Crusaders do a Harry Houdini
Moral victories and honourable losses . . . in theory there’s no such things. But we got both on the weekend, as the Waratahs’ fan club claimed they would’ve won on Saturday but for a particular piece of thuggery, while the Blues were praised for losing by only 21 points on Friday.
If Chance Peni was any indication, Crusaders prop Joe Moody could go for a lengthy skate. The Brumbies wing got five weeks for a high and clumsy tackle on Crusaders opposite Israel Dagg and now Sanzaar have cited Moody for contact made on Waratahs second five-eighth Kurtley Beale.
No action was taken at the time by referee Ben O’Keeffe but Sanzaar have said Moody’s actions met the red car threshold.
Former Wallaby, turned television talking head, Stephen Hoiles said hysterical things in the aftermath.
‘‘We need to start running players off the ball. That’s what Australian rugby needs to do,’’ Hoiles said.
So players taking things into their own hands, then? Let’s see how that works out.
Good on Holies. The game needs robust opinions and he offered one. It’s not like he’s part of Rugby Australia’s high performance unit or anything.
Unlike his TV stablemate Rod Kafer, who wasn’t afraid to throw his oar in either.
‘‘That’s an elbow to the throat of a player unprotected. It’s a red-card offence. The try should not be scored. The guy should not be on the field,’’ Kafer said.
The Waratahs were 29-0 up when Moody scored the try Kafer referred to. The Crusaders went on to win 31-29 after Waratahs first five-eighth Bernard Foley missed two kicks at goal that will haunt him a while.
When Australia’s teams are good enough to tip New Zealand’s over, then they will. Heck, it could happen as soon as Friday, when the Reds play the Hurricanes.
It was the Hurricanes who were involved in week 13’s ‘‘honourable’’ defeat at Eden Park. Yes, the Blues lost just 36-15, having led 15-14 at one point in the second half.
The Blues have lost 16 games in a row to New Zealand opposition and not beaten anyone in Auckland since the Cheetahs came to town last May. Yet they’ve been fairly widely commended for not being completely blown off the park by the Hurricanes.
Elsewhere, Sunwolves coach Jamie Joseph was proved right. He reckoned that once sides fell out of playoff contention his team would knock the odd one over. Well, a final score of 63-28 suggests they more than knocked the Reds over.
The Highlanders eventually defeated the Lions 39-27 in Dunedin, while the Chiefs will cherish their 15-9 win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
The Bulls and Rebels were the round’s other winners.