Super Rugby [Super 15] - General Discussion Thread

Xavi6

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Theres very little support for the Force or Union at all I've found when there. I remember when Tuqiri got banned it barely got a mention in the Western Australian.

They have the Dockers and Eagles to focus on and after that they have the WACA.

Moving out of the Subi will improve the atmosphere but they have to keep the fanbase coming now. They really need a bit of success to draw in the fanbase (ie Leinster/Munster). But given union has such a miniscule following it might take even more than that.

It was always going to be tough to support the Rebels while continuing to develop the Force. But I think the Rebels will be easier to get off the ground and then they can turn their attention back west.

The Force moved out of Subi two years ago and have pretty much filled NIB Stadium (capacity approx 20.5k) since. That stadium is getting a serious upgrade once the Super Rugby season finishes so it will be a better incentive for fans of both the Force and Perth Glory to head along to.

There is a core of hardcore Union fans in Perth that will help sustain the club so there's no fear of it dying out I don't think.

However there definitely needs to be an influx of recognised internationals like there was in the second season squad squad (Giteau and Mitchell both came in). To put it bluntly, the current squad is shite.

themont85

Xavi6 wrote: »

The Force moved out of Subi two years ago and have pretty much filled NIB Stadium (capacity approx 20.5k) since. That stadium is getting a serious upgrade once the Super Rugby season finishes so it will be a better incentive for fans of both the Force and Perth Glory to head along to.

There is a core of hardcore Union fans in Perth that will help sustain the club so there's no fear of it dying out I don't think.

However there definitely needs to be an influx of recognised internationals like there was in the second season squad squad (Giteau and Mitchell both came in). To put it bluntly, the current squad is shite.

The Brumbies and Force have really drawn the short straw with regards to Wallabies playing for them currently. Between them they've lost Giteau, Adam Ashley Cooper, James O'Connor and Rocky Elsom. None have really being replaced.

That's the pity about JOC. The Force brought him through and developed him and now lost him when he's just coming into his prime years. That's the right way the Force went about it, not signing NRL players but blooding their own and its not exactly encouraging.

irishbucsfan

Stannard scores a good try to put the Force within 6 of the reds after 55 minutes.

26-20

lologram

Does the Force remind anyone else of Ireland? They commit silly numbers to the breakdown and kick away everything

irishbucsfan

Reds up by 12, two minutes to go, with three tries. Get a penalty in Force 22 and give it to Harris to kick.

Why on earth not try for the bonus point? Madness.

irishbucsfan

lologram wrote: »

Does the Force remind anyone else of Ireland? They commit silly numbers to the breakdown and kick away everything

Difference is they have a natural openside and nothing else, oposite of Ireland!

fullstop

Winters wrote: »

Has anyone been to a Stormers game in Newlands?

Im planning to be down there on honeymoon for the Rebels game in July (Last game of the season). Never been to a Supa 15 game so nice timing eh?

Can anyone recommend where to sit or go before the game?

Cheers

Was at the Stormers v Hurricanes game last weekend. We went to Barrister's on Main Street (corner of Kildare Road) before the game. There's a few bars and cafes beside it. Watched the Ireland game in there and headed down to the match and then back up for a few drinks after, decent crowd around it.

Try to sit in the Grandstand if you can, if you're in the Railway Stand the sun will be in your eyes so it's pretty hot and hard to see.

phog

@ruckingoodstats tweeted

Super15 refs are being measured on rucks. 70% have to be no more than 3 seconds, so refs are pen teams or say ball is out.

I've only seen a few minutes of Stormers game this evening and didn't really notice but I suppose it to keep ball in play for longer.

How does the ref say the ball is out when it's buried undar a pile of bodies, can the defending team reach in take the ball from the ruck?

Morf

Any locks (that Leinster might be in the market for) standing out so far?

Big Nelly

Morf wrote: »

Any locks (that Leinster might be in the market for) standing out so far?

Sykes looked good today:mad:

GerM

He's put in a couple of decent shifts. Carried solidly and offloaded along with bringing physicality just as he was supposed to with Leinster. I'd love to know the full story of his time in Dublin. Back home and straight into the Sharks side, starting both their games and playing well. There's a decent chance he'll get that Springboks cap yet.

endabob1

fullstop wrote: »

Was at the Stormers v Hurricanes game last weekend. We went to Barrister's on Main Street (corner of Kildare Road) before the game. There's a few bars and cafes beside it. Watched the Ireland game in there and headed down to the match and then back up for a few drinks after, decent crowd around it.

