All round, it was a pretty bad day for The Blues’ back row Luke Braid.

Not only did John Kirwan’s Blues fall to defeat against the Hurricanes, their fifth consecutive reversal of the season, but back row Luke Braid took a knee straight to the face for his troubles.

Braid can perhaps take solace in the fact that it could hardly go worse for him on the pitch.

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Now, this is New Zealand conference Super Rugby at it’s very finest.

With the sound of the half time hooter reverberating in their ears, both teams- Hurricanes and Blues- set upon producing a three minutes sequence of Rugby, heavy with offloads and incisive running lines, that wouldn’t look out of place in a Barbarians game.

Eventually, in a lightning counter attack Hurricanes winger Matt Proctor scored a 43rd minute try capping a sequence of Rugby that deserves to be immortalized in a museum.

Clip Credit: Loyaldogs-Daily Motion

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Sean Maloney, of Rugby HQ fame, brings us the latest Fox Sports ‘The Shortball’ round up.

Here, we can see the highlights of another typically entertaining Super Rugby round of fixtures.

Youtube Credit: Fox Sports Australia

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The Hurricanes, Stormers, Brumbies and Chiefs are all flying high, while last year’s finalists find themselves at the wrong end of the table.

Chiefs V Highlanders

Last week, the Chiefs really put a stamp on their title claim with a thumping win over the Crusaders.

In 2015, the Chiefs look like the real deal. The combination of SBW and Aaron Cruden is proving devastating. While the Highlanders claimed their second win of the season over the Reds, the Chiefs are a completely different prospect. The Highlanders will need to get more quality ball out to players such as Fekitoa and Naholo to really push this game.

Prediction

The Highlanders may feel like they’re on a bit of a roll, with a gutsy victory over the Reds last weekend, but the Chiefs outclass the Reds in every aspect. And being played in Hamilton, I feel the Chiefs will prove too strong for the men from Dunedin. Cheifs by 15.

CHIEFS: Tom Marshall; Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, James Lowe; Aaron Cruden, Augustine Pulu; Liam Messam (capt) / Maama Vaipulu, Sam Cane, Johan Bardoul; Michael Fitzgerald, Matt Symons; Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Mitchell Graham, Michael Allardice, Michael Leitch / Maama Vaipulu, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, Andrew Horrell.

HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith (co-capt); Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne; Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith; Nasi Manu (co-capt), Elliot Dixon, Gareth Evans; Joe Wheeler, Mark Reddish; Ma’afu Fia, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Ross Geldenhuys, Tom Franklin, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.

Brumbies v Force

The hard-nosed and disciplined Brumbies should prove too strong for the one-dimensional Western Force.

The Canberra-based side have conceded one try in three games and have a lethal attack to complement their stoic defence. Steven Larkham’s side have also been awarded more penalties than any other team and conceded the fewest.

The return of Nick Cummins for the Force will provide some much-needed spark and hopefully a change in tactics from coach Michael Foley, who prefers to play a tight, forwards-based style.

Prediction

The Brumbies look set to show why they are top of the Australian conference and five-points clear of the fourth-placed Force. And with the game being played in Canberra, I can’t see the Force getting on top. Brumbies by 17.

BRUMBIES: Robbie Coleman, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ita Vaea, Jarrad Butler, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Rory Arnold, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Blake Enever, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Jesse Mogg.

FORCE: Luke Morahan, Marcel Brache, Kyle Godwin, Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, Nick Cummins, Zack Holmes, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Chris Alcock, Brynard Stander, Steve Mafi, Sam Wykes (c), Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Pekahou Cowan. Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Oliver Hoskins, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Kane Koteka, Ian Prior, Sias Ebersohn, Luke Burton

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This video should excite any Clermont fans among you.

Recently, the Clermont Ferrand based club announced the signing of Fijian born former New Zealand U20 and Sevens star, Waisake Naholo, to replace the outgoing Toulon bound winger Napolioni Nalaga.

