Stormers jou lekka ding!
Wow, only one home team won their Super Rugby first round game!
Never has this happened before.
For tipping it was not good for most. However, for Super Rugby this was great.
So many upsets!
The biggest of them all was the Rebels, who has never won a game in the Republic nor 'Across the ditch' before, beating the mighty Crusaders in Christchurch.
Yes, we know the Crusaders are infamous slow starters. However, were they thinking of the CWC or what? Did they just think they have to pitch up for the game and win?
The Force was just as big surprise as they never won any of their first round games ever. To beat the defending champions in Sydney, great!
The Stormers surprised yours truly (I'm ashamed as I'm a Stormers supporter, that I didn't have faith) to thoroughly beating the Bulls at the 'fortress'. The scrums of the Stormers were excellent! When last did you see a Bulls pack 'eating from the floor' like that?
Steven Kitshoff is the most underrated loosehead in the Republic. His work rate is above any other props. Vincent Koch can also hold his head up in the sky after a very impressive Stormers debut. I'm sure Gert Smal will be looking to make this a permanent pen-on-paper thing soon!
Damian de Allende overshadowed the now 'crashballer' Jan Serfontein! Why, why, why, Jan did you go to the Bulls? Money and Heyneke Meyer's history with the Bulls of course! You should have listened to the 'Doring of Despatch' as he would have warned you that they will over coach all your flair out of you and change you into a one dimensional centre!
If Heyneke Meyer is going to consider Francois Hougaard for the World Cup as a utility player, it would be foolish! His service at No.9 is not Test level and he is not better than Cheslin Kolbe with ball in hand on the wing. So pick three scrumhalves or coach Kolbe to cover for No.9 (he has some experience there playing Sevens), but, take him with instead of Hougaard. If one of the two first choice scrumhalves get injured, Mr Meyer you can recall a replacement. Kolbe has magic with a capital M!
Juan de Jongh, again showed how centres should cut a line with silky feet. JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, JP Petersen had numerous chances in the channel for the Boks without constant success while de Jongh has been thrown on the not-good-enough pile! What rubbish! De Jongh's defence is also better than those three.
The Cheetahs shocked the Sharks in the 'tank' and just like the Sharks, the Lions also lost a front tooth after game one. The injuries to Tendai Mtawarira and Lodewyk de Jager is not that SOS yet. De Jager is over rated and a 'jolly jumper'. There are better options than him. Mr Meyer should send a friendly text to Andries Bekker and tell him his country needs him!
Put your 'balls on the guillotine' – Round Two (my choices in bold)
Chiefs v Brumbies
Rebels v Waratahs
Bulls v Hurricanes
Highlanders v Crusaders
Reds v Force
Stormers v Blues
Sharks v Lions
Who lost their 'balls on the guillotine' in Round One?
* Biscuit award: JP Le Grange did the best with 3/7! 2/7: Bigbokkie, BarkVallas and Bylion
* Wooden spoon or 'onion' award: for 1/7 are shared by AussieBoer, Cordo and Die Bok!
AussieBoer (Kevin D)
@rugby365com
