Super 15 Rugby

New Zealand and Crusaders rugby winger Zac Guildford has been involved in yet another drunken incident and has stepped down from the Crusaders, as was reported by the New Zealand Herald.

This comes as the latest in a series of incidents that date back to his late night out in the weeks prior to Rugby World Cup 2011. However, Guildford may not be so lucky as to get his contract continued this time, as was reported by the Timaru Herald. 

It is obvious that Guildford is devastated by the incident, as from all accounts he has been working hard at his alcohol issues and had a pretty clean 2012. The Press reported that he has apologised for his behaviour, and it seems he is showing genuine remorse.

But it must be asked how many times can this happen? You can't just keep saying sorry for the same incidents and expect that to be enough.

It gets to the stage where sorry simply doesn't mean anything, and a harder line needs to be taken.

Is this the stage we are at now?

That remains to be seen, but as it was remarked he was on his last chance after the well-publicised incident in Rarotonga in November 2011, it would seem his chances should be slim.

Incidents such as the ones he has been involved in over the past years taint the image of both All Black rugby and New Zealand rugby as a whole. Both maintain extremely high standards, standards that have made them the most dominant country in the history of rugby.

The idea that you are an All Black 24/7 really rings true here. While it's true Guildford wasn't involved with the team for the latter part of 2012, he was part of the team that played Ireland in June and was never far from selection for the later games in a lot of minds. 

That is a position thousands of New Zealanders dream of being in, and for someone to treat it with such disrespect is somewhat insulting.

There are those that will say he is allowed to have a drink when he wants. This is true, but it is also true that it shouldn't get to a stage where he does something stupid. The facts are, he is a professional rugby player, he is being paid to keep out of this sort of trouble.

It's not as though he is irreplaceable. At an All Black level there are plenty of wingers available to step up. Cory Jane, Julian Savea and Hosea Gear have all shown themselves to be amongst the best in the world, whilst utilities such as Ben Smith, Tamati Ellison, Richard Kahui and Andre Taylor are also of a high class.

The Crusaders will find that losing their star winger would affect them more, but with blooding youngster Johnny McNicholl or trying Robbie Fruean to pair with Adam Whitelock on the wing, there are options. Tom Marshall too could be a viable option as his way to the fullback jersey appears blocked by Israel Dagg.

That said, he would still be a loss to both. Guildford has one of the highest work rates of any winger in the country, constantly looking to come into the line and get his hands on the ball. He is dangerous when receiving the inside ball, whilst also possessing a good turn of pace and an eye for a gap which makes him lethal out wide.

The tragedy of the situation is that at just 23 years of age, he had a lengthy career in front of him and was only going to get better.

But for now his fate hangs in the balance, and undoubtedly in the coming days and weeks we will find out more about the result of this mishap.

If he is granted another chance, then we can only pray he straightens himself out once and for all and enables himself to reach his potential as a player. If not, then he may be added to the list of promising All Blacks whom for one reason or another, were never able to go on to fulfil their destiny.

The Chiefs have beaten the Sharks by 37-6 to claim their first Super Rugby championship. It was a one-sided affair that the Chiefs dominated from the word go, with the Sharks hardly firing a shot all night.

It was hardly a surprise. Despite the rich vein of form this Sharks side has shown in recent times, the amount of travel they have had to do would have hampered any team. They looked a very tired team, and it showed.

The Chiefs took command early on, maintaining the upper hand in the possession and territory stakes. Wave after wave of attack came from the home side, forcing the Sharks to defend for a lengthy period of time. They did this exceptionally well, keeping the Chiefs out for ten minutes.

But something had to give, and it was Tim Nanai-Williams who touched down for the first try of the game. It was to be the only try of the first half, as the Chiefs took a 13-3 lead to the break, having played most of the rugby.

The second half saw the flood gates begin to open. It was clear the travel was starting to take its toll on the Sharks, as they leaked three tries, all of which were converted, along with a further penalty. In response, they were only able to manage one penalty, taking the full time score to a resounding 37-6.

You couldn't begrudge the Chiefs the win, as they have been one of the form sides all season and had to go through a strong Crusaders side last week to make the final.

The final in the end became something of a non-event due to the travel factor, but it is the Chiefs' form all season that should be remembered rather than what turned out to be a walk over final.

Aaron Cruden was once again outstanding, and has further pushed his case to be the starting All Black flyhalf, whilst Sonny Bill Williams was always dangerous outside him in his last game for the franchise.

The forward pack worked well together as they have all year and it was them that ensured the Sharks never got an opportunity to fire a shot.

That makes the Chiefs just the sixth franchise to win the competition in it's 17 year history, while Wayne Smith became the first coach or assistant coach to win a championship with two franchises. 

