Goalkicking was crucial in Round Seven of Super Rugby with the biggest winning margin a lowly 12 points by the Bulls of the Hurricanes and several poor goalkicking performances either costing teams victory or the chance of getting close to it.

It all started on Friday night when the Brumbies should have won if superstar Matt Giteau had his kicking boots on kicking two from six attempts compared with the combined attempts of four from five for the Highlanders by Colin Slade and Tony Brown.  The Highlanders won 26-20.

Fast forward two hours and the Waratahs held on to beat the fast finishing Waratahs.  Kurtley Beale kicked five from six as the home team won 23-16.  His opposite, the ultra reliable Mike Delany kicked only three from six attempts.  It is hard to say if he cost them this match or if it was the sin binning of one of the Chiefs props in the first half!  But it would have been closer if his kicking was better.

The Bulls superboot Morne Steyn kicked five penalties and two dropped goals in a 26-14 win over the Hurricanes.  Both teams scored a try each, but unlike Steyn,  Dan Kirkpatrick managed two from five with the boot.  It would have been a lot closer if he was kicking well.

The Rebels defeated the Force away from home with both teams scoring three tries in the 26-25 scoreline.  Unfortunately James O'Connor only landed four from eight for the home team, while Danny Cipriani kicked four from six for the visitors.

Peter Grant kicked three penalties and a conversion in their tight 16-6 win over the Sharks.  He scored more than the other team.

Fullback Mike Harris scored 15 points for the Reds as they beat the Lions 30-25 in South Africa.. 

Luke MacAlister kicked four from six as the Blues defeated the Cheetahs 29 -22 in Auckland.

The referees seemed particularly strict on dishing out the penalties at scrumtime.  It shows how tight the competition is when you get every match being decided by a margin of less than two converted tries.

testrugbytips.com