The Blues and Crusaders are the only side in the Super 14 with perfect records, picking up a maximum ten points from two games and sounding a warning to the rest of the tournament. Other contenders, such as the Sharks and Bulls, are still struggling to find their feet in 2008.

Hurricanes 23 Reds 18
The round opened in Wellington where the home side recorded their first victory in an ugly match with the Reds. Both sides scored two tries, the difference was the accurate kicking of Jimmy Gopperth, Neither side held the ball for long periods, turning it over in the tackle or just kicking ball away. Discarded All Black Ma’a Nonu stood out amongst the ordinary Hurricanes, scoring a try and breaking the line several times, but true to their nickname, the “Cardiac Canes”, his teammates failed to capitalise, ensuring the finish was a tight one.

Cheetahs 15 Force 16
For the second time in two weeks the Cheetahs fell by just a single point, this time due to an injury time penalty goal from Matt Giteau. The Cheetahs showed a great deal of character, twice coming from behind to take the lead but in the end they were once again undone in the dying minutes. The teams traded tries and penalty goals throughout the game, the home side leading 12-10 at the break and having a chance to win the game but Conrad Barnard’s penalty attempt sailed wide. For the Force it was the Giteau show, the star scoring all of his team’s points.

Bulls 19 Crusaders 54
In what was very much a game of two halves, the defending champions were trounced on home soil by a rampant Crusaders outfit. The first 30 minutes of the game belonged to the Bulls, especially as the Crusaders hands let them down in the early stages, and the home side had established a 12-0 lead with four Derek Hougaard penalty goals. The visitors finally got their game together in the last ten minutes of the first half, scoring two tries to go into the break up by 17-12. The second half was one way traffic as the Crusaders ran in five tries in a dominating display.

Chiefs 20 Waratahs 17
Saturday night produced the second last gasp win of the round, when Stephen Donald kicked a last minute penalty to give the Chiefs their first win of the season. In the early stages it looked like the Waratahs had the tackling issues last weekend, as the home side jumped out to a 12-0 lead at the break and 17-0 minutes into the second half. The Waratahs got on the board with a try to Ben Jacobs, and then squared the ledger at 17-17 with tries in the final ten minute to Sam Harris and Lote Tuqiri, setting the stage for Donald’s last minute heroics.

Brumbies 22 Highlanders 20
The Brumbies bounced back from last week’s hiding from the Crusaders to put away a spirited Highlanders team to record their first points of the season.  The home side was in control for most of the match, leading 17-7 at half time, and were certainly the better team on the night. The Highlanders did trouble the defence at times, and made a brave come back in the second half but were unable to claim the lead.

Sharks 12 Stormers 10
An upset seemed to be on the cards in Durban as the Stormers jumped out to a 10 point half time lead and the home side seemed intent on squandering chances, bombing at least two certain tries. However a break down of discipline in the second half forced the Stormers to play for 20 minutes down to 14 men after yellow cards to Schalk Berger and Dylan des Fountain. The Sharks took full advantage of their numerical superiority landing four penalties, one to Ruan Pienaar and three to replacement Rory Kockott.

Lions 10 Blues 55
The Blues dished out a rugby lesson in Johannesburg, running in seven tries in the most polished performance of the round. New signing Nick Evans was perfect with the boot, picking up 25 points and directing his explosive team mates well. The Blues not only attacked well, but also showed resolute defence, keeping their line intact for 78 minutes.

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