Super Rugby: 5 Things We Learnt From Round 16

1     The Crusaders with Richie McCaw playing a full 80 minutes as openside flank and captain, and Dan Carter playing a full 80 as flyhalf, are a different kettle of fish altogether from a Crusaders team without them playing full games in their best positions.

2     If SANZAR refereeing boss Lyndon Bray is serious about his recently reiterated insistence on accuracy from his officials, and the intention to demote officials who do not meet the requisite standard, Glenn Newman, TMO in the Highlanders vs Chiefs match, will not be on duty again in Super Rugby 2015.

3     The Force try so hard, playing with passion and a plan, but they just don’t have the players to win more than a few games in the course of the season.

4     The Waratahs indignation last week at the suspensions of Will Skelton and Tolu Latu, and the rejection of their appeals, did not translate into improved discipline against the Lions. Rob Horne was fortunate to get a yellow card and not red, and has now been suspended, Jacques Potgieter was perhaps lucky to get yellow not red, and Nick Phipps could well have received their third yellow card when he escaped with merely a penalty.

5     The return of Quade Cooper was a welcome boost for the Reds in their four-try bonus point win over the bottom-of-the-log Force, but Saturday’s victory may be too late to save coach Richard Graham’s job. Is Matt O’Connor set to take over as Reds head coach?