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Super Rugby review, Round 10: Demise of Australian teams has led to monotony
The lay of the land in Super Rugby ten rounds in is pretty clear. Take a look at the last five matches for each of the five teams in the Australian Conference.
Out of 25 games, the Brumbies, Rebels, Reds, Waratahs and Sunwolves have managed only eight wins.
The New Zealand Conference sides have amassed 17 wins out of 25 - the Blues account for four of those eight defeats - while the return of the South African quintet (which includes the Jaguares) reads 13 out of 25.
On form, none of the Australian sides have a chance of winning this year's title. The Rebels hinted that they might surpass expectations with their early season form but have promptly lost three on the trot.
The Waratahs were nilled 29-0 at home by the Lions, while the Brumbies have a number of Test players in their side but not the authority at half-back to compete.
Scrum-half Joe Powell is a fine prospect, but Christian Lealiifano's absence on Sunday against the Jagaures was glaring. Brumbies half-backs are always going to be held to a higher standard when playing in front of The Gregan-Larkham Stand. It's also way too soon to think about success for Brad Thorn's inexperienced Reds and the Sunwolves.
Frankly, Australia's failure to come up with a side capable contending against the very best has led to Super Rugby feeling monotonous. There hasn't been an Australian semi-finalist since the Waratahs in 2015.
On a happier note, the Jaguares' handling was incredibly slick in their 25-20 win over the Brumbies in Canberra, especially for Emiliano Boffelli's try. Things are starting to come together for new coach Mario Ledesma with his side having won three games out of four.
The latest Highlanders back-row off the production line, Shannon Frizell, bagged a hat-trick as the 2015 champions thrashed the Blues 34-16.
It only took the Crusaders 57 seconds to score against the Sunwolves but their 33-11 victory was no procession, played out in atrocious conditions in Christchurch.
The Reds were no match for the Chiefs, who lost Damian McKenzie to a first-half concussion and still won 36-12 in Brisbane.
Once the Sharks and Stormers put a putrid first half behind them there were some excellent tries in Durban, with the Sharks holding on for a 24-17 result, while earlier on Saturday the Bulls, who continue to make strides under new coach John Mitchell, convincingly put away the Rebels 28-10.
Try of the week
A couple of excellent back-to-back efforts in Durban, first for the Stormers with a breakout try for Raymond Rhule that saw Siya Kolisi heavily involved.
Lukhanyo Am's score a few minutes later was marginally better, the Springbok centre collecting a phenomenal over-the-head flick from Makazole Mapimpi. Both Am and Mapimpi, on form, should join Kolisi in the South Africa side to face England this summer.
Player of the week
A slight twist this week. There was no victory for Henry Speight to celebrate on his 100th cap for the Brumbies, the first Fijian-born player to reach that feat, but he showed real class in helping Jaguares wing Ramiro Moyano onto a stretcher after a serious injury.
On Monday, before the Jaguares flew to Auckland, Speight then to the airport in Canberra to check on Moyano. A proper role model, hats off to him.
Game to watch in Round 11
A Jaguares hat-trick of wins on the road in Australasia would be huge for the franchise as they take on the Blues, but it's the battle between an improving Bulls side and the Highlanders that catches the eye.
No one has a better tackling success rate than the Highlanders' 86.4 percent, and yet bizarrely the Bulls and Highlanders have two of the worst attacks in the tournament, making the fewest metres and clean breaks.
Expect that to change for the New Zealand franchise in Pretoria, with Ben Smith looking fresh and Aaron Smith partly rested in last week's win over the Blues.