Super shots

And then there were five ...
And just like that, seven playoff contenders becomes five. Gone are the Sharks and Chiefs after defeats on the road. It could be four this time next week. Put simply, for it to be really interesting going into the final round the Bulls must beat the Crusaders and either the Hurricanes or Brumbies must lose at home to the Reds or Highlanders. Don't bet on it.

Life without Richie
Further evidence yesterday for those who believe that the Crusaders lose a leg without Richie McCaw. Any ideas of giving Dan Carter and Leon MacDonald the game off in Cape Town were swiftly set aside at halftime, too. "A home semifinal in jeopardy? The semifinal is in jeopardy," cautious coach Robbie Deans said. In theory, maybe ...

Deja food-doo
It's Suzy! She's back. Only this time it's the Blues, not Laurie Mains' 1995 All Blacks, who've been struck down in the Republic. The team were laid low by a bug hours before beating the Cheetahs. Some players were still sick on the morning of the match. Unlike 11 years ago, there's no word of a "find Suzy" alert.

And about time too
Speaking of the Blues, remember Joe Rokocoko? The bloke who has scored 30 tries in 30 tests? He scored his first Super 14 try in Bloemfontein yesterday. It was his 10th game this season. Go figure.

Nice one, Linston
Linston Manuels was in the spotlight again yesterday. Running a touchline in the Blues-Cheetahs game, the official who can't seem to dodge controversy failed to spot Doug Howlett catching a punted clearance, then putting a foot on the touchline. That should have meant a Cheetahs lineout. Instead he flagged it back to a Blues lineout on the home team's 22, from which Brent Ward scored.

Waratahs by numbers
All hail the Waratahs' defence, which has now gone
11
games and conceded just
10
tries, six fewer than the Brumbies, seven fewer than the Crusaders. They are
54
points better off than the Crusaders and Hurricanes, and only the defending champs have scored more points than the Sydneysiders.

What me, yer honour?
Bulls captain and Springbok powerhouse Victor Matfield may be in hot water over a punch which left an ugly gash under Sharks prop BJ Botha's left eye. The citing commissioner is on the case. The Sharks reckon it happened at a scrum when a defenceless Botha copped a cheap shot. Big Victor, a former choirboy, says it was not him. "I don't know what they're talking about." Then: "Maybe it happened when I cleaned him out." Say what?