New year...
New season...
New rules...
In the build up to the start of the 2008 Super 14 season, it was the acronym ELV's (that's Experimental Law Variations, just in case you holiday'ed on Mars the last couple of weeks...) which got a regular mention in the newspapers, and (for a change) not one of the Stormers squad members promising their supporters they "will definitely do better this year", or that "their tight 5 will outmuscle the Bulls in the opening game" (mmm... say what?)
So, it was with great interest and excitement I packed down in front of the tv last Friday night, when the Crusaders kicked off against the Brumbies. "I wonder what effect these rule changes will have on the game?, or "Do you think it will change the game completely?" were just some of the questions running through the mind as the game got under way...
But, after the completion of round 1, I'm not really convinced these "new rules" will in fact change anything. For me, things already have an all too familiar look...
- All the opening games were plagued with handling errors, and failed miserably as a spectacle. Just as disappointing as last year's opening round.
- The Crusaders are already sitting on top of the log. They scored 4 tries in pretty tough playing conditions in Christchurch (ok, the Brumbies are rubbish, but still...) , and it didn't look like they even had a Christmas break..
- The Blues got off to a flyer in Auckland (just like last year...), and David Nucifora are saying they "want to win the competition". No way, Dave!! And there I was under the impression the other teams only play for enjoyment! (Well, if you look at the Stormers......)
- The Chiefs (yet again!) lost their opening game. Will a poor start (yet again!) to the campaign prove costly at the business end (yet again!)
- On paper, the Hurricanes really promise so much. Pity they were just awful on the field against the Waratahs...
- Matt Henjak got sent home from South Africa.. Ok, this time he was actually involved in a punch up outside of the Republic, but still... Some guys never learn!
- Kobus Wiese still sports the same hairstyle..
- The Stormers simply can't buy a victory against the Bulls.. That's their 4th straight defeat to the Bulls in the Super 12/14
- South African teams are the kings of aimless kicking, and have absolutely no "respect" for the ball.. Sure, the collisions at Newlands were massive, and the atmosphere electric, but was all that "tactical" kicking by both teams really nescessary? And then we say England are boring...
- New rules/old rules.. Doesn't really matter. The Bulls showed those 5 - 10 minutes before and after halftime are still crucial in a rugby match when Habana went over in the corner, to start the Bulls comeback.
So then... The more things change, hey... The more they stay the same, I reckon!
ps - Ek suppose ek moet seker se "Geluk Bulle..." eish!
