Despite Fox Sports World deciding to be none too flash, to put it mildly, and change their broadcast to the "Fox Soccer Channel" with occasional rugby games, they managed to broadcast the Crusaders and Brumbies (which was a great match, even tho my boys from Christchurch lost
plus my two favorite commentators were on.) Anyways, we've got a setup here that could turn out to be extremely interesting. The Crusaders managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (if Danny Boy had made his kicks and that try by the Brumbies No. 8 was disallowed, would have been a 31-25 victory, but I digress) their performance at the beginning of the season this year was better than it has been in the past. The Waratahs beat the Chiefs, but they always seem to be unable to finish out the year. Again this year, the class of South Africa looks like it will be the Stormers, with the Cats, Bulls, and Sharks feeding on each other at the bottom. The Blues seem to be returning to some sort of prestigious form after last year's debacle, but the first true test comes agains the Reds this weekend, and again on March 19 against the old rivals, Christchurch. The surprise this year, I think, could be the Hurricanes. A lot of people were pinging the Reds to destroy them in Brisbane, but Wellington managed to shock them and win by a spread of two tries and two conversions. My predictions for the year, I think Christchurch and Canberra could very well meet up again in the Super 12 Final, there's really no one else out there who can contend. I think the Blues and Hurricanes could, but they just don't have the depth of talent that either the Brumbies or Crusaders have.
On to related, but not on the pitch news. With the advent of the Super 14 next year, John Mitchell (former AB coach) is now the coach of Perth. Subsequently, that means that the ARFU can now select him to be an assistant coach for the Wallabies. He even said that Eddie Jones could call on his "talents" if need be. Sounds to me like someone's bitter. Anyways, I expect him to be fired from the Perth job in three years, or less. Spartak, Bundy, your thoughts? (oh, and all other rugby fans are welcome, it's just that there's a running joke between the three of us that we're the only ones who talk about rugby on here).