Super Rugby - 5 Things We Learnt From Round 10

1     On the evidence solely of how they performed in Round 10, the Chiefs and Waratahs and Highlanders would appear to be the front-runners as likely competition winners, but the bigger picture shows that too much changes from week to week to venture such a view with conviction. The Hurricanes lost their unbeaten record but are still top of the log, while the Bulls and Brumbies were not very good on Saturday but are top of their conferences. We’ve learned never to write off the Crusaders, and if the Stormers and Lions retain winning momentum, they’re in the frame. It’s only the Sharks, Rebels, Cheetahs, Reds, Blues, and Force whose supporters have had to become reconciled to defeat – though the Rebels and Reds did manage rare wins on Saturday.

2     Until Saturday you may have thought placing an object on the ground was easy. Your little toddler can do it without fuss. Record on your shortlist then of the clumsiest, dumbest things you’ve ever seen on a rugby field, Ardie Savea losing the ball forward in in-goal, unchallenged by any defender, when all he had to do was place the ball on the grass for five points and a probable seven. His Hurricanes team went on to lose to the Waratahs by five points.

3     Right now, there is no-one on planet Earth happier that James O’Connor has returned to Brisbane from his sojourn in London and Toulon than Reds coach Richard Graham. A masterful O’Connor showed wonderful skill and perfect timing in setting up both Reds tries in their win over the Cheetahs – a victory the players needed desperately to restore their reputations and pride and confidence, and the embattled Graham needed urgently to save his job.

4     If All Black coach Steve Hansen is at all concerned by how little all-time superstars Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are contributing to the Crusaders campaign and how modest Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock’s contributions have been, he will take heart from the excellent performances of other All Blacks such as Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, and Jerome Kaino up front, and among the backs Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Conrad Smith, and Malakai Fekitoa, plus with sometimes limited opportunities, Julian Savea and Cory Jane.  

5     Wallaby coach Michael Cheika must surely be looking at David Pocock or Michael Hooper as captain of Australia ahead of Stephen Moore.