SupeRugby Round 8 Recap:

The Bulls got a duck, The Reds blew the Stormers away, The Brumbies finally won and the Sharks nearly expended themselves in the first half and left nothing for the second. This is pretty much how the weekend went along for SupeRugby. The combined log has chopped and changed and there are a few sides realising that there is no hope left for them. On the other hand there are 5 teams fighting for 3 positions in the knock-out stages.

• The Highlanders would have walked into the changing room after the game on Friday thanking their lucky stars that rugby is only 80minutes long. They looked to be extremely comfortable but the Cheetahs came back in the 76th minute with a converted try from Phillip Burger.The Highlanders had to defend for the final 4 minutes to hold onto the 3 point win. Highlanders won 24-21

• WOW! When last did you watch a SupeRugby game where a team played without scoring? Can you hear the warning bells ringing because I can. The Crusaders owned the Bulls on Friday and took them to task. The only blemish was not securing a bonus point win. Crusaders won 27-0

• The Brumbies won the battle of the 2 most disappointing teams this season, and only just. A single point separated these 2 non-achievers and the win seemed like a SupeRugby final win for the Brumbies, as all the subs and management flocked onto the field after the final whistle. The boot of Matt Giteau lifted the hopes of the home team with a single unconverted try from winger Henry Speight. Brumbies won 17-16.

• The Waratahs secured a comprehensive bonus point win over fellow Australian side the Western Force. The Waratahs back three have been in sublime form this season and came up with the goods again on Saturday as Drew Mitchell (2) and Kurtley Beale (1) crossed over for the visiting team. Tom Carter at inside centre started the try scoring in the29th minute. Waratahs won 31-3.

• The Stormers fell again at yet another crucial hurdle by losing to the Reds at Newlands. The games was riddled with handling errors and the Reds capitalised on a poor Stormers performance. Last weeks JudgeRugby Player of the Week , Peter Grant, did not perform and you wonder if the absence of Jean de Villiers outside him contributed to his performance. Reds won 19-6

• The Sharks earned a bonus point win on Saturday against the Lions but not without a little second half resistance from the visitors. The Sharks had already scored 3 tries by half time and a bonus point win was on everyone's mind. The Lions however, had a different plan. Out of pure grit and defensive strength they held the Sharks off and it was only in the 81st minute that Charl McLeod managed to squirm over for the 4th try. Sharks won 27-3

Player of the Week: Drew Mitchell
Team of the Week: Waratahs
WTF of the Week: The Bulls
Ouch of the Week: Flip van der Merwe & Conrad Smith