Weekend Wrap
I haven’t checked – but I guess there is a full moon currently. There can be no other explanation for the weekend just witnessed. The alignment of our planetary system must be questioned when Australia lose an ODI cricket match by 10 wickets. Yes, that’s not a typo. 10 wickets. That’s the equivalent of being lapped in a 400m race – the biggest pants-around-the-ankle arse whipping that can be dished out. And the first time the almighty Australian cricket team has suffered such an indignity. In over 600 matches.
The smirks on the faces of Kiwi sportsfans quickly turned into full-scale laughter as the second game brought more humiliation onto this admittedly under-strength behemoth. Now be honest, hands up who thought normal service had resumed when Oz smashed 336 first-up yesterday? After all, last time NZ played at Eden Park we were bowled out for 73. And when watching the run-chase, we all were expecting the usual emotions that NZ cricket followers know all to well – false hope and expectation cruelly crushed into ultimate disappointment.
For once, the Blackcaps did not let us down and the cabinetmakers will be busy this morning at NZ Cricket HQ – as will the gravediggers at the Australian sporting cemetery. But this is all a bit premature; there is nothing more scary than a wounded Aussie sporting team and those responsible for pushing out the odds for an Australian victory at the upcoming World Cup (from $2.50 to $3.25) are IMO not the brightest gamblers in the solar system. More about that in a few weeks’ time.
Still, one thing worse than being a cricket follower from Australia would be a rugby-lover from Christchurch. Watching their beloved Crusaders losing to the pussycats early on Sunday morning must have been painful. The weird thing is, and in keeping with the full moon theory, is there are some people out there who still believe the Crusaders should still be favourites to win the Super 14. Someone on Betfair has just backed them at $3.80 to win the comp.
A fool and his money are easily parted. Yes, it is still possible that the Crusaders will win the S14, but $3.80 favourites? My assessment pre-season was the Crusaders needed to return from SAF 2 and 1 to make the semis – well, losing to the Lions is not a good start and they will do real well to get past both the Cheetahs and Sharks in the next two weeks. Even if they do, away fixtures in Canberra and Sydney later on loom as potential potholes.
After the first three weeks, I have no idea who will win the final in May. This season will be closer than ever and over the weekend we witnessed all seven games decided by 7 points or less. While there is a lot of continuity from season to season in Super 14 rugby, this year it has gone out the window with the absence of 22 All Blacks in the first 7 weeks. Still don’t believe me? 4 out of the 5 NZ franchises lost in the weekend (one winner thanks to a NZ derby), yet 3 of them (Crusaders, Hurricanes and Blues) are the top three picks in the winner’s market. Madness.
During the season, I keep a table not on wins and losses, but a net score of away wins minus home losses adjusted for strength of opposition and bonus points gained. Based on this, at this early stage I’d have the Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies and Waratahs favoured to make the semis while the Sharks, Cheetahs, Force and Highlanders (yes, you read right) are not out of it. Yes, rugby-lovers from Christchurch, the Crusaders are GONE!
The smirks on the faces of Kiwi sportsfans quickly turned into full-scale laughter as the second game brought more humiliation onto this admittedly under-strength behemoth. Now be honest, hands up who thought normal service had resumed when Oz smashed 336 first-up yesterday? After all, last time NZ played at Eden Park we were bowled out for 73. And when watching the run-chase, we all were expecting the usual emotions that NZ cricket followers know all to well – false hope and expectation cruelly crushed into ultimate disappointment.
For once, the Blackcaps did not let us down and the cabinetmakers will be busy this morning at NZ Cricket HQ – as will the gravediggers at the Australian sporting cemetery. But this is all a bit premature; there is nothing more scary than a wounded Aussie sporting team and those responsible for pushing out the odds for an Australian victory at the upcoming World Cup (from $2.50 to $3.25) are IMO not the brightest gamblers in the solar system. More about that in a few weeks’ time.
Still, one thing worse than being a cricket follower from Australia would be a rugby-lover from Christchurch. Watching their beloved Crusaders losing to the pussycats early on Sunday morning must have been painful. The weird thing is, and in keeping with the full moon theory, is there are some people out there who still believe the Crusaders should still be favourites to win the Super 14. Someone on Betfair has just backed them at $3.80 to win the comp.
A fool and his money are easily parted. Yes, it is still possible that the Crusaders will win the S14, but $3.80 favourites? My assessment pre-season was the Crusaders needed to return from SAF 2 and 1 to make the semis – well, losing to the Lions is not a good start and they will do real well to get past both the Cheetahs and Sharks in the next two weeks. Even if they do, away fixtures in Canberra and Sydney later on loom as potential potholes.
After the first three weeks, I have no idea who will win the final in May. This season will be closer than ever and over the weekend we witnessed all seven games decided by 7 points or less. While there is a lot of continuity from season to season in Super 14 rugby, this year it has gone out the window with the absence of 22 All Blacks in the first 7 weeks. Still don’t believe me? 4 out of the 5 NZ franchises lost in the weekend (one winner thanks to a NZ derby), yet 3 of them (Crusaders, Hurricanes and Blues) are the top three picks in the winner’s market. Madness.
During the season, I keep a table not on wins and losses, but a net score of away wins minus home losses adjusted for strength of opposition and bonus points gained. Based on this, at this early stage I’d have the Blues, Hurricanes, Brumbies and Waratahs favoured to make the semis while the Sharks, Cheetahs, Force and Highlanders (yes, you read right) are not out of it. Yes, rugby-lovers from Christchurch, the Crusaders are GONE!
Labels: post mortems
posted by Rob Crawford at 11:20 AM
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