Super Rugby: 5 things to watch for

1 Ever worry that Hurricanes boss Chris Boyd might nod off during games?

Sometimes you go to the race track and clock an old digger leaning against the bar with a form book in his back pocket and a 7oz glass perched near his elbow. Those jokers are a pleasure to watch. Their facial features rarely change, even if they have just won a trifecta. If they are outside in the smoker’s arena, they might reach for the ashtray and tap, tap, tap the end of the gasper to celebrate but that’s as animated as it gets.

That’s what Boyd is like in the coach’s box. His offsiders might whack the table or hoot when the Canes score a try, but he seems more concerned about what will happen if he tugs that loose thread on the cuff of his shirt. Good theatre.

Let’s see if the Sharks can make Boyd’s pulse bounce a few notches in Napier on Friday night. Here’s a tip for the Hurricanes: Don’t concede kickable penalties. Robert du Preez proved why against the Blues.

2 Or wonder if the Blues coaching staff have to fight the urge to explode with fury?

After witnessing that atrocity at Eden Park last weekend, when the Sharks ripped apart the Blues

63-40 at Eden Park, the local fans must left the venue feeling as though they had just swallowed a bucket of rotten chicken wings.

Now spare a thought for the Blues’ coaching staff. Pictures of head coach Tana Umaga and his assistants sitting rock steady as they watched their team repeatedly miss tackles reminded us of those infamous photos on Wall Street following the great sharemarket crash in 1987. Umaga and co, like the rest of us, seemed to be in disbelief.

One win from five games means they require a miracle to get out of the porridge. And now they have to visit the Chiefs in Hamilton. Oh boy.

3 How can the Chiefs be so good by comparison?

No, the Chiefs aren’t world beaters. But given their rough start, when they lost 45-23 to the Crusaders and copped more than their share of injuries, their determination and grit is to be admired.

Some reckoned this could be a transitional period for them, with coach Dave Rennie and influential playmaker Aaron Cruden among those to shift offshore.

Instead have won five, lost one. If the appointment of new boss Colin Cooper was initially labelled controversial, it could now be called inspired.

4 Quiz time - who is the Brumbies coach?

The answer is Dan McKellar. No, we are not taking the mickey. Just trying to make the point that here in Kiwiland we often think of the big names when discussing the Brumbies. McKellar has replaced former Wallabies great Stephen Larkham, now with the national side. Eddie Jones, Jake White and David Nucifora are others who spring to mind as previous mentors of this brigade.

McKellar’s job is to knock over the Reds in Canberra this weekend. Once again David Pocock, having returned from his sabbatical, is in action.

5 Can the Jaguares upset the Crusaders?

Of course. Line breaks weren’t a problem for the title holders in their 14-8 win over the Lions in Jo’burg last weekend, but finishing was. Three tries were disallowed. Now the Crusaders have to re-jig their backline again, this time to accommodate the loss of centre Jack Goodhue who has returned to Christchurch with a hamstring problem.

The bye is looming for the Crusaders after this game in Buenos Aires. It will be welcomed.