Round Three ends in Suspensions...

Well round three finished with a few great games and on field events that should keep us talking for a while.  First of all though, I must give a thumbs up to John Mitchell about whom I have made a few comments on this blog.  This week he has owned up and apologized for the poor performances of the Western Force so far in the competition.  While not actually acknowledging his role, at least he has fronted to a certain extent.  However John, don’t forget that you are coach and now we’ll see if you deserve to keep the position by actually doing something about it.  Click here for the story on that.

The team that has generated the most comments on this blog finally managed to cast off the hoodoo and down the mighty Reds in Brisbane, keeping the luckless Reds winless from their first three home games of season 2006.  This week they are off to Hamilton where the resurgent Chiefs get to play their first home game of the season.  Click here of a match report from New Zealand on the game against the Blues.

My two cents worth on the game is that the Blues were pretty lucky that the Reds inexperience let them sneak in the win with the last penalty.  I am sure that Blues Bugger and the other Blues fans will take the win, however I don’t think that there is much confidence to be had from it.  After all, the Reds are not exactly strong contenders.  Their inability to score tries after the first lucky try, and follow up strong effort from Doug Howlett on the wing must be cause for concern.  However, Nucifora has proven that he can do it, and Troy Flavell also came back to Super 14 well, with plenty of claret in the game.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Click here for an Aussie perspective on the game.

Elsewhere the Bulls bought the Tahs down a peg or two by giving them a beating in the Republic, although it might be said that the Bulls came off second best in the beating department after Matt Dunning and Elsom threw a fair few punches during the match.  I suspect that Dunning was told that there wasn’t enough boerwurst for him at the after match.  The poor leading contender for this year coveted Billy Bunter look-a-like prize fell for it and lashed out at the merciless villain.  So, more suspensions, and clearly there is no place for that sort of thing in today’s game…BUT WASN’T IT GREAT TO SEE AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN IT REPLAYED ON THE NEWS SINCE! I DISAGREE, CLEARLY THERE IS A PLACE FOR THIS IN TODAY’S GAME.  Click here for a report from Australia.

Lastly, the Highlanders scored a victory against the Cheetahs in the 77th minute of the game making it a closely fought game.  Perhaps the Cheetahs will not be the easy beats that everyone was expecting.  A South African surprise (and this time it has nothing to do with an upset stomach).  Click here for a match report from the Republic.

Hope you all enjoyed the round as much as I did.  Looking forward to round four, and check for a few posts at the end of this week looking ahead to the coming round.  Bring it on!