Try to sit in the Grandstand if you can, if you're in the Railway Stand the sun will be in your eyes so it's pretty hot and hard to see.

You in CT permanently or just on holidays?

I've been to a few Stormers games, yet to see them win though. Last game was against the reds last season, it was their first loss in Newlands in the round robin stage, in 09 I watched them lose to the blues & in 2010 to the Brumbies, I think I will be barred soon!! There's a few of going to the Bulls game, asuming they get the tickets sorted, so get your bets down now!!

+1 on the stands, unless you're high up in the Railway, under the roof effectively but then you lose out on the view.
I stood in the Dannie Craven end for the Lions v Emerging Boks game in 2009 and was surprised by how decent it was.

Brian

Round 2 tries via /r/rugbyunion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qsnYx5cpqg

Big Nelly

Been watching a lot of Super Rugby this year, first time to watch....

Always amazed when listening to RTE etc about how great the Super Rugby is and I thought it would be amazing. Some good stuff but to be honest I think Leinster play better rugby and also some of the French teams, nothing amazing and European teams in my opinion should not be afraid of these teams which should mean that Ireland should never be afraid to play NZ/SA/Australia

Something always sounds great when you can't watch it, but once you see it there is no magic mystery around the way they play. Full strength Leinster/Munster/Ulster team would have no problems in this league

danthefan

endabob1 wrote: »

You in CT permanently or just on holidays?

I've been to a few Stormers games, yet to see them win though. Last game was against the reds last season, it was their first loss in Newlands in the round robin stage, in 09 I watched them lose to the blues & in 2010 to the Brumbies, I think I will be barred soon!! There's a few of going to the Bulls game, asuming they get the tickets sorted, so get your bets down now!!

+1 on the stands, unless you're high up in the Railway, under the roof effectively but then you lose out on the view.
I stood in the Dannie Craven end for the Lions v Emerging Boks game in 2009 and was surprised by how decent it was.

I was at that game too, shame they lost.

Big Nelly

cipriani playing, good chance to see him, first kick charged down

danthefan

Big Nelly wrote: »

cipriani playing, good chance to see him, first kick charged down

Rebels have been really good so far. I'd imagine they'll run out of steam in the 2nd half.

Big Nelly

danthefan wrote: »

Rebels have been really good so far. I'd imagine they'll run out of steam in the 2nd half.

With O'Connor kicking like that I would expect so:rolleyes:

Big Nelly

Just a quick note, all the slagging J Sexton got for missing one at France, watch that kick.........

GerM

Ref was out of his depth. Very young bloke but missed obvious infringements on both sides for simple things like knock ons and dragging the ball back on the deck. So much going on that he was too nervous to take action. Should have called them all in early doors, read them the riot act and binned the next one to act the maggot. Reds got out of jail a bit. Stupid decision making by Genia nearly cost them and a horror kick from JOC gave them a boost.

Flincher

I would could Ulster get Anscombe to bring his young fella over with him?

He scored all the points for the Blues (including 2 tries) as they beat the Bulls 23-29 in Pretoria. Not bad for a 20 year old.

(I don't think the Baby Blacks count as the next senior representative team, as they also have the Junior All Blacks so he would be eligible for Ireland at 23)

sock puppet

Flincher wrote: »

I would could Ulster get Anscombe to bring his young fella over with him?

He scored all the points for the Blues (including 2 tries) as they beat the Bulls 23-29 in Pretoria. Not bad for a 20 year old.

(I don't think the Baby Blacks count as the next senior representative team, as they also have the Junior All Blacks so he would be eligible for Ireland at 23)

To be fair it'd be hard to attract over a guy touted as a potential successor to Dan Carter. Though with so many talented outhavles at the moment, it seems very likely that a few will come north.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Flincher wrote: »

I would could Ulster get Anscombe to bring his young fella over with him?

He scored all the points for the Blues (including 2 tries) as they beat the Bulls 23-29 in Pretoria. Not bad for a 20 year old.

