-
Chiefs cheerleaders - Source: Photosport -
Related
Those baby Blues - again?
The Blues may have the worst defensive record in the Super 14 but
hey, at least they're getting the job done on the home front.
Kurtis Haius' brief parental leave - just one day (hopefully) -
follows in the wake of team-mates Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino and
Taniela Moa all enjoying new arrivals at the beginning of the Super
14 campaign.
Burning Questions understands that four offspring from one
team in one season is a Super 14 record and we congratulate the
Blues for at least achieving something of note this season.
Match of the round, try match of the year?
Five reasons why the Chiefs v Hurricanes has that WOW factor:
1. 25,000 fans have voted in what will be the first sold out
ground in NZ this season.
2. Smith v Kahui - the two best centres in the country go head to
head.
3. The return of the entertainers: Masaga and Sivivatu.
4. Flair: Not only are the Chiefs and Canes top-of-the-table but
they also have the two best attacking records.
5. The stakes. The winner will pretty much assure a home semi-final
and even though the Hurricanes have dominated recent encounters,
the bookies can't separate them - both are paying $1.87.
Was the Leon MacDonald departure well timed?
You have to give credit to Leon MacDonald. He knew his time was up
in the black jersey and he leaves New Zealand rugby when the
fullback stocks have never looked so good.
Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane and Isaia Toeava would have all been ahead
of him in the pecking order and the emergence of Israel Dagg means
even if Mils did depart, the 31-year-old's All Black prospects
would have been slim at best.
MacDonald played in 56 Test matches and if he had played just one
more Test, he would have equalled the great Christian Cullen as the
second most capped fullback in All Black history.
Oh no - where are the locks?
The Blues traumatic injury roster has been pretty stink for them
(and their ailing playoff chances) but the injuries to All Black
locks Ali Williams and Anthony Boric has opened up the door for two
other tree trunks from around the country to join Brad Thorn for
the June Test matches against France and Italy.
Jason Eaton should be a shoe-in for one of the spots, given his
previous Test experience and solid form for the Hurricanes.
Follow Hurricane Jeremy Thrush and Chiefs workhorse Craig Clarke
are likely to also come into calculations for the final locking
spot but we here at
Burning Questions really rate the
Crusaders' Isaac Ross.
The try-scoring machine - he has scored three this season (the most
of any lock in the Super 14 and (haha) the second most of any
Crusader) - is an athletic dynamo that should prosper in the All
Black environment.
Openside back-up?
Richie McCaw breakdowns are becoming more frequent than his
appearances in Sunday gossip columns, so thankfully this weekend
the two next best cabs off the rank lock horns when the
table-topping Chiefs lock meet the Hurricanes in Hamilton on
Saturday night.
Scott Waldrom and Tanerau Latimer have both been in tremendous form
and both can take a lot of credit for their teams' lofty
heights.
Waldrom, of course, was favoured for the Grand Slam tour and should
get the nod if McCaw goes down, but a strong Latimer performance
this weekend may make the selectors think otherwise.
MVP round 12?
Some may dismiss Chiefs centre Richard Kahui as a pretty boy, but
any doubts about his playing talents were dismissed with authority
against the Stormers.
He almost single-handedly elevated his side to a four-try bonus
point victory by setting up two tries and scoring one
himself.
A bonus point victory against the Stormers shouldn't be scoffed at
either: Only the Chiefs and Canes have achieved that feat this
season.
The round 13 conspiracy theory?
Burning Questions loves a good conspiracy theory nearly as
much as we love making fun of the Waratahs.
So, in celebration of round 13, those funny Tahs have pulled a
premise out of the hat as they prepare to enter the Sharks'
den.
First five-eight Daniel Halangahu claims those sneaky Sharks are
going to pull a swifty and playing François Steyn despite
reports that the star inside back is out of action with a knee
injury for the next six to eight weeks.
And maybe the suspicions have some grounds. Last year the Sharks
claimed that Steyn wouldn't play, only for the one with golden
locks to emerge on the field.
And now centre Adrian Jacobs has 'miraculously risen from the dead'
to take part in Sharks training this week despite reports of him
being out of action for three months with a shoulder
injury.
He has since been named in the team. Cue Beethoven - Symphony in C
Minor please.
What are your burning questions? Feel free to comment below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentsamuelleague said on 2009-05-15 @ 15:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im a fan of Waikato Smash ya'll, and the auckland burn in hell. Have nice rings to them, All that matters is the Chiefs are going to win the comp unless the bulls finish first then we'll get 2nd
samuelleague said on 2009-05-15 @ 15:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im a fan of Waikato Smash ya'll, and the auckland burn in hell. Have nice rings to them, All that matters is the Chiefs are going to win the comp unless the bulls finish first then we'll get 2nd
Bullethole said on 2009-05-15 @ 14:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Waikato Burn
Bullethole said on 2009-05-15 @ 14:39 NZDT: Report abusive post
I've always been of the opinion that the Force should recognise Perth's rich maritime history by renaming themselves the Western Australian Anchors, or WAAnchors for short.
Zaz01 said on 2009-05-15 @ 12:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
Canterbury All We've Got Is Rugbys or Waikato Wish We Were Aucklanders