Round Four Heats Up

Round four get under way with the Reds left with egg on their face after a toweling in Hamilhole.  So much for their being not far off the pace…it seems the only thing that has been keeping them in it was the fact that their first three games were at home.  It is going to be a long season for Reds fans, and they had better be careful of becoming a ‘next season’ team.  The Reds have been getting good press leading up to every season so far, and they have consistently failed to deliver.  Perhaps Eddie can turn it all around next year.  Also Latham makes the Australian sevens team for the commonwealth games.

For the Chiefs, they have celebrated their return to Hamilton, birthplace of the rich and famous and truly the land where milk flows like water, in style.  Gibbes returns and makes an impression clearly indicating that his leadership is important to the team.  Lauaki continues with his strong playing style, I expect big things from this guy.  Watch out when these boys come up against the loose forward trio of Wellington.  Watching Jerry and Sione go at it should be very interesting.  I can imagine the Colonel and Ronald McDonald rubbing their hands with glee seeing these two lads waltz in the door after the big game!  Could it be that this franchise is starting to come right?  Muliaina would be thinking he has made the right move at this stage.

For a full match report from Aussie click here, and the report from New Zealand click here.

In last night’s other match the Brumbies put away the Cats in the capital in their first home game of the season.  So, the Brumbies remain unbeaten, but the draw they had in the Republic leaves them at the bottom of the top 4 in the competition.  No surprises in this game, except perhaps that the Brumbies were not able to get their fourth try for the bonus point in the second half after running up such a huge lead.  However, I think this has more to do with professionalism than anything else.  These guys always slacken off when they have the game put away.  It is unlikely that the bonus point will hold them out of the top 4 at the end of the season.  Click here for the Aussie view.

As for the Cats, the less said about them the better I think.  Obviously they are miles off the pace in this contest, and are easy beats.  For comment from South Africa click here.

In my view the big game is coming up this afternoon Aussie time.  The Blues against the Crusaders should be a cracker.  With any luck the shoe leather will be kept off the head and body of Ritchie McCaw this year and the Blues can keep most of their players on the field and off the suspension lists this time.  The traditional rivalry is alive and well and Christchurch could be the scene of another classic game.  I would say that the Blues supporters on this site have been muted lately and is a clear indication of the lack of faith in this Blues team….are they going to prove me wrong?  I doubt it, while the Crusaders haven’t played that well the last couple of weeks, they have won all their games.  The Blues on the other hand have posted one win against the lowly Reds.