A player of Nalaga’s calibre will be hard to replace, but, as this video proves, Naholo is certainly capable of replicating or even surpassing Nalaga’s imperious Clermont record.

Initially stepping the Reds’ Campbell Magnay, Naholo evades two more tackle attempts before diving to score the games decisive try in the corner.

Clip Credit: Le Rugbynistere-Daily Motion

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Melbourne Rebels’ Mike Harris’ looping underarm pass facilitated a simple run in try for Sefanaia Naivalu in last weekend’s clash between Waratah’s and a the Rebels; but the question remains, was the pass borne from an audacious moment of quick witted Rugby thinking or was Lady Lucky a factor?

Clip Credit: Le-Rugbynistere

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Naholo Signs Two Year Deal With Clermont

Clermont Auvergne have announced the signing of highly promising Fijian born New Zealand winger Waisake Naholo.

Naholo, who boasts a Junior World Cup Title with the Baby Blacks as well as several tournament appearances with the All Blacks Sevens’ team, will move to Clermont from the Highlanders and is tasked with replacing Julien Malzieu who has agreed to move to Montpellier.

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In a tackle any back row would have been proud of, Western Force winger Marcel Brache felled Will Genia with aplomb in last weekend’s Super Rugby clash between the Queensland Reds and the Western Force.

Running the ball from a quick line out in typical proactive Genia fashion, the diminutive scrum half was rocked backwards by the power and peerless technique of Forces’ winger, Brache.

Youtube Credit: Western Force

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Highlanders V Crusaders

The good news for the Crusaders is that they probably can’t play any worse than they did in their opening loss to the Rebels. Their error count was through the roof in a listless display. They have made five changes to the starting side including the return of Israel Dagg while Colin Slade is at 10 with Dan Carter sidelined with a leg injury.

Hard to get a read on the Highlanders who will have seven debutants in the squad for their first outing of the season. It may take the Crusaders another week to get up to pace with the Highlanders to benefit.

Prediction

Crusaders are notorious slow starters, and the Highlanders are playing at home. The bookies have the Crusaders as favourites, but I’m going to tip those from the south in a bruising encounter. Highladers by 4.

HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith (co-capt), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-capt), John Hardie, Elliot Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Tom Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Kane Hames, Ma’afu Fia, Mark Reddish, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Jason Emery, Marty Banks.

CRUSADERS: Israel Dagg, Robbie Fruean, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Johnny McNicholl, Colin Slade, Mitchell Drummond, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd (capt), Richie McCaw, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Billy Guyton, Tom Taylor, Nafi Tuitavake.

Reds V Force

All eyes will be on Reds five-eighth James O’Connor, who makes his first appearance of the season along with fellow big name recruit Adam Thomson. Queensland will be hoping the former golden boy can spark the attack, which was put under immense pressure in their drubbing by the Brumbies.

But the Force are flying high after putting the defending champion Waratahs to the sword in Sydney. They showed plenty in attack against NSW, scoring four tries, and they haven’t lost to the Reds in their last five matches. That could be extended to six.

Getting my weather girl on

This game is no certainty to go ahead, severe tropical cyclone Marcia is baring down the eastern coast line of Australia, and is expected to hit Brisbane right around kick-off on Saturday night. A call on whether or not the game will go ahead will be made at 8am local time in Brisbane (+10 GMT).

Prediction

Recent developments in regards to Karmichael Hunt, the Reds challenge is not only to shake off last week’s thrashing at the hands of the Brumbies, but also to get concerns about their vice-captain out of their heads.

On the other hand the Reds can only play better than they did last week, but the wet weather will play into the hands of the Force, who like to play a tight, forward dominated game. Force by 8.

REDS: James Slipper (capt), Saia Fainga’a, Sam Talakai, Marco Kotze, James Horwill, Adam Thomson, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, James OConnor, Lachie Turner, Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Chris Kuridrani, 15 TBA (likey to be JJ Tuilagi).
Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Tom Murday, Curtis Browning, Nick Frisby, Sam Johnson, Campbell Magnay.

