Columnists

Super Rugby Semi-Finals – by Jake Laux

The invisible hand of the Whitelock edition. Ratings for the games:Jaguares Brumbies: 2.5/10Crusaders Hurricanes: 8/10 Talking Points:Jaguares 39 - Brumbies 7: Never a game.  Jags dominated every facet of the game save one: the scrum.  On that note, they were fortunate to only get the scrum collapsed call early as they were ... More

Super Rugby Quarter Finals – by Jake Laux

Quarterfinals edition. Ratings for the games:Crusaders Highlanders: 6/10Jaguares Chiefs: 6/10Hurricanes Bulls: 7/10Brumbies Sharks: 4/10 Talking Points: Crusaders 38 - Highlanders 14: After the game scheduled in Christchurch was vacated earlier in the season, there was only the one data point in which the Crusaders won 43-17.  ... More

Super Rugby Round 17 – by Jake laux

Flyhalves I am not fond of get exposed defensively in a particularly embarrassing manner edition. Ratings for the games:Highlanders Bulls: 7/10Reds Blues: 4/10Crusaders Rebels: 3/10Waratahs Brumbies: 5/10Lions Hurricanes: 5/10Stormers Sunwolves: 4/10Jaguares Sharks: 4/10 Talking Points:Highlanders 24 - Bulls 24: Two ties in two weeks ... More

Super Rugby Round 16 – by Jake Laux

Home stretch edition.Ratings for the Games:Blues Bulls: 5/10Rebels Waratahs: 6/10Brumbies Sunwolves: 5/10Chiefs Crusaders: 8.5/10Reds Jaguares: 7/10Sharks Hurricanes: 4/10Lions Stormers: 4/10Talking Points:Blues 22 - Bulls 22: Not the result either team was looking for.  Handre Pollard's absence continues to hurt for the Bulls.  ... More

Super Rugby Round 15 – by Jake Laux

Ratings for the games:Chiefs Reds: 4/10Brumbies Bulls: 6/10Sunwolves Rebels: 3/10Crusaders Blues: 6/10Waratahs Jaguares: 6/10Stormers Highlanders: 5/10Sharks Lions: 7/10 Talking points:Chiefs 19 - Reds 13: Reds dominant in all facets except scoreboard.  Couple of weird try/no try decisions but did not really impact the outcome.  Chiefs ... More

Super Rugby Round 14 – by Jake Laux

Kiwis should never go to McDonald's edition. Ratings for the games:Hurricanes Jaguares: 7/10Rebels Bulls: 5/10Blues Chiefs: 4/10Reds Waratahs: 7/10Lions Highlanders: 3/10Stormers Crusaders: 7/10 Talking points:Hurricanes 20 - Jaguares 28: Remember the last Lions tour?  A certain Blues midfielder had the bright idea, when confron... More

Super Rugby Round 13 – by Jake Laux

Ratings for the games:Blues Hurricanes: 6/10Rebels Reds: 6/10Bulls Crusaders: 4/10Highlanders Jaguares: 5/10Chiefs Sharks: 8/10Lions Waratahs: 7/10Brumbies Sunwolves: 2/10 Talking pointsBlues 12 - Hurricanes 22: This had all the makings of a classic Kiwi derby, and sort of lived up to the billing.  Surprisingly low scoring for two ... More

Super Rugby Round 12 – by Jake Laux

Extra parity week (excluding round 5's abandoned match) edition.   Ratings for the games Crusaders Sharks: 6/10 Reds Sunwolves: 6/10 Hurricanes Rebels: 5/10 Highlanders Chiefs: 8/10 Brumbies Blues: 4/10 Bulls Waratahs: 7/10 Jaguares Stormers: 7/10 Talking points Crusaders 21 - Sharks 21: I do not believe anyone anticipated this ... More