We are down to just two. The Chiefs and the Sharks will contest the 2012 Super 15 final in Hamilton next weekend after two tightly contested semifinals. Both wins were built on the back of tough defence coupled with the ability to strike when it counted and take the opportunities presented to them. It is this that is so often the difference between the top teams, and so, it proved once again. 

Chiefs 20 Crusaders 17

Despite finishing as top qualifier in the New Zealand Conference, the Chiefs entered the game as underdogs. The Crusaders were the form team, with a team of superstars and seven championships to their name. It seemed as though they would do what they have done so many times before—come right at the right time of the season and knock over the consistent performers all year.

Not this time.

It was all Chiefs for the first 39 minutes, as their forwards matched the physicality of the Crusaders and got the better of the breakdown. This gave them good ball and forced the Crusaders onto the back foot, where the Chiefs took full advantage. 

Two tries and an Aaron Cruden penalty in the first half had the Crusaders chasing the game from then on with the score at 17-6.

But they didn't lie down for them, with Ryan Crotty scoring a try on the stroke of halftime to bring them back into the game.

The second half saw the Crusaders begin to gain dominance as they clawed their way back into the game. But the Chiefs defence held strong and had to make tackle after tackle in the final minutes to ensure they would emerge victors in a thrilling contest.

The Chiefs will now host the Sharks next week in what will be their second Super Rugby final. They will be looking to bury the demons from their only previous final appearance, where they were downed 61-17 by the Bulls in the most one-sided final in the history of the competition.

Sharks 26 Stormers 19

The Sharks have continued their impressive run of late season form and are now just one win away from their first Super Rugby championship.

They came up against the table-topping Stormers, the team with the best defence in the competition and having lost just two games all year; it was always going to be a tough ask. 

However, it was the Sharks who gained ascendancy early, controlling possession and territory and getting the better of their opposition up front. The Stormers defence held strong, though, and points proved hard to come by as the teams traded penalty goals to get the scoring underway. 

Frederic Michalak kicked a drop goal to take the score to 6-3, before a Louis Ludik try extended the lead. A Stormers penalty on halftime took the half-time score to 13-6, leaving both sides still very much in the game.

It was the Sharks that came out firing after the break, though, and a JP Pietersen try 20 minutes from the end saw the score extended to 23-9. This was telling as from here, the Stormers were always chasing the game and were forced to chance their arm.

A late Stormers flurry made for an exciting finish, but it wasn't enough as the Sharks held on to continue their tremendous run of late-season form.

They must now travel to New Zealand to take on the Chiefs in the final, which will mark their third plane trip across the Indian Ocean in three weeks. This travel takes its toll, and while they may have shown some outstanding form of late, it would be a truly remarkable effort if they were able to get up once more and complete the fairytale next week.

Just four teams, three games and two weeks remain in the 2012 Super 15 season. That's right, it's semifinals time, and while it's been a great season to date, all that has happened now is irrelevant for those involved and it is the next two weeks that will determine how the season ends up.

This is the second year using the new top-six format, meaning trends are still yet to develop as to whether it's better to be one of the top two teams and have the week off, or if more game time is an advantage.

From that respect picking this weekend's winners isn't an easy task. But in any case, recent form suggests the top-two finishers may not be the favourites for this weekend and an upset or two could be on the cards.

Chiefs vs Crusaders 

The first semifinal sees the Chiefs host the Crusaders in what has potential to be the game of the season. Both are capable of winning and it is truly going to be a case of who is the best team on the night.

The Chiefs have been the over-achievers of the year, topping the New Zealand conference and playing outstanding rugby for most of the season. In contrast, the Crusaders started slow as always, but have finally hit their straps and are playing the sort of rugby that has seen them win seven championships. The result is tantalising matchup that could go either way.

When the two sides last met three weeks ago, they had a titanic struggle characterised by a fast Crusaders start and then a furious fight back from the Chiefs. The Crusaders would emerge victorious by seven points, but the rugby played by both teams was perhaps the highest quality seen in the competition this year and made for arguably the game of the season.

Picking a winner this time around isn't any easier. What might be key is the momentum the Crusaders have gained in the past few weeks. Their forwards are bringing physicality to the game that the Chiefs will struggle with, and they have the backs to make them pay out wide. They have simply looked lethal, and even without captain Kieran Read are the in-form team of the competition.

And then there's the Chiefs. Arguably the form team of the competition. A solid platform up front built upon a solid front row, a hard-working second row and a dynamic loose forward trio, backed up with flair to burn in the backline. However, they're coming off two losses and a bye, meaning they bring no momentum whatsoever into this crunch game.

The battle up front will undoubtedly be telling, and the Crusaders will possibly have the edge here. But the other area to watch is the men in the No. 10 jerseys, with the old master Dan Carter toeing it with the new challenger Aaron Cruden—arguably the best player in the competition—but Carter is finding form at the right time and can single-handedly take over a game himself.

