Super rugby Aotearoa week 4 review:

What a week of rugby! There wasn’t a bad game in the New – Zealand competition thus far. There’s been one upset this week and another game that just made this weekends games even more exciting.

Crusaders vs Highlanders:

This game had a high intensity from the beginning. The Highlanders are a team that’s outclassed most of the time, but they are definitely the team that plays with the most heart. They’re a team of good players, but they were up against a team of great players. I certainly have a lot of respect for the Highlanders team and their players. If they’re able to include a few hardworking super stars into their team, they’ll become a force to be reckoned with. Now to the Crusaders: After beating the Highlanders they have set up the game for the title against the Blues. In this game their class just came through again. They were under pressure from the Highlanders the whole game, but just seemed to always have the answer for every question that was asked.

Chiefs vs Hurricanes:

Going into this game every one said the game is the Chiefs’ game to loose and they went in to the game as hot favorites. (After losing all their previous games I don’t know how they got to be the favorites). I thought that this game was a great game to watch as it went back and forth between who had the upper hand in the game. I thought that on paper the Chiefs had the better forward pack and their backline was able to stand up to the backline of the Canes if they are able to play their natural way. Their downfall however is again their game plan. Players like Damian McKenzie and Aaron Cruden are some of the best counter attacking and broken play players in the world. I still believe that is why Gatland is not the right coach for the Chiefs. He wants his team to play structured rugby in attack and defence. That worked when he coached Wales who is an international team that plays traditional rugby. New Zealand super rugby teams don’t play like that. The players are bred on running rugby and that is why they are struggling to play under him. The Canes knew that and made the game loose and open which played to their strength. Their Forward pack held up against the push back from the Chiefs and their backline that was full of running played on the instinct vs game plan decisions that the Chiefs players had to make. I think that If Damian McKenzie wants to get the All – Black jersey back he will have to start playing his natural game or move clubs because he is one of the best players in the world that is definitely under used.

Week 4 wrap:

The game is developing well and the referees are getting their role in the game right because the game is not over refereed anymore. The top teams are setting up a great title race and I think the coming week of Crusaders vs Blues is going to decide the title.