Who’s hot and who’s not!

Editor

It’s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

THEY’RE ON FIRE!!

Crusaders: Ten out of ten – both the Crusaders' record this season and also the rating for most of their performances, and Saturday at Loftus was no different. They took the Bulls to the cleaners upfront and then ripped them open in the backs, with Richie Mo'unga and Jack Goodhue the stars this week following on from George Bridge and David Havili. Next Saturday's clash at home with the Hurricanes could be a classic.

Highlanders comeback: How? We won't lie, the Highlanders' houdini act required a rather rapid re-write towards the final whistle as the 2015 champions pulled off the unthinkable. 41-24 down on 76 minutes, to 41-45 winners, with three tries. Even now it feels impossbile to comprehend. Full marks for composure and skill levels under pressure. That is how you get it done.

Wasps and Thomas Young: Top of the table just a few years from being a Tom Varndell tackle away from relegation, marking some turnaround for the two-time European champions who will now go into the play-offs full of confidence. This was also the first time Wasps have ever finished in first place at the end of the regular season. Full marks to Thomas Young too, the flanker who finished with a hat-trick, who somehow still isn't good enough for Wales consideration…

Munster: Leapfrogged Leinster on the final day by putting up a half century on Connacht, scoring seven tries in the process to importantly take first place. Why so important? Because based on the Scarlets efforts (more on them in a bit) the Ospreys might have made the play-offs but look like a team whose confidence is shot. The European dream might be over, but a PRO12 title would be some story in this season of all seasons.

Beauden and Jordie Barrett: The younger Barrett's finish, poaching the ball out from under Nizaam Carr, was absurd. As was his flick inside to Julian Savea. Meanwhile, Beauden put on a cross-kick clinic, and bagged a try of his own. Put it this way, neither player is slowing down.

Scarlets: Ripped the Ospreys to pieces on Saturday to take third in the PRO12, and it was plenty of fun to watch. Wayne Pivac's work in west Wales is beginning to get the recognition it deserves and while the departure of DTH van der Merwe and Liam Williams is a shame, in Steff Evans and Johnny McNicholl the Scarlets have two phenomenal threats out wide.

Thierry Dusautoir: Barely a dry eye in the house as the great France flanker played his final game. Not only is Dusautoir a player of the highest quality, but as a captain and an inspirational force there have been few bigger players for France in the last decade. How he will be missed.

James O'Connor: Not an easy season for O'Connor after his arrest in Paris earlier this year, but this was a touch of class after Toulon's win over Bayonne.

BROKEN THERMOSTAT

Jaguares: A win over the Sunwolves, and much-needed after four straight losses, but the long-term direction of the Jaguares has to be questioned. In the first half they were outcoached by the Japanese franchise, who looked fitter, faster and dominated the breakdown while knowing exactly where to split the Jaguares defence open. On top of that, Juan Martín Hernández had one of his most erratic games for some time and almost cost his side the game. This team could be so much better. And the questions about Raúl Pérez as head coach deserve to be asked.

COLD AS ICE

Rebels: "Just not good enough" was the verdict of Rebels boss Tony McGahan and how right he was. Another miserable performance from the Australian strugglers, played out in front of barely anybody at AAMI Park, showed just how far off the pace the Rebels are when facing a quality outfit like the Lions missing two of their first-choice back-rows and who barely had to hit top gear to fall narrowly short of 50 points. Based on performance alone, the Australian team to be cut from Super Rugby feels clear. 

Bristol and Bayonne: Relegation for both sides from their respective divisions was finally confirmed this weekend. Bristol's stint in the Championship with no play-offs and boasting a side including Ian Madigan, Steven Luatua and the rest will be a complete breeze. The road for Bayonne however could prove tougher in the ultra-competitive ProD2, with Oyonnax and then one of Agen, Mont-de-Marsan, Montauban and Biarritz (remember them) about to battle it out in the play-offs.

Cheetahs and certain refereeing calls: How? (Part two). The Highlanders' comeback was phenomenal, but were the Highlanders overall? Absolutely not. Through their outstanding wingers Raymond Rhule and Sergeal Petersen, not forgetting Tian Meyer at scrum-half, the Cheetahs put on a show in Bloemfontein. And then choked catastrophically. Not hot.

Also, some of the calls from Marius van der Westhuizen and his officials in that first half beggared belief. One of the clearer forward passes of the year was somehow missed, and then Matt Faddes was yellow carded for a non-existent stiff arm after the option of the TMO was ignored. Dire stuff.

Quade Cooper: Bundled over by Charlie Ngatai and in general looked miles away from his old self in the loss to the Chiefs. Cooper is still only 29 but is obviously struggling in a Reds side low on confidence. If he is carrying a couple of niggles as reported, then given the Reds season is long over it is time to rest up and recuperate. He can deliver much more.

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