ROSE OUT FOR SEASON


Doug Howlett's two bone-jarring tackles on the Lions' Earl Rose a fortnight ago have ended the 77kg fullback's season.

After a fiery confrontation earlier in the match where Rose appeared to
headbutt the Blues' wing, Howlett responded with two huge hits on the South African - one which seriously injured the fullback in the process. The tackle tore two tendons in his shoulder and required corrective surgery, ruling him out of all rugby for between three to five months.


The Lions are also holding their breath on the fitness of lock Cobus Grobler who is struggling with a shoulder injury. He was on the receiving end of some big Blues' hits in the same match, with Nick Williams and Troy Flavell bumping off the big lock in quick succession at the beginning of the match.








REDS STILL FIGHTING


Eddie Jones says his Reds side will play a "liberated" style of rugby against the Chiefs this weekend.

Despite the confirmation influential players Hugh McMeniman and Berrick Barnes will be unavailable, the Reds have stated they will play an expansive game against a side which will be significantly boosted by the return of their All Blacks.
Although they will have to try and accomplish this with virtually the same side who never looked like crossing the tryline in last Friday night's 38-3 hammering from the Force.


Fullback Clinton Schifcofske may be a late inclusion if he passes a fitness test later today.

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A couple of disputed refereeing decisions in recent Super 14 games have caused some to suggest that certain Laws need to be loooked at:



1. He's won it!


At a tackle the ball is on the ground. Josh Blackie of the Highlanders is there and seeks to grab the ball with his hands. Brent Russell of the Stormers pushes against Blackie who seems to get the ball up off the ground but then drops its back onto the ground as Russell shoves against him. Blackie then gets the ball up and the referee proclaims: "He's won it!"


This is something that one hopes will change. When Blackie first put his hands on the ball it was legal. When Russell shoved against him it was no loner legal because it was a ruck - a player of each side in physical contact over the ball on the ground.

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A Big Yellow start to the Super 14. In last year's first round, three players got sin binned. This time round, nine had a time out, and just one game - the Sharks-Bulls clash - had 30 players on the field the whole 80 minutes. The roll of (dis)honour over the weekend comprised Troy Flavell (Blues), Clarke Dermody (Highlanders), Jaque Fourie (Lions), Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah (Chiefs), George Smith (Brumbies), Mitchell Chapman and James Horwill (Reds) and Schalk Burger (Stormers).


* A nice moment as Holah joined openside rival Smith on the sideline in Hamilton on Saturday night. As Holah passed his great rival, there was a brief slaphands, a brief, friendly exchange of "g'day mate, fancy seeing you here". In fact, the conversation probably went along the lines of "Refs, eh. Can't live with them, can't do without them".


* There should have been no surprise the Reds got their season off to the right start against the Hurricanes in Brisbane. Of their 12 opening round matches in Super rugby, the Reds have won just three - in 1999 11-0, in 2001 27-18 and on Saturday night, 25-16 - each time beating the Hurricanes.


* League recruit Clinton Schifcofske bagged six from eight shots at goal for the Reds, which was an excellent return on debut. But what's with the shut eye preparation? As he steadies himself, Schifcofske shuts one eye, peers at the ball and the imagined line to the posts. Jonny Wilkinson shakes hands with himself, and other noted kickers waggle their backsides, step back before stepping forward and have other quirks. But if it works, you can look as silly as you like.


* Uncontested scrums? No thanks. The loss through injury of Hurricanes props Tim Fairbrother and John Schwalger meant the lean was on for most of the second half. TV commentator Greg Martin suggested an alternative: lineouts. At least it would provide a proper contest instead of what we saw at Suncorp Stadium.


* Chiefs coach Ian Foster had a dry sense of humour in place when he arrived for his post-match press conference after losing to the Brumbies. "Welcome to 2007, people," was his opening line. "What do you think of it so far?" a journalist inquired. "The same as 2006," Foster quipped. The Chiefs lost their opener last season 30-21 to the Sharks.



Source: New Zealand Herald

Only one other hooker has done it before. Played 100 Super Rugby (14) games, that is.


This Saturday Brumbies rake Jeremy Paul joins an exclusive club when he does battle with the Chiefs in Hamilton.


The Highlanders' Anton Oliver was the first front rower to reach the milestone. Paul, who debuted in 1998, will achieve the feat in his city of birth.


The Brumbies will be led again by centurion George Gregan, though Stephen Larkham will miss the match to be at the birth of his second child.


The Chiefs are without their three conditioning All Blacks, plus fringe national hopefuls Sione Lauaki and Richard Kahui.