FORCE: Zack Holmes, Luke Morahan, Kyle Godwin, Junior Rasolea, Marcel Brache, Sias Ebersohn, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Chris Alcock, Angus Cottrell, Adam Coleman, Sam Wykes (capt), Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Francois van Wyk.
Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Oliver Hoskins, Steve Mafi, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Luke Burton, Mitchell Scott.

Stormers V Blues

It’s danger time for the Blues, as they head to the Republic for two weeks after losing their season opener at home against the Chiefs. And it won’t be a toothless Stormers outfit awaiting them either. The men from Cape Town knocked over the much-hyped Bulls last week to get their season off to a flyer.

Springbok and Stormers prop Frans Malherbe makes his return from injury, while Test flanker Siya Kolisi and winger Kobus van Wyk may also make their returns. The Blues have an exciting backline, but they failed to fire last week, and the side conceded more clean breaks, metres and offloads than any team in the comp.

Prediction

The Blues will have it tough in Cape Town. If the Stormers perform the same way they did against the the Bulls last week, the Blues will be up against it. The bookies have the Stormers as a heavy favourite, and so do I. Stormers by 12.

STORMERS: Cheslin Kolbe, Johnny Kotze, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen (capt), Michael Rhodes, Rynhardt Elstadt, Ruan Botha, Jurie van Vuuren, Vincent Koch, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble, Wilco Louw, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones

BLUES: Charles Piutau, Ben Lam, Hamish Northcott, Francis Saili, Tevita Li, Ihaia West, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino (capt), Brendon O’Connor, Steven Luatua, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Angus Ta’avao, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Braid, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Bowden, Lolagi Visinia.

Sharks v Lions

The Lions came into 2015 with their typical promising signs of change, but in round one they once again failed to back it up with a loss to the Hurricanes. On the other hand the Sharks – who finished third last year – fell to South Africa’s least favoured team the Cheetahs.

However they finished very strongly and it was only a knock-on over the tryline in the 79th minute that cost them a win, so expect the Sharks to dust themselves off and bounce back here. That said, if they do fall to their perennial underachieving countrymen there will be a lot of worried Sharks fans. And rightly so.

Prediction

On paper, you’d have the Sharks in an easy one, but the boot of Marnitz Boshoff may change that. The Lions will have to work for a full 80 in defence to stand a chance. Sharks by 18.

SHARKS: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, Waylon Murray, Heimar Williams, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Tera Mtembu, Renaldo Bothma, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (capt), Dale Chadwick.
Reserves:Kyle Cooper, Thomas du Toit, Matt Stevens, Marco Wentzel, Jean Deysel, Conrad Hoffmann, Fred Zeilinga, Andre Esterhuizen.

LIONS: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Howard Mnisi, Courtnall Skosan, Marnitz Boshoff, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley (capt), Warwick Tecklenburg, Derick Minnie, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen.
Reserves: Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe, Julian Redelinghuys, JP du Preez, Ruaan Lerm, Faf de Klerk, Elton Jantjies,  Harold Vorster

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There’s only been one round played, it’s a bit early to be calling it. Especially when many of the New Zealand and South African teams are resting stars.

Chiefs V Brumbies

The Chiefs are bringing back their stars, and the Brumbies have lost David Pocock, yet again, to injury. Fortunately it’s his ankle, not his knee on this occasion, and he will be back in 4-6 weeks.

Returning for the Chiefs are All Blacks forwards Brodie Retallick and Liam Messam, while flyhalf Aaron Cruden will rekindle his partnership with superstar Sonny Bill Williams. Remarkably, these two teams were the only ones who finished in the top five last year to kick off 2015 with a win.

Prediction

Sure, the Brumbies destroyed the Reds last week, but that was on the back of the work of Pocock, who almost single-handedly starved the Reds of possession. This week with Cruden back to partner with SBW, as well as the match being played at New Plymouth, it makes it impossible to go past the Chiefs. Chiefs by 6.

