Super Rugby report card
BULLS Played: Position: Points: against: under: Unsung hero:
Assessment:
Grade:
Won:
Lost:
8 5 3 3rd overall (1st SA) 24 19
16 Handre Pollard Trevor Nyakane Rudy Paige
It’s been an up-and-down season for the three-time champions.
They’ll be ruing losing at Loftus Versfeld in their first two games – against the Stormers and Hurricanes – and, having also lost to the Lions two weekends ago, they have a tough second half of the campaign ahead.
They may be conference leaders in South Africa, but the Bulls still have to tour and their form isn’t as consistent as the coaching staff would like.
Several individuals have performed extremely well, but as a collective there are still question marks about whether they have the game to go all the way. 7/10
Tries for: Tries Standout performer:
Bubbling CHEETAHS Played: Won: Position: Points: against: Bubbling under:
Unsung
Lost:
8 3 5 12th overall (5th SA) 13 17 28 Heinrich Brussow Coenie Oosthuizen
Joe Pietersen
Tries for: Tries
Standout performer:
Assessment:
hero:
After a flying start to their campaign in which they picked up back-toback wins against the Sharks (away) and Blues, the wheels came off; Naka Drotske’s side lost their next five games in a row. We must remember, though, that three of those defeats were on the road, so the good news is they have toured, and picked up a victory in their final game.
With Heinrich Brussow now back and fully fit, the Cheetahs look a different team, and they’ll be hoping for a good run in this second part of the competition.
They will, however, have to tighten up their leaky defence.
4/10
Grade: LIONS Played: Position: Points: against: Bubbling under:
Unsung hero:
Assessment:
(before
Won:
Grade: SHARKS Played: Won: Position: Points: against: Tries for: Tries
Standout performer: under: hero:
Assessment:
Lost:
9 5 4 7th overall (3rd SA) 21 11 19 Warren
Tries for: Tries
Standout performer:
Whiteley Franco
Warwick Mostert Tecklenburg
Oh, how they must wish they could have pulled through against the Hurricanes and Stormers. Johan Ackermann’s team dominated those early clashes, yet somehow managed to lose.
But they hit back on tour, picking up three wins, and with further victories against the Bulls and Sharks are in the race for the play-offs.
They’ve been impressive in winning close games, while their defensive work has been outstanding.
Some seriously talented individuals have emerged in the past six weeks, which is encouraging for the future, but if they’re to be a factor later on they’re going to need to score a few more tries. 8/10
Lost:
9 4 5 9th overall (4th SA) 20 19 23 Pieter-Steph du Toit injury) Marcell Coetzee Renaldo Bothma
There’s no point denying it – even coach Gary Gold admits it: the Sharks
Bubbling
Unsung
are not in a good place right now. In fact, it’s been a miserable competition so far for one of the early favourites.
Ill-discipline has cost them big time – three players are serving lengthy bans for foul play – while their general form has left much to be desired.
They looked better against the Lions last weekend, but they’re nowhere near playing to their potential, and with a tour to come have it all to do if they’re to live up to their highprofile billing. Injuries to Pat Lambie and Pieter-Steph du Toit haven’t helped their cause.
5/10
Grade: STORMERS Played: Won: Position: Points: against:
de
Lost:
8 5 3 6th overall (2nd SA) 22 17 17 Damien
Tries for: Tries
Standout performer:
Allende
Bubbling under:
Unsung hero:
Koch Kolbe
Assessment:
Vincent Cheslin
It’s been an interesting campaign by the men from Cape Town, and the jury’s still out on whether they’ve actually got the goods to be considered serious title challengers.
They won their first four games and looked to be on course to set the bar extremely high, but came unstuck against the Chiefs (at Newlands), while they also lost their first two games on tour.
The win last weekend against the Waratahs was impressive – and crucial – and they look to be back on course.
Their set phases have been excellent, and with a string of games in South Africa lying ahead they’re likely to top the local conference. 7/10
Grade: