider them a threat. Their pack is difficult to stop once it gets going, and when they string a couple of passes together, ala the Crusaders, they can translate pressure into points.
They’ll continue to whinge following this win, as the five-point return takes them to second position on the log. Had the Bulls sent their first-string to Newlands and beaten the Stormers, the Tahs would have hosted a play-off.
The Stormers should beat the Bulls B team on Saturday to book a home semi-final, a result that will see Waugh’s charges traveling from Sydney to take on an intimidating outfit in Cape Town. The other play-off should see the Bulls hosting the Crusaders.
By Jon Cardinelli
478 Comments
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14 May 2010, 14:29 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-290: wouldnt surprise me….those saders were magnificent today
14 May 2010, 14:30 pm
@grant10(grant10)-296:
anc is trying to build houses asap,they have no idea what needs to happen first.to rezone land from agricultural to residential takes 2years.only way to speed this up is with a presidential exemption.then you have badly built rdp houses collapsing…
14 May 2010, 14:30 pm
@BuckT(BuckTrendy)-297: @Nils(Nils)-289:
Ahh- thanks for clearing up.
So, still not inconceivable that Newlands may host a final?
14 May 2010, 14:30 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-293: thats what i said 80,
Bakkies has had 2 games, luckily we had Danie, i would rather play him and save Bakkies for 3N and RWC, he is looking tired and we need him more for the Boks than the Bulls
14 May 2010, 14:33 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-300: Trolling, if the Bulls lose the semi to Stormers or Saders i will be here to take the punches and give cu-dos to that team because it wont be easy i tell you that.
14 May 2010, 14:33 pm
@Fern(Fern)-302: ja….huge challenge to all of us….need to trim the red tape i reckon.And find alternative methods to deliver an acceptable quality but cheap method….
14 May 2010, 14:33 pm
Some stats:
1. On average, Super 14 teams win 63% of their home matches, and only 37% of their away matches (i.e. teams are almost twice as likely to win at home than away).
2. 63.8% of yellow cards are awarded to visiting teams, and 36.2% to home teams (you are twice as likely to get carded playing away).
3. On average, away teams concede 14.8% more penalties than home teams.
4. SA teams concede 11.8% more penalties in New Zealand and 13.9% more penalties in Australia than they do at home.
5. NZ teams concede 13.9% more penalties in SA and 11.5% more penalties in Australia than they do at home.
6. Australian teams concede 12.6% more penalties in SA and 10.8% more penalties in New Zealand than they do at home.
CONCLUSION: Home ground advantage is very significant indeed. The statistics also seem to back up the idea that referees are under pressure to please the home crowd – the advantage is quantified as almost 15% more penalties being awarded against away sides, and double the number of yellow cards.
14 May 2010, 14:34 pm
looking @ the hurricanes performance and looking where they are on the log, i must say well done to my afrikaans ppl…we are now by farrrrrrrrrrr the best rugby playing “culture” on the planet….. go BULLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NZ& Maori’s stick with Sumo!
14 May 2010, 14:34 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-304: tough injury to come back from too… takes time to get confidence back.
14 May 2010, 14:34 pm
Bulls have changed their team , they are sending the A team to knock the Strompies out , in order not to play Saders
14 May 2010, 14:35 pm
Stormers 63 – Bulls 13
14 May 2010, 14:35 pm
capebull..a full strenght bulls team won’t beat the stormers @ newlands
14 May 2010, 14:37 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-305:
Honestly not mate. There are plenty of measured commentators here who support all the provinces and I think you are one.
I’m referring to the out and out ovr-the-tops like Tacitus, Heavens game, Xkreni etc.
And the same can be said in reverse for the Skopskiets etc
I hope that all these guys who are confident enough to hurl insults and make predictions will man-up should they be found wanting.
14 May 2010, 14:39 pm
@grant10(grant10)-306:
it’s not red tape.it’s the system.it shows the anc’s lack of planning and lack of knowledge.
it’s showing them up.
14 May 2010, 14:41 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-288: “And Saders always need a Kiwi one…”
Loud cry. Let’s examine that.
