The completed weekend of action saw the Highlanders dethroned at home, which meant the Chiefs headed to the top of the New Zealand Conference table courtesy of winning their first match on the road in Perth.
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The battle between the Highlanders and the Stormers didn’t quite go the way of the men from the Deep South, with the hyped clash of the packs going convincingly the South African Conference leader’s way.
A clearly frustrated Highlanders coach in Jamie Joseph said at half time and again when his troops had lost 21-6 that his side didn’t put together all of the plan discussed during the week to knock off the high flyers from Cape Town – but equally the hosts couldn’t deny the awesome defensive pressure the Stormers implemented.
With a bye beckoning, the Highlanders will reflect and rest, with the general consensus from the team being “we’re bloody tired”, as the Otago based franchise looks to avoid the malaise that struck them late season, losing six of their last seven to miss out on the Super Rugby Final’s Series in 2011.
The Chiefs started their three-match tour in the best possible fashion with a win over the Force in Perth, a result that might not have seen the Waikato based franchise cut loose, but a well taken victory considering the danger the Western Australians poised after their giant killing of the Reds in week six.
The prediction prior to the newly tagged New Zealand Conference leaders clash was that their defence would be crucial against a tricky Force team proved to be true, and the Chiefs didn’t disappoint as they marshalled their defence to close out the hosts – even if the star-studded backline of the kiwis wasn’t able to display their wares.
Such is the defensive mettle of the Chiefs this season so far, that they actually lead the tournament with only six tries conceded in 2012, one better than the vaunted Stormers record, and a heralding back to the famous days where the aggressive Waikato rush defence ruled rugby in these quarters of the world.
Yet it would not only be a throwback to the traditional defence seen under teams from Hamilton, but the influence of World Cup winning former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.
These Chiefs are certainly no one-dimensional band of entertainers, and how their defence copes with the audacious offensive structures of the Cheetahs this coming weekend will be intriguing.
The only other win over the weekend was the Hurricanes impressive win over the Sharks – the Durban based outfits worst loss in three years and the most point’s they had conceded since 2005.
Part of the revolution down in New Zealand’s capital has seen Mark Hammett look to make sure his youthful troops learn, and to a line the key indicators pinpointed after their loss to the Cheetahs were followed, improved upon and put into place by a Hurricanes side that is continuing to defy their critics with a massive triumph over the Sharks.
As always the ever entertaining Hurricanes outfit continue to score tries, but they appear to have discovered the knack of crossing the line without any of the usual conventional support needed to register five points.
Statistics appear to mean little to Hammett and co, with the win over the Sharks and the Force in week three both examples where they have defied strong forward packs and possession and territory to score almost at will.
The Hurricanes take the bye this week realistically well ahead of pre-season expectations, and also as the most potent attacking franchise this season, with a leading 225 points and 26 tries (the latter being five better than the second placed side the Bulls).
The Crusaders played their part in the most dramatic match of the weekend, where the visitors to Loftus came out firing, before the Bulls applied a classic stranglehold to the seven-time champions, which in turn resulted in the New Zealand Conference side scoring two late tries to almost steal the contest.
With a competition leading (and equalling) three bonus points, the Crusaders sit in the wildcard position.
While they haven’t hit their stride yet, with their major overseas tour out of the way will look to begin to turn up the heat, and their second match at the new AMI Stadium against the South African Conference leaders will be a fine litmus test as to whether the most decorated team in the tournament will potentially threaten for title number eight.
The Blues lost to the Rebels for the first time in Super Rugby history over the weekend, resulting in the three-time champions suffering their worst ever start to a campaign.
New Zealand Conference, Week Seven:
Hurricanes 42 – 18 Blues
Highlanders 6 – 21 Stormers
New Zealand Conference, Week Eight:
Friday 13 April
Blues v Sharks, Auckland, 19:35
Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistant Referee: Jonathon White
Assistant Referee: Nick Briant
TMO: Bryce Lawrence
Saturday 14 April
Crusaders v Stormers, Christchurch, 19:35
Referee: Chris Pollock
Assistant Referee: Vinny Munro
Assistant Referee: Mike Fraser
TMO: Kane McBride