Brumbies, Reds, Force and Rebels in exciting clashes

It used to be commonly held that players coming back to Super Rugby from Europe – especially those in their 30s – would be too slow to make an impact, but Hanson looks in great nick (as does the Force’s Sitaleki Timani). So, Hanson has to be in the Wallabies’ conversation at hooker, especially as they aren’t particularly blessed in that position.

4. Rob Valetini’s best game of rugby.

The Brumbies were undone by an issue that has hurt them for the past two weeks – restarts. That might seem like a technical gripe but in a game where a lot of points are scored, the restarts become like the third set-piece. Some of their best players either didn’t look comfortable receiving the football – Pete Samu and Cadeyrn Neville – or flat out made mistakes – Andy Muirhead and Rob Valetini.

But Valetini’s late mistake doesn’t override a performance that was his best in Super Rugby by some distance. He was the dominant physical force among the back-rowers, on the both sides of the ball, and that’s no mean feat given the company he was in.

5. Reds shoot up the SMH trans-Tasman power rankings.

Taniela Tupou was unstoppable, a tour de force performance that will have caught the eye on both sides of the ditch. His power scrummaging and ball carrying means the Reds are a team that deserve respect, paticularly when they constructed another neat short-side try (remember round one against the Waratahs) with James O’Connor and Harry Wilson involved.

The Brumbies fall two places due to their growing injury list but the Rebels move into the top five after a good away win to wrap up their tough start. 1. Crusaders 2. Reds 3. Blues 4. Brumbies 5. Rebels 6. Highlanders 7. Force 8. Hurricanes 9. Chiefs 10. Waratahs