Super Rugby [Super 15] - General Discussion Thread

Clareman

Another try, there could be a bonus point in this yet

Clareman

Just a try bonus for the Cheetah's.

Kilkenny14

Clareman wrote: »

Just a try bonus for the Cheetah's.

Meanwhile Huuricanes got revenge against the Crusaders (sans Carter) by beating them 23 22 away. Zach Guilford got a great individual try while Conrad Smith finished 2 great team tries. The highlights are worth watching!

PhatPiggins

Kilkenny14 wrote: »

Meanwhile Huuricanes got revenge against the Crusaders (sans Carter) by beating them 23 22 away. Zach Guilford got a great individual try while Conrad Smith finished 2 great team tries. The highlights are worth watching!

Great game for the neutral. Robbie Freun (totally over rated) got a lesson from Conrad Smith. Some turnaround from last season for the Canes.

Judgement Day

Kilkenny14 wrote: »

Meanwhile Huuricanes got revenge against the Crusaders (sans Carter) by beating them 23 22 away. Zach Guilford got a great individual try while Conrad Smith finished 2 great team tries. The highlights are worth watching!

Not to mention Kieran Read and Israel Dagg - it was the Crusaders B team. They'll be back.

boksmashoffice

Whoever finishes top of the log will win the super 15. I hope it will be the stormers. Time will tell.

CatFromHue

The Chiefs are at home to the Crusaders (who need to win after losing to the Canes on Saturday) and then away to the Cane's (who'll want to win as they might still get into the playoffs). They've the hardest run by far.

The Stormers are away to the Cheetahs and at home to the Rebels which should give them two wins.

The Brumbies are away to the Waratahs and then home to the Blues.

It looks good for the Stormers to top the table so.

boksmashoffice

CatFromHue wrote: »

The Chiefs are at home to the Crusaders (who need to win after losing to the Canes on Saturday) and then away to the Cane's (who'll want to win as they might still get into the playoffs). They've the hardest run by far.

The Stormers are away to the Cheetahs and at home to the Rebels which should give them two wins.

The Brumbies are away to the Waratahs and then home to the Blues.

It looks good for the Stormers to top the table so.

Stormers look in poll position.
If it is a bulls v stormers final. I can see the bulls turning them over,but i cannot see that happening.

sock puppet

CatFromHue wrote: »

The Chiefs are at home to the Crusaders (who need to win after losing to the Canes on Saturday) and then away to the Cane's (who'll want to win as they might still get into the playoffs). They've the hardest run by far.

The Stormers are away to the Cheetahs and at home to the Rebels which should give them two wins.

The Brumbies are away to the Waratahs and then home to the Blues.

It looks good for the Stormers to top the table so.

Chiefs will probably only need 5 points though.

CatFromHue

Just watched the Crusaders Hurricanes game and it's been a while since I saw a team with such a poor/beaten set piece.

The ESPN stats are:

Scrums on own feed 3 won, 4 lost (42.9%)
Lineouts on own throw 7 won, 3 lost (70.0%)

They've scored the most amount of points in the league though.

boksmashoffice

I watched that game live on sat morning. Could not see the Canes winning, But they did. It opens up the NZ division.

I was hoping the highlanders did a number on the chiefs, but Chiefs were too big and strong.

Tim Robbins

boksmashoffice wrote: »

I watched that game live on sat morning. Could not see the Canes winning, But they did. It opens up the NZ division.

I was hoping the highlanders did a number on the chiefs, but Chiefs were too big and strong.

I have ESPN with magnet. Are they any good highlight programs on of the games?

Thanks.

boksmashoffice

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I have ESPN with magnet. Are they any good highlight programs on of the games?

Thanks.

Most Super 15 games are on Sky or on Sky Live (internet).

boksmashoffice

Some excellent rugby on this weekend.
I have cut the grass, stocked up food, beers and biltong.

Here are my predictions

Chiefs vs Crusaders (Crusaders)
Reds vs Highlanders (reds)
Sharks vs Bulls (sharks)
Blues vs Western Force (Blues)
Waratahs vs Brumbies (Warathas)
Cheetahs vs Stormers (Stormers)
Lions vs Melbourne Rebels (Lions)
Sharks vs Bulls (Sharks)

What do others think?

.ak

boksmashoffice wrote: »

Some excellent rugby on this weekend.
I have cut the grass, stocked up food, beers and biltong.

Here are my predictions

Chiefs vs Crusaders (Crusaders)
Reds vs Highlanders (reds)
Sharks vs Bulls (sharks)
Blues vs Western Force (Blues)
Waratahs vs Brumbies (Warathas)
Cheetahs vs Stormers (Stormers)
Lions vs Melbourne Rebels (Lions)
Sharks vs Bulls (Sharks)

What do others think?

I see you're really hoping for a Sharks' win there...


I'd agree with everything, except I can see Chiefs winning their game.

boksmashoffice

.ak wrote: »

I see you're really hoping for a Sharks' win there...


I'd agree with everything, except I can see Chiefs winning their game.

I want as many south African teams in the knock out stages.
If chiefs win both their games, I cannot see them losing at home.

Stormers or Bulls I fancy to go all the way from a South African point of view.

We will know by 8pm on sat state of play.

mystic86

Great run by Cruden at start of game, should have gotten the full 7 points. Crusaders fortunate enough that they got knock-on from carter kick at posts.


That guy with the bell in the crowd needs to DIE!!!!!

mystic86

Crusaders have been the much better team since.

Chiefs making too many errors, including a couple of sloppy lineouts

mystic86

FAR too many errors by Chiefs.

Where is SBW in this game??

What a little kick by Ellis.

