Super Rugby - Round 10 Review & Highlights

We are fast approaching the midway point of the Super Rugby season. Another thrilling weekend of action threw up some surprising results. Here are 5 talking points from week 10.

1) Points. There were lots of them. 483 points were scored across 8 games, at an average of 60 points per game. This was helped by a couple of blowouts in Argentina and Johannesburg, but fans certainly couldn’t complain about not getting value for money this weekend.

2) Another week brings another historical event. The Jaguares recorded their first home win in Super Rugby, thrashing the Kings 73-27. At times, they showed the type of rugby that had many tipping them to be the dark horse of the competition, with their international contingent starting to look like they are getting to grips with the domestic competition. Number 8, Leonardo Senatore, helped himself to a hat-trick, whilst Nicolas Sanchez at fly half pulled the strings and had Kings players grasping at thin air. This was very much a performance of what-could-have-been this season for the Argentinians, but a good springboard to propel themselves into the second half of the season.

3) The Waratahs have blown the Australian conference wide open. Not many fancied them to go to Cape Town and down the Stormers, but they did just that. The red card issued to Stormers winger Leolin Zas proved to be critical, as Michael Hooper powered under the posts in the dying minutes to give the Tahs’ their second consecutive victory after downing the Force last week. This win puts them level on points with the Brumbies, who are in a slump at the moment, two adrift of the Rebels having played a game less. The Australian conference is bubbling along nicely.

4) Congratulations to the Reds, not only for getting their 2^nd win of the season against the Cheetahs, but for also providing a throwback moment with a tighthead scrum leading to a try. The Cheetahs had a defensive scrum on their own five, which the Reds really had a go at and simply drove them off the ball. This led to No.8 Curtis Browning picking the ball up and powering over the line. Something not seen often in today’s game, but always fun to see when it happens.

5) Was that a statement of intent from the Hurricanes, or was it a bad day at the office for the Lions? This season’s glory story were humbled 50-17 at Ellis Park. The ‘Canes were good. Julian Savea was his destructive best on the wing, and Cory Jane rolled back the years to bag himself a couple. The Lions couldn’t get their game-changers on the ball enough - Warren Whiteley was shackled well, Ruan Combrinck showed glimpses, but the Hurricanes power and pace was just too much for them. A very impressive performance.

Rob Seltzer - Writing for www.TheRugbyPod.com