PHOTO
After sustaining the 26-33 loss to the Brumbies in agonising fashion I felt sick for Colin Slade; what a wretched run of injuries this lad has had to deal with over the last 18 months.
On reflection of the Super Rugby season, it has become apparent to me just how many injuries have occurred. It is not just niggly minor injuries, but there has been a lot of season-ending damage done to the troops from a number of teams.
Kaino, Slade, Toeava, Hardie, and Sopoaga are just a few of the big names who will play no more Super Rugby this year.
Just a few weeks ago I was quite comfortable with the depth that existed in the Highlanders camp. However, this is certainly going to be tested over the next six weeks or so with the looming matches.
I have every confidence in Chris Noakes stepping up to the mark and delivering the goods over the remainder of the season, but we know that he cannot play every game, so what will ‘big dog' Jamie Joseph look to do? Bender or Burleigh filling in or will he look outside the camp? Perhaps we could bring back Beaver? He has hinted he wants to be back in NZ soon.
It is not only injuries that are playing games with my current mental state. The inconsistency of the referees controlling these matches is absolutely doing my head in as a fan. It seems apparent that there is no common theme to the way in which the man in the middle controls games. For example we have seen some refs get all anal at times when it comes to feeding the scrum by the halfback and the constantly evolving rules at the breakdown.
After playing many years in the front row even I cannot understand what most of the scrum penalties are about and suggest that neither do the referees. I often find myself asking why the team would do that in the current situation! I would prefer the referee talk to the players and give them a chance, instead of second guessing what has happened (frankly, I think they have no idea).
Why does there have to be a penalty? Why don't we just reset the scrum and start again instead of having a heavy influence over the game?
Come on guys get your act together and sort it out! Imagine being a player with this unpredictability going on?
On another note I want to give the commentators from across the Tasman a spray! I wish we could have an alternate commentary to games being played in the land of Oz. Clark, Martin, Kafer, Kearns etc are the worst commentators I have heard comment on rugby! They are ridiculously biased and absolutely terrible at calling the game, often going off on a random tangent spinning some yarns and getting players' names wrong! I guess we are just spoilt by the supreme coverage TJ and the team deliver to us via Sky Television.
To end on a positive, let's get behind the mighty Landers this week at Invers' Rugby Park where ‘Whoppa' will lead his troops against the Rebels on his home track. This is where we can get the season back on track, so get your roadie planned for the expedition south on Friday and I will see you at the Ale House for a cold three star.
- Nathan Winter