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SA Teams Dominate - Should the Bulls Apologise? 15 views 9 Comments
09 April 2012 by The Swede Eaters

Super Rugby Round 7 has seen the Stormers and Bulls dominate. Do you think the Bulls should apologise for eye gouging claims against the Crusaders? Scotty Donaldson reviews Round 7.

Super Rugby Round 7 was a shock to the system for the New Zealand teams as the Stormers and Bulls flexed their muscles with victories, while the Bulls also accused the Crusaders of eye-gouging. New Zealand teams aren't used to being accused of doing such a lowly act as eye-gouging, because they don't usually stoop that low. I think the Bulls claims is simply mud slinging in an attempt for South Africa to show New Zealand that they have the power in the SANZAR unions. The stupid thing is that their complaints appear to have fallen on deaf ears, do you think that Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder was correct to demand an apology?

Personally, I'm bemused. If the allegations made are shown to be false then I expect an apology because they're pretty serious allegations. Otherwise anyone can make allegations and we'll have white cards all over the place. I'm not sure the system is designed for that.

~ Todd Blackadder says he is perplexed by the Bulls’ allegations of eye-gouging. ~

Anyway, the physicality of the Stormers especially when demolishing the Highlanders should be of major concern for the New Zealand teams. They monstered the usually abrasive Highlanders pack and then scored from turnovers thanks to their fleet footed backs like Gio Aplon and Joe Pietersen. It is ominous how well the Stormers have started on the road, given that they haven't lost at home yet either, they are definitely the team to beat. They were also very sporting to opposition halfback Jimmy Cowan who raised his 100 matches by giving him a Stormers Number 9 jersey.

The Chiefs look like the best New Zealand team with a win over the Force, while the enigmatic Hurricanes were the only other New Zealand side to win despite a brawl against the Sharks.

The Bulls and Cheetahs look like they will push for the second or third South African spot with wins over the Crusaders and Lions respectively, while the Reds are still in the hunt to win the weak Australian conference title after defeating their rival Brumbies team.

The first result of the weekend was another defeat for the highly fancied Blues. It is hard to believe that this team started the season with one of the strongest squads in the competition and now can't even beat the Rebels.

What did you think of Super Rugby Round 7? Can anyone stop the Stormers? Should the Crusaders be given an apology by the Bulls? What has happened to the Blues?

Super Rugby Round 7
Thursday April 05
Rebels 34 beat Blues 23
Friday April 06
Hurricanes 42 beat Sharks 18
Reds 20 beat Brumbies 13
Force 12 lost to Chiefs 20
Saturday April 07
Highlanders 6 lost to Stormers 21
Sunday April 08
Cheetahs 26 beat Lions 5
Bulls 32 beat Crusaders 30
Waratahs v BYE

http://www.superrugbytips.com/2012/04/super-rugby-round-7-2012-south-african.html

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Tags: Super Rugby, Round 7, Bulls, Stormers

Comments (9)

Rating:

	9 . Cave Dweller 13 Apr 2012 12:27 AM SA teams have improved and the skill level is starting to catch up with their physicality narrowing that gap. Nothing is a certain thing anymore in the competition as any side can beat anyone. Games have been close disregarding the couple of blow outs we had. Plus the layout means not that 2 month trip for SA teams playing away games.
	8 . Cave Dweller 13 Apr 2012 12:26 AM SA teams have improved and the skill level is starting to catch up with their physicality narrowing that gap. Nothing is a certain thing anymore in the competition as any side can beat anyone. Games have been close disregarding the couple of blow outs we had. Plus the layout means not that 2 month trip for SA teams playing away games.
	7 . The Swede Eaters 12 Apr 2012 01:34 AM Yeah that was a brilliant dummy. Dagg is taking a while to get back into form after being so amazing last year.
	6 . Bulpil 11 Apr 2012 08:22 PM Oh, my. Apparently NZ does have an embassy in Reunion. Taking complaints further stops under SANZAR rules after the match judiciary saw no evidence. So for both teams the meeuwing and hissing stops here. We should rather have a long discussion about how Greyling successfully sold a dummy to Dagg.
	5 . The Swede Eaters 11 Apr 2012 11:33 AM I wonder if this was simply gamesmanship to make the referees watch the Crusaders more closely than the Bulls. It would be human nature to keep a closer eye on the team accused of eye gouging than the actual team accusing them.
	4 . The Swede Eaters 11 Apr 2012 11:28 AM I saw some interesting footage of Flip van der Meeuw who was one of the guys who accused the Crusaders of eye gouging and he went off with blood near his eye. On Reunion in New Zealand they showed you him making a tackle and banging his head against the leg of a defender. It also seems strange how the Bulls didn't take their complaint further if they were so outraged.
	3 . Bulpil 11 Apr 2012 01:28 AM I remember way back, when it was Super 8 or something like that. Andries Truscott standing in a loose with hands tight against his sides. No defense. Todd Blackadder coming up to the loose situation calmly measured and hit Truscott in the face with the fist. That was against the rules in those days. The reason I bring this up is the comment that the Kiwis usually don't stoop so low. I have watched many tests and other games involving Kiwi's. I do agree that they are not used to being officially accused. With our current knowledge, the gouging may or may not have happened.That is the long and the short of it.
	2 . The Swede Eaters 10 Apr 2012 03:59 PM Yeah. I thought the Highlanders may have changed their game plan to try and run around the big Stormers forwards and tire them out. Noakes is solid, but not flashy enough and doesn't ask questions of the defence. It is hard to know if Delany will either.
	1 . joni b 10 Apr 2012 01:20 PM Highlanders were ass. Not taking anything away from the Stormers, but the Highlanders usual game plan of being physical just wasn't going to work against an outfit like the Stormers. Add to that Chris Noakes, who don't get me wrong is quality, but really struggled against the defensive line of the Stormers. The Highlanders game plan unfortunately requires a lot of physicality, which in this longer competition needs to be assessed. Will be interesting to see what Delaney brings to the boys when he signs on.

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