Wow.. what a two weeks! Between the Highlanders and the Warriors I am a nervous wreck.
Firstly an apology to anyone who has been missing my attempted match reports.. I know there are at least two . . . who may or may not be family or friends.
The Highlanders were very unlucky on the weekend. Sure, they gave up a two try head start, both to ex Gold Coast Titan Joseph Tomane inside the first 15mins, but they did exceptionally well to battle back and get right back in the game at 26 apiece.
Before he was stretchered off with a broken ankle Colin Slade had kept the Highlanders fighting by showing his class and kicking a perfect 13 points as well as having a hand in Aaron Smith's try after he put Hosea Gear through a hole. Unfortunately his departure coincided with the 33- 6 loss.
It had been a slow start to the season for Slade, just coming back from what seemed like a thousand surgeries and only in the last couple of weeks had he started to show signs of why he was picked to deputise Dan Carter at the Word Cup.
I really feel sorry for the bloke, as he has had a horrid run in the last year. Here's hoping he can come back from this latest "crack" in the road.
The Highlanders too have had a bad run in the last two seasons with injuries to key players in their squad. After returning from Canberra they are down three more.
Slade the obvious one, gone for the season. John Hardie requires surgery on a toe injury and could be gone for an extended period of time. Unlucky, as he has been one of the form flankers in the comp. And Nick Croswell is out for six weeks.
To take the good from the bad, I thought Shaun Treeby was solid on his return as he always is and All Black Adam Thomson is due to return to the side of the scrum. Perhaps extra excited to show off his stuff now that Jerome Kaino has announced his departure to Japan.
I am a firm believer of the old saying, when one door closes, another opens. So there are a few chances now for guys on the comeback and fringe to put their hands up and make sure the men from the south do not blow this amazing start they have had to the 2012 season.
Chris Noakes has the number 10 spot sewn up, at least until Lima Sapoga returns from his cracked shoulder injury. But now it seems guys like Benny Smith, Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear and anyone that has worn the All Black jumper are going to have to stand up, take any opportunity given to them and help Whopper steer the team out of this testing time.
Let's hope a return to New Zealand (Invercargill) on Friday night can lift the boys back into the winner's circle, and squash any concerns the public, media and most of all the team themselves have about the injuries around them.
Quickly before I wrap this weeks rant up, a massive 'biggups' to the Wellington fans two weeks ago.
I attended the game in my blue and yellow overalls as I do every time the Highlanders play in Wellington. This year was great. A massive turn out and a great atmosphere!
Fair to say I coped my fair share of abuse, but I got the last laugh walking out with my head held high!
Until next week. Regards!