Saders did not lose 8 games from 13. In those 8 games they had
32 – 17 vs Highlanders DERBY (win was expected) Kiwi ref
35 – 6 vs Sharks (absolutely desrved whipping) Kiwi ref
33-20 vs Blues DERBY (very decent performance) Kiwi ref
23-16 vs Chiefs DERBY (deserved winners) SAFFA ref
46-19 vs Lions (any doubts?) Kiwi ref
26 – 26 vs Hurricanes (yes, referee’s blunder) and who the ref was? SAFFA Kaplan.
20 – 13 vs Waratahs (again, deserved winners) SAFFA ref
45-6 vs Cheetahs (any doubts again?) Kiwi ref
40-22 vs Brumbies (again, any doubts?) Kiwi ref
as for the losses
20-41 vs Reds (again well deserved loss) SAFFA ref
16-24 vs Force (ditto) SAFFA ref
14-42 vs Stormers (ditto) AUS ref
35-40 vs Bulls (daylight robbery) SAFFA ref
In total we have 6 Kiwi refs, 1 Aussie ref and 6 Saffa refs. Oh, wait, another foreigner in the semis.
so, it’s 6 “us” vs 7 “them”.
And now compare to the Bulls: 11 homies, 2 Aussies, 1 Kiwi.
Go figure.
14 May 2010, 14:41 pm
@Fern(Fern)-314: ja….for me its about service delivery…..the difference between most parts of Cape Town and the rest of the country is obvious…..but no resting on laurels….
politics is a tough son of a b eetch arena…no place for the faint hearted….
14 May 2010, 14:42 pm
@Nils(Nils)-315: correction, 9 wins.
14 May 2010, 14:42 pm
@Nils(Nils)-317: geez, too much wine. 9 “not losses”.
14 May 2010, 14:43 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-309: Yup, but we have some young guns looking to take over soon. You’re a Blues supporter then Poppa?
14 May 2010, 14:45 pm
@grant10(grant10)-316:
recently the anc formed a group that is going to look into service delivery etc.
more lip service
14 May 2010, 14:46 pm
@Fern(Fern)-320: exactly…..committees to ensure people do there jobs….fark me!
14 May 2010, 14:47 pm
On a separate matter and putting my springbok supporters hat firmly on my head, I’m encouraged by the depth in certain key positions for the Boks. Some up and coming, others there already:
Hookers: Du Plessis, Smit, Botha, Liebenberg
Locks: Matfield, Bekker, Botha, Rossouw
Flanks: Deysel, Smith, Burger, Brussouw, Louw, Potgieter
8th men: Spies, Kanko, Vermeulen, Alberts
9′s: FDP, Pienaar, Vermaak, Hougaard (one day)
Centres: Fourie, JDV, Steyn, Olivier, De Jongh
wings: VDH, Habana, Pietersen, Hougaard, Mapoe
All these names wouldn’t let a bok team down.
It’s insane.
14 May 2010, 14:47 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-313: Fair enough vetkoek, luckily i grew up with people much older than myself and copped my fair share of ragging and insults, going hunting with crusty old farmers when the rifle i was holding probably weighed more than i did wasnt easy but i learnt from ta young age how to take it as well as give it, and my belief is if you cant take it dont dish it out and also learnt that big boys dont cry.
14 May 2010, 14:48 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-319: have been for a long time…from when he NPC still meant something..
14 May 2010, 14:48 pm
so we win its a stormers …tahs semi
And a bulls …saders…
mmmm
seems stormers got the better semi…especially as tahs seem to have lost all there props!!
14 May 2010, 14:48 pm
@Nils(Nils)-315: lol…Go figure today and the game against the Canes (Oh dear, just read your analysis, my bad, Kaplan – he was just trying to get into Paddy’s good books. World cup final next year, and more likely a semi, cause the Boks will play the French there)
So count Kaplan as an honorable Kiwi for that game. Just accept the loss against the Bulls and move on. I hope the Saders do make the final against the Bulls. Plenty of Stormersader support too there.
Bulls A and possibly the Bulls B the 2 best teams in the competition, esp if they beat the Graham Henry’s “Best Team in the S14″ tomorrow
14 May 2010, 14:50 pm
@grant10(grant10)-325: And if the Stormercane lose?
14 May 2010, 14:50 pm
@grant10(grant10)-321:
local councillers doing nothing and getting paid R25 000 a month…
14 May 2010, 14:50 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-327: My bad, Stormercanes
14 May 2010, 14:53 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-324: blues were my favourite NZ team but taken a liking to the Chiefs more lately, not sure why though.
