The quality of rugby is generally not that high for 2 of the top teams in the competition.
The Blues have been poor; everything from the lineouts to Beauden Barrett's touchline kicking screams a lack of professionalism.
This is an unpopular opinion, but the Brumbies were illegal in many facets of defensive play - hands in ruck, disrupting the halfback, not releasing, offside, and deliberately slowing play lying on the wrong side. But this is exactly how I would love for my team to defend. Do everything you can to prevent the other team from scoring. If it's illegal, you'll get away with at least some of it. But show your commitment and effort and urgency.
For the Blues, Finlay Christie has been talked up as an AB scrumhalf. For mine, he is nowhere close. He is hardworking and yet ponderous. He was rattled by the illegalities, but not smart enough to highlight these to the ref. He was eager to clear the ball, but offered no variety in threat himself. Ofa and Alex, AB props, were horrific. How do you struggle against a 7 man scrum? Kurk only really turns up to score tries. Darry lacks physical oomph. Sotutu was excellent - i worried about his ability to play a tight game as an 8 but he did it in this game. Tucker was by other pick- urgency, commitment, effort.
The attacking alignment is poor, and very little happens to help the ball carrier - whether it is options or decpetion. Beauden Barrett's pros and cons as a player was evident. On his try - it really had to be him didn't it. Everything about it was so intuitive - the line, the timing, the angle, the pace. Easy peasy. He's an excellent rugby player. But he's not a 10. He can't get his line to align. He doesn't make calls to run moves. He can't create for others what comes so naturally to himself. His brother, Jordie, has similar problems. Indiviudally terrific, but he is a bit of a hindrance for collective performance.
Blues need to improve. Brumbs might tire from the tackling, but for the top billing of Super Rugby, the quality has to be a lot better.