Herald rugby writer WYNNE GRAY reviews the highs and lows of a dramatic championship
Is it all over? Have we really seen 69 games of rugby in another Super 12 season which began in late February?
At times, it seemed as though we were in rugby quicksand as we dealt with the
weekly ritual of matches in New Zealand, Australia or South Africa.
But imagine the demands on the All Black selectors, who had to go through every match involving New Zealand sides with even closer scrutiny.
The fifth series operated under a new framework. Scrum, lineout and, most importantly, the tackled ball laws were amended.
Without question, the tackle area was much cleaner than the past two seasons, but anything would have been better than that schemozzle.
It was better, but there was still too much variety in rulings.
Players could be seen off their feet playing the ball or scrabbling about with their hands in a ruck, without being penalised.
And the old use-it-or-lose-it demands could be frustrating for spectators and any side clearly in control of possession.
When rucking returns, rugby as we knew it will be an even better spectacle. One of the ideas behind Super 12 was to weld entertainment to the sport.
It has worked, though the opening two years of the competition remain the best.
Players now are much better prepared, are superb athletes, but the rules which have produced single lines of players with sweepers behind them can become a little monotonous.
At least the Brumbies tried something different.
They came unstuck in the final - where the remarkable Crusaders confirmed their world-class resilience - but their style was a refreshing coaching variation.
Crowds have dipped in every New Zealand franchise except the Hurricanes, but the News Ltd bankers know that a bit more tinkering will ensure the success of the series for the last half of their contract.
Australia will continue to push for a fourth side but the Waratahs' consistent failure is diluting that plan. The series is manageable with 12 teams.
Juggle the mixture, maybe, by including a Pacific Islands side, but increase the numbers and some of the appeal of the competition would evaporate.
* Enjoyed: The continuation of Todd Blackadder's reign; rule changes; video referees; the lack of interference from All Black selectors; contrasting games such as the Hurricanes v Waratahs, Highlanders v Reds and the Crusaders v Brumbies final.
* Disconcerted: By the lame jerseys; yellow-card fever; Rugby Park in Hamilton; resurgent Waratahs' bickering; the staggering slide of the Sharks; the uneven arrangement of franchises in New Zealand and inconsistent citings.
* Admired: The courage of Blues coach Gordon Hunter; Eddie Jones' innovations with the Brumbies; the Chiefs' doggedness; the Crusaders' entire campaign; the Waratahs' ability to give every opposition a chance; the Hurricanes' expression; the Stormers' tour of New Zealand; the Highlanders' opening; the Bulls' final game win; the Sharks' facilities; the Cats' comeback; the Reds' atmosphere at Ballymore.
* Do You Recall?: Matt Sexton missing out on the Crusaders' campaign because of his Achilles tendon injury; the judiciary taking five days to deliver a verdict on citings for Inoke Afeaki and Krynauw Otto; the rape allegation that was dropped against Stormers prop Robbie Kempson; Hurricanes prop Kevin Yates escaping a citing after throwing a swag of punches.
* Will It Happen?: Will Brisbane Broncos forward Brad Thorn swap to rugby and make it into the Highlanders?; will Jeff Wilson end his "indefinite" rugby rest in time for next season?; will Laurie Mains accept a Cats' offer to return for a second season?
* Off-field: Was television presenter Bernadine Oliver-Kerby really reprimanded for her frontal assault on the Super 12?; will we ever hear the true story of the Brumbies' drunken rampage in Cape Town?; will the Cats get more than jellybeans, cordial and bread rolls for their next after-match supper in Palmerston North?
* Quotes:
"Jonah is only half a player." - Queensland coach John Connolly.
"The Brumbies brought tactics into the game that rugby doesn't need - unless we want to turn it into gridiron." - Cats coach Laurie Mains.
"The Brumbies have been penalised a few times when they don't get their moves right, but I don't believe they deliberately try to obstruct." - New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien.
"Jeff [Wilson] was totally committed to the World Cup but the aftermath was a stimulus to him thinking about his life and he wants some space to think things through in an uncluttered way." - the player's manager, David Howman.
"It is six months too late." - Robbie Deans on Blackadder's All Black captaincy.
* Questions for the NZRFU: Will they continue to allow imports such as Yates, Marika Vunibaka, Joggie Viljoen, Afato So'oalo to play or will they be less lenient with that policy?; will Robin Brooke still captain the Blues in the last year of his NZRFU contract?; can Ross Cooper survive at the Chiefs?
* New Zealand awards:
Best back: Tana Umaga
Best forward: Ron Cribb
Best try: Chiefs' humdinger team effort against the Bulls at Rotorua
Best ref: Steve Walsh jnr
Best coach: Robbie Deans
Most improved players: Doug Howlett, Mark Robinson, Koula Tukino, Mark Ranby, Greg Somerville, Daryl Lilley
Will they rise again? Joeli Vidiri, Glen Jackson, Norm Berryman, Jeff Wilson
Ones to watch: Chris Jack, Ben Hurst, Paul Steinmetz, Matua Parkinson
Herald rugby writer WYNNE GRAY reviews the highs and lows of a dramatic championship
Is it all over? Have we really seen 69 games of rugby in another Super 12 season which began in late February?
At times, it seemed as though we were in rugby quicksand as we dealt with the
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