(I don't think the Baby Blacks count as the next senior representative team, as they also have the Junior All Blacks so he would be eligible for Ireland at 23)

The young lad's contract expires at the end of the current season apparently

Afoa, Muller, Pieanaar, Payne all contracted for next season leaving space for one more foreign signing so maybe

matthew8

What a fantastic finish to Blues-Hurricanes.

Big Nelly

Cipriani playing well

Big Nelly

Big Nelly wrote: »

Cipriani playing well

Just scored break away try and looked to do his hamstring while running

Stupid dance thou:eek:

Neil3030

God I love watching rugby in work.

Judgement Day

Good to see the Force winning on the road again - I was going to have a punt on the Rebels but saw a fan message late last night that set me straight. Phew!

Very weird - it was the Rebels that won by a point not the Force - when I checked this morning scrum.com had the result reversed. Anyway PP Handicap was -1 so I still would have lost.

Judgement Day

Crusaders returned to winning form last night seeing Cheetahs off 28-21 and, more importantly, Dan Carter made his comeback and played for the second 40 minutes!

lologram

Aw jeez Colin Slade...

thomond2006

lologram wrote: »

Aw jeez Colin Slade...

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7627064,00.html

Out until 2013.

Morf

I really like watching the Highlanders. They really have been missing Sapoanga though. Losing Slade too is a big loss.

Flincher

lologram wrote: »

Aw jeez Colin Slade...

There must be some unwritten rule that Colin Slade and Felix Jones can't be fit at the same time.

He's a quality player, I'd still rate him ahead of Cruden as NZ's second best out half.

Brian

matthew8 wrote: »

What a fantastic finish to Blues-Hurricanes.

Just watched in on PolyRugger, awesome game!

MrSparkle

Not really adding anything to the discussion but in case anyone hadn't seen this.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2012/03/2442/dean-mumms-huge-hand-off-on-the-sharks-marcel-coetzee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqlQQEh0g5M

Tox56

Jesus.. the guy who got handed off is 6'3 and nearly 17 stone..

CatFromHue

Munn pushed his head below his hips and he landed on his head...........red card for Munn :pac:

CatFromHue

Terrible news for Juan Smith, he's taking the rest of the season to allow his Achillies to heal. He did the injury around this time last year if I remember right so could be out of the game for 2 years when he get's back.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7649262,00.html

Leinster7

Anyone here fancy the Brumbies for the S15 this year....will be interesting to see how they go on Friday vs Reds now that the big guy is injured



Also, Castleknock loose-head Ruaidhri Murphy on the bench.

Did I mention their Jersey is the closest in the S15 to Leinster?

irishbucsfan

There are a few jerseys down there close to Leinsters... Force, Blues, even kinda the Tahs

Leinster7

I still haven't forgiven the tah's for the 2001 'pasting' of "I'll play til' I'm 38" Radge. Maybe what goes around comes around?

Judgement Day

Crusaders went down narrowly to Bulls 30 - 32 in Pretoria today. Not a bad result and the good news for Crusaders fans is that Dan Carter has resumed kicking duties - his haul today 3 conversions, 2 penalties and a drop goal.

phog

For those that followed the competition here's some stats on the refs during the S15.

Judgement Day

Crusaders saw off Stormers 31 -24 this morning in a hard fought game which saw a new star born for Crusaders - #10 Tom Taylor scored all of their 31 points! It was a dour old encounter with two strong teams slugging it out and far too much aimless kicking - especially from Crusaders. Dan Carter played at 12 and had a poor game by his standards.

endabob1

Injuries to the Stormers locks really killed their chances, Deon Fourie playing as a stand in flanker is far from ideal, I thought they did well to hang on for a bonus point. If they can get something in Brisbane next week I fancy them to win in Perth and they'll be back in SA in a really strong position.

sock puppet

Chiefs up to the top of the table now. Cruden looks a completely different player to last year.

Hagz

sock puppet wrote: »

Chiefs up to the top of the table now. Cruden looks a completely different player to last year.

It's the new haircut.

Burgo

Hagz wrote: »

sock puppet wrote: »

Chiefs up to the top of the table now. Cruden looks a completely different player to last year.

It's the new haircut.

And the beard.

sock puppet

Hagz wrote: »

It's the new haircut.

Looks like less of a hobbit alright

irishbucsfan

Jesus Owens is always so harsh on away teams.