One thing that we can be sure of is that it will certainly be a game you won't want to miss.

Prediction: Crusaders by 6

Stormers vs Sharks

The second semifinal is an all-South African affair, as the top qualifying Stormers take on the sixth-placed Sharks. Don't let this fool you though, the Sharks are a team playing well above their seeding and are more than capable of topping the South African conference-winning Stormers.

For the Sharks, it is a case of getting over the travel that has come with being the bottom qualifying team, having had to travel to Australia and back in the past week.

This takes its toll, and will be a factor—it's hard enough playing a playoff game in another country, let alone having to fly to another and front up the next week. Just ask the 1999 Highlanders or the 2011 Crusaders, the only two teams faced with such a prospect in Super Rugby history. Just for the record, both teams lost on the return trip.

But it can be done. This is a Sharks team in form and playing with great confidence. They are built around an outstanding front row and a powerful loose forward trio. Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira have possibly been the best players in their positions this season, while Marcell Coetzee has been the find of the season. Their backs have looked slick too, with JP Pietersen in particular in career-best form.

In contrast, the Stormers are a team built around a strong defence, boasting by far and away the best record in the competition in this department. Tries don't come easy against this team. But they don't score a lot either.

Despite having the likes of Bryan Habana, Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh and Jean de Villiers in their back line, they have scored the least tries and come in only 13th in points scored, ahead of only the lowly Lions and Force.

Like the Chiefs, they haven't looked as strong in recent weeks, with gaps beginning to open in their defence. When this happens it's hard to see them catching up, as they simply don't seem to have the ability to score a huge amount of points.

The Sharks are a team capable of getting a few early tries, particularly with the strength of their loose forwards, and if they can do this, they could very well find themselves in their fourth Super Rugby final.

But it won't be easy, the Stormers are a very tough team and despite a recent lapse in form remain the best defensive team in the competition.

Just like the first game, it really is a case of anything is possible.

Prediction: Sharks by 5

The Crusaders and Sharks have both won their first-round Super Rugby playoff matches, which ensure they will progress to next week's semifinals. Both teams looked very good, taking the game away from their opponents in the first half and never letting them back into it.

The wins set up two local derbies next week, where the Crusaders will trek north to play the Chiefs, while the Sharks will travel to Cape Town to face the table-topping Stormers.

Crusaders: 28, Bulls: 13

The Crusaders were completely dominant as they strolled to a 28-13 win over a Bulls side who never threatened. It was a game marked by the physicality of the Crusaders forwards who dominated at breakdown time and ensured the Bulls were constantly on the back foot.

Out wide, they looked to move the ball and take on the Bulls. They only managed one try, but such was the pressure, the Bulls continued to concede penalties that Daniel Carter was able to turn into points. 

In contrast, the Bulls played typical Bulls rugby. Kick and chase. Everything. The whole game. Even when they were trailing by 20 points with time running out, they continued with their one-dimensional game plan. 

While it's a game plan that's won them three championships, it simply wasn't the one to use to beat the Crusaders last night. Particularly when it's not being executed well, as was the case last night, with Morne Steyn having an unusually off night with the boot. This was in effect just giving the ball back to the Crusaders to run back, which is asking for trouble when you look at the flair in this Crusaders back line.

But it was the dominance of the Crusaders forwards that made it so hard for Steyn and the rest of the Bulls to do anything. Richie McCaw was immense carrying the ball, while Sam Whitelock too had a very strong game. 

This is a Crusaders team on form, and they will be tough to beat from now on. Despite finishing fourth on the final competition standings, it wouldn't be silly at all to suggest the Crusaders were now favourites to take the title.

Sharks: 30, Reds: 17

After claiming the final Top Six spot last week, the Sharks have travelled to Brisbane and defeated the defending-champion Reds by 30-17. 

They shot out to an early 20-3 lead and looked very polished. The Reds weren't able to recover, and, despite fighting back, the game had effectively been lost in the first 30 minutes.

The Sharks pack got on top early, with the tight five gaining the ascendancy at set piece and the looseforwards running powerfully to get them on the front foot. Their backs looked dangerous, too, with JP Pietersen being the pick of them. He continued what has been an outstanding season with a top performance, getting involved and scoring a try. 

Defensively they were outstanding, and it was here that the game was closed out in the second half. The Reds tried continually to get across, but simply couldn't do enough as the Sharks showed why many regard them as the dark horse for this year's title.

On current form, one would have to call the Sharks favourites as they enter their game against the Stormers next week. But it may not be as straightforward as this. The Sharks have had to travel to Australia and back to South Africa again in the past week. This shouldn't be underestimated, as it does take its toll. Should they win, they will be required to travel once more, this time to New Zealand to play the final. 

It's a tough ask to win from here. But don't write them off; they are playing very good rugby, and it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see a Crusaders vs. Sharks final in two weeks' time.