Week One of the 2007 Super 14 is in the books, dominated by rusty players, upsets and yellow cards. This year’s Super 14 has started two weeks earlier than any other Super Rugby tournament and one of the side effects of this early start has been that teams look under-prepared. Handling errors, missed tackles and bad decisions littered every game, but with the calibre of players in the tournament this trend is unlikely to continue. However, the early start needs to be re-thought.

Another trend that came out of this weekend’s games was the willingness of referees to deal with back-chat and dish out yellow cards. Several players found themselves offside with referees for verbal chips they would have got away with last year, some costing their teams an extra 10 metres after conceding penalties. Referees also dished out at least one yellow card in four of the seven games played.

Blues 34 Crusaders 25
Two traditional rivals opened this year’s Super 14 in Auckland with a game that was probably the match of the round. Both teams have lost several key players to the All Blacks' pre-season conditioning programme but were still able to perform to a high standard. The Blues were the better prepared of the two teams, looking sharper and more cohesive in all aspects of the game. Blues captain Troy Flavell played well, helping set up the first try, but undid all his good work when he was sin-binned late in the game. The Crusaders looked underdone with their forward pack dominated and their usual staunch defence leaky. Crusaders captain Corey Flynn scored the team’s opening try, followed by Mose Tuiali’i and Rico Gear while Isaia Toeava, Rudi Wulf and Doug Howlett dotted down for the Blues.

Force 7 Highlanders 8
In a scrappy and error-ridden game, the Force proved that buying big-name players does not guarantee success. In financial terms, these teams are polar opposites with the Force buying in several new stars, while a lack of funds has forced the Highlanders to field only local players. On the field, new Force players Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and league convert Ryan Cross failed to fire, but the returning Scott Staniforth and James Hilgendorf did perform. Staniforth broke tackles and set up Hilgendorf, who later left the field with a groin injury, for the Force’s only try. Highlanders captain Josh Blackie scored his team's only try after a botched clearance by the Force. Prop Clarke Dermody was sin-binned after punching Matt Henjak.

Lions 16 Waratahs 25
The new-look and renamed Lions performed like the Cats of last season, falling to a disappointing home defeat at the hands of the Waratahs. The Lions were in the game until later in the second half, trailing by only 16-6 at half-time and 16-18 with 18 minutes to play. However, the Waratahs were able to extend their lead during the last quarter and came away three-tries-to-one winners. Jacque Fourie saw a yellow card after a lifting tackle on Lote Tuqiri as the procession of yellow cards continued.

Chiefs 15 Brumbies 21
The Brumbies hit the ground running for the 2007 Super 14 with an impressive win over the luckless Chiefs. In a game that featured a lot of aimless kicking and three yellow cards, it was the Brumbies who took their chances to come away with the points. Chiefs captain Jono Gibbs saw a yellow card after a high tackle, soon followed by Brumbies open-sider George Smith for repeatedly infringing at the breakdown. Chiefs open-sider Marty Holah joined Smith in spending 10 minutes on the sideline for the same offence, as both teams continued to spoil opposition ball despite repeated warnings from the referee. Brumbies’ replacement first five Julian Huxley controlled the tempo of the game for his side and in the end it was his goalkicking that was the difference between the two teams. While the Chiefs scored three tries to two, they were unable to land any goals.