Well rested after a bye last weekend, the Chiefs are on fire and back in action in round ten action from the Super 14 this Friday. But waiting for them is competition leaders Crusaders who haven’t lost a game and were still too good for the hapless Lions, beating them 31-6 last weekend, despite resting their key players.
The Chiefs have the home advantage for this game, and a team beginning to click on attack. It will be their defence and ability to win the battle up front that will determine their chances. The Chiefs will need a positive result to put them back in the frame. They currently lie eighth on the table.
The second placed Sharks face a stiff test against the Brumbies in Canberra. They survived a tough test against the unlucky Highlanders in Dunedin last weekend. Highlanders wing Fetu’u Vainikolo was in hot form scoring a try which takes him to the top of the Super 14 tryscoring list.
The Brumbies go into this contest desperately needing a win to keep them in the playoff race, and will be confident after disposing of the sorry Blues in Auckland last Saturday.
The Blues plummeted from the top four after their 11-16 loss to the Brumbies. They are in dire straits after their third straight loss and look like a team without direction and purpose. The injection of seldom used wing David Smith was the Blues only spark. Questions that should be raised by coach David Nucifora, who continues to be hounded by the media with rumours circulating about his alleged departure for Australia at the end of the season are; should Nick Evans be shifted to fullback to allow the Isa Nacewa to move into the first five to get the stagnant Blues backline moving? Why isn’t Smith starting? Should Anthony Tuitavake be moved to his more comfortable position at centre, and Isaia Toeava moved into second five where he played so well last season? Are the loose forwards lacking mobility? Why aren’t the Blues, laden with ball carriers up front, not using the pick and go more to break down opposition defences?
In fifth place and with the Waratahs now overtaking them into fourth, the Blues need an answer now, but the bye this weekend will only see them plummet further down the ladder.
The Waratahs are improving by the week, a good win over the Blues and now the Force accounted for, they should beat the Lions in Sydney this week which will make sure they stay in the top four.
The Hurricanes face the Stormers this weekend with the heads up after demolishing the Bulls in Pretoria 50-22 last weekend. It was the best performance by a Hurricanes side in years and comes after their lacklustre performance draw against the Sharks in Wellington. The Stormers in seventh are not to be underestimated though having scalped a few of the top teams already, and in good form after seeing off the Cheetahs last weekend.
Round 9 Results
Highlanders 17-19 Sharks in Dunedin
Highlanders: Tries: Newland; Vainikolo; Cons: Wilson (2); Pens: Wilson;
Sharks: Tries: Botes; Kankowski; Pens: Steyn; Pienaar (2);
Crusaders 31-6 Lions in Christchurch
Crusaders: Tries: Ellis; Maitland; Paulo; Ralph; Pens: Gard (3);
Lions: Pens: Jonck (2);
Blues 11-16 Brumbies in Auckland
Blues: Tries: Wulf; Pens: Evans (2);
Brumbies: Tries: Lealiifano; Pens: Gerrard; Mortlock (2);
Force 12-17 Waratahs in Perth
Force: Pens: Giteau; Shepherd (3);
Waratahs: Tries: Horne; Turner; Cons: Beale (2); Pens: Beale;
Stormers 34-22 Cheetahs in Cape Town
Stormers: Tries: Bekker; Jantjes; Januarie; Naqelevuki (2); Cons: Grant (3); Pens: Grant;
Cheetahs: Tries: Barnard; Brussow; Strauss; Cons: Barnard (2); Pens: Potgieter;
Bulls 22-50 Hurricanes in Pretoria
Bulls: Tries: Engels; Spies; van Heerden; Cons: Hougaard; Steyn; Pens: Hougaard;
Hurricanes: Tries: Elliott; Jane; Masoe; Paku; Smith; Nonu (2); Cons: Gopperth (6); Pens: Gopperth;
Round 10 Draw
Apr 18 Chiefs - Crusaders Hamilton 7:35 PM
Apr 18 Reds - Force Brisbane 9:40 PM
Apr 19 Waratahs - Lions Sydney 7:30 PM
Apr 19 Brumbies - Sharks Canberra 9:40 PM
Apr 20 Bulls - Highlanders Pretoria 1:00 AM
Apr 20 Stormers - Hurricanes Cape Town 3:05 AM
• All dates and times are NZT
Super 14 2008 Standings
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | B1 | B2 | TOTAL |
| Crusaders | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 279 | 79 | 6 | 0 | 38 |
| Sharks | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 150 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| Hurricanes | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 184 | 133 | 3 | 1 | 26 |
| Waratahs | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 160 | 133 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| Blues | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 238 | 187 | 3 | 2 | 25 |
| Force | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 174 | 185 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| Stormers | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 168 | 147 | 4 | 3 | 23 |
| Chiefs | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 225 | 222 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Brumbies | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 173 | 198 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Reds | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 155 | 199 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Highlanders | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 152 | 183 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Cheetahs | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 183 | 266 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Bulls | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 173 | 280 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Lions | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 124 | 226 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Try Scorers
Fetu’u Vainikolo, Highlanders 5
Lachlan Turner, Waratahs 4
Lelia Masaga, Chiefs 4
Stephen Donald, Chiefs 4
Tonderai Chavhanga, Stormers 4
Andrew Ellis, Crusaders 4
Daniel Carter, Crusaders 4
Ryan Cross, Force 4
Chris Masoe, Hurricanes 4
Ma'a Nonu, Hurricanes 4
Casey Laulala, Crusaders 4
Peter Playford, Brumbies 4
Joe Rokocoko, Blues 4
John Roe, Reds 4
Jongi Nokwe, Cheetahs 4
Liam Messam, Chiefs 4