14 May 2010, 14:53 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-326: Boks will play Frogs, if they beat Irish before, something that hasn’t been done for years.
Ok, Kaplam is honourable Kiwi (he reffed Kiwi derby, mind you). I’d rather call Bryce Lawrence an honorable Saffa as he last year helped Sharks immensly in 3 games vs Kiwi/Aus opposition.
Plus add good old Marius Jonker who do his best to help his men and old Stu who is the best friend of Waratahs.
14 May 2010, 14:54 pm
@grant10(grant10)-316: Check you in the queue next Monday morning outside Newlands buying tickets for the final.
14 May 2010, 14:55 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-326: Well, for Saders to make final vs Bulls, those “Baby Bulls” have to deliver tomorrow. Otherwise see you in Soweto.
14 May 2010, 14:55 pm
@Nils(Nils)-331: hehehehehehehehe. lol
14 May 2010, 14:55 pm
Former Kwaru rugby forward dies
2010/05/14
Alvin Reeves
FORMER Kwazakele Rugby Union (Kwaru) frontrower Welile Joseph Speelman passed away from a heart condition at his home in Zwide last week. He was 67.
Speelman was a member of the 1975 Kwaru team which won the South African Cup competition.
It was a side that was considered by the masses as being the black Springboks at the time and included the likes of Archie Mkele, Peter Mkata and Present Ntonga.
Speelman started his rugby career playing for Walmer Wallabies in the ’60s. “Bra Weza”, as he was fondly known, also played with and against the likes of Cheeky and Valence Watson, Temba Ludwaba and Dan Qeqe.
His crowning career moment came in 1975 when he was named in that star-studded Kwaru team which won the national cup final.
His funeral will be held at Ebenezer Methodist Church in Zwide at 11am tomorrow.
14 May 2010, 14:58 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-332: ” Check you in the queue next Monday morning outside Newlands buying tickets for the final.”
Hey, exercise a little caution, otherwise you may have bought tickets to the final in Sydney.
Remember, semis have not played yet.
14 May 2010, 14:59 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-330: because they gift 5 points and resemble the lions? lol
14 May 2010, 14:59 pm
@Fern(Fern)-328: no wonder there’s so much corruption. R25k a month? isn;t that just their car allowance??;)
14 May 2010, 15:01 pm
@Nils(Nils)-331: depends on who wins the pool game between France and NZ… winner will be on the side of the draw that meets the boks in the semi..
14 May 2010, 15:01 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-337: nah, i think its just the way they go about their rugby, they just get on with the job, thats my perception of them anyways, also i have a great deal of respect for Mills, he’s a good rugby player and seems like a stand up bloke as well
14 May 2010, 15:02 pm
@capebull(capebull)-310: the Strompies cannot be knocked out. The worst that can realistically happen is that we finish 4th, which means a semi against us at Orlando.
maar wat’s die kanse….
14 May 2010, 15:02 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-338:
and a bodygaurd for fhurk knows what.this is paid by the gov with our tax money.it doesnt matter what party the counciller belongs to that is the salary.if they did something i would not complain.
14 May 2010, 15:02 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-327: dont go there!!
14 May 2010, 15:02 pm
@grant10(grant10)-321: Is your wife campaigning or serving??
14 May 2010, 15:03 pm
@Fern(Fern)-342:
I thought you work in New Zealand – so don’t you pay tax there?
14 May 2010, 15:04 pm
Feel if Stormers win they will have the easier semi against the waratahs. But no matter. The Bulls will relish the game against the Crusaders.
14 May 2010, 15:05 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-345:
Nope I work here,go there to improve their genepool
14 May 2010, 15:05 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-332: ja….for the saders game against us!!
14 May 2010, 15:06 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-339: Right, the same applies to Australia vs Ireland.
Frankly, I’m glad to have Frogs in the pool. Good hard rugby early on, no easy ride like in France07. I am wary of them much more than any other – because we all know South Africa are flying high and Australia are always a potential banana skin. But we usually are in the dark what France can do. Potentially they may be the best in the world on their day.
Others do not count that much, of course, do not forgetting that Irish, Pumas, Welsh and English are decent sides, too.
14 May 2010, 15:07 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-341: The best result tomorrow for the Bulls would be a 2 point losing BP for the Stormers.
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