CHIEFS: James Lowe, Bryce Heem, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear, Aaron Cruden, Brad Weber; Maama Vaipulu, Sam Cane, Liam Messam (capt), Michael Fitzgerald, Matt Symons, Siate Tokolahi, Hika Elliot, Jamie Mackintosh.

Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Pauliasi Manu, Ben Tameifuna, Brodie Retallick, Tevita Koloamatangi, Augustine Pulu, Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu.

BRUMBIES:  Robbie Coleman, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano,  Joseph Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ita Vaea, Jarrad Butler, Scott Fardy, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Josh Mann-Rea, Scott Sio.

Reserves: Stephen Moore, Jean-Pierre Smith, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Sean Doyle, Michael Dowsett, James Dargaville, Lausii Taliauli.

Rebels V Waratahs

Some interesting stats in the lead-up to this match. The Waratahs have never started a season with two losses, and the Rebels have never started with two wins. The key to this match is the back-row, with the Rebels loose three putting in a high quality performance against the Crusaders and the Waratahs’ counterparts well below par against the Force, only managing one turn over in the 80 minutes.

The ‘Tahs won’t be helped by the loss of Wallaby Cliff Palu with a knee injury. Melbourne are missing suspended halfback Nic Stirzaker but have a very capable substitute in Luke Burgess. The Tahs match up well against the Rebels and surely couldn’t play as badly as they did against the Force.

Prediction

The Rebels will be coming into this match full of confidence after their amazing performance against the Crusaders, and the Waratahs will have a point to prove after failing against the Force.

The odds at most betting agencies have the ‘Tahs, playing at home a strong favourite, but I think it’ll be a lot closer than that suggests. Waratahs by 3.

REBELS: Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley, Tamati Ellison, Mitch Inman, Tom English, Jack Debreczeni, Luke Burgess (capt), Scott Higginbotham, Colby Fainga’a, Sean McMahon, Lopeti Timani, Luke Jones, Laurie Weeks, Pat Leafa, Toby Smith.

Reserves: Ben Whittaker, Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Sam Jeffries, Scott Fuglistaller, Ben Meehan, Bryce Hegarty, Sefanaia Naivalu

WARATAHS: Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravaro, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Stephen Hoiles, Michael Hooper, Jaques Potgieter, Will Skelton, David Dennis (capt), Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tolu Latu, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Sam Lousi, Mitchell Chapman, Brendan McKibbin, Matt Carraro, Pat McCutcheon, Peter Betham.

Bulls v Hurricanes

The Bulls fell way short of the lofty expectations many were expecting from them in their loss to the Stormers last week. The Hurricanes on the otherhand showed that the hapless Lions look destined for another cellar dweller season by beating them in Johannesburg.

Pierre Spies comes into the Bulls lineup as captain after replacing injured No.8 Arno Botha. Meanwhile, All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu will make his first return appearance for the Hurricanes at the expense of Rey Lee-Lo. Flanker Callum Gibbins will also make his first start for the ‘Canes ahead of much-touted youngster Ardie Savea.

Prediction

The ‘Canes can go from hot to cold at a moments notice, and playing against a higher quality team this week in the shape of the Bulls, we can expect a much closer contest.

I think the Bulls will bounce back from last weeks results to put in a much beef-ier performance. Bulls by 4.

BULLS: Jesse Kriel, Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard, Piet van Zyl, Pierre Spies (capt), Lappies Labuschagne, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield, Jacques du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Morne Mellett.

Reserves: Callie Visagie, Dean Greyling, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Grant Hattingh, Hanro Liebenberg, Rudy Paige, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jurgen Visser.

HURRICANES: Jason Woodward, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (capt), Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Callum Gibbins, Brad Shields, James Broadhurst, Mark Abbott, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes.

Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Chris Eves, Ardie Savea, Victor Vito, Chris Smylie, James Marshall, Matt Proctor

Happy Tipping.

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