Super Rugby: Talking points from week ten as Taqele reverts to type and Aussie Conference go zero from five

Taqele reverts to type

Just desserts to those who fell for the Taqele Naiyaravoro charade.

Many people would have been rushing to put the big Tahs winger into their Fantasy League team over the last few weeks after some impressive performances.

But as the Tahs succumbed meekly to the Lions in Sydney, Naiyaravoro reverted to type with an anonymous error strewn performance.

He’ll quickly be removed from all those Fantasy League teams again.

Don’t bet on blue

It was not a good day to be wearing blue jerseys of the lighter hue.

Shortly before the Tahs were walloped the Blues put on a own horror show as they were beaten 34-16 by the Highlanders in Auckland.

Coach Tana Umaga must be starting to tear out his carefully maintained dreadlocks as his superbly talented team just cannot perform to anywhere near their expected standard.

Sonny Bill Williams is absent through injured but it cannot explain the side’s woeful won two – lost six record.

It’s an ongoing embarrassment for one of New Zealand’s proudest provinces and biggest cities.

Who is Shannon Frizell?

The ridiculous strength in depth of New Zealand rugby was further on display as the unheralded Highlanders flanker Shannon Frizell crossed for a hat-trick of tries against the Blues to rocket in to All Blacks calculations.

Previously only garnering a passing mention as the younger brother of St George Dragons’ league star Tyson, the 195cm, 108kg juggernaut is in his debut season with the Highlanders after two outstanding years with the Tasman Makos in the Mitre 10 Cup.

But the 24-year-old has shown that he belongs at this level and higher with his rampaging runs which are currently keeping Eliot Dixon on the bench.

Tongan-born Frizzel needs to be snapped up by his country of origin very quickly or we will soon be seeing him in a black jersey.

Third choice fly-half – no problems for Saders

The absurd strength in depth of the Crusaders was on show for the champions on Saturday night as they were down to their third choice flyhalf with Richie Mo’unga injured and Mitchell Hunt benched.

Step up 35-year-old Mike Delany.

In the first minute of the match he sliced through the Sunwolves defence, stepped around the fullback and floated a long pass to Ryan Crotty to score the opening try, which he then converted from wide out for good measure.

Delany continued in the same vein with a tidy performance, including three conversions, as the Crusaders surprisingly struggled at times before recording a  33-11 victory against the hapless Wolves.

Jaguares play-off bound?

The Argentine side have had a less than impressive introduction to Super Rugby, finishing 10th last season and 13th in 2016, but this could be their year.

Under coach Mario Ledesma, the Jaguares have a new found resilience, which was on display against the Brumbies.

Despite clinging on to a narrow 13-10 lead when they lost winger Emiliano Boffelli to the sin bin, they managed to increase their lead with Jeronimo de la Fuente diving over out wide.

It’s a third win for the Jaguares over Australian sides this year after triumphing 38-28 over the Waratahs in Buenos Aires and a come from behind 25-22 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne last weekend.

But the real test now begins for the Jaguares as they head across the ditch.

“It was a really tough game for us: we wanted to win our first two games in Australia and we did it and it’s a great start to the tour,” said Jaguares skipper Pablo Matera after the match.

“Now we head to New Zealand for games against the Blues and Chiefs and we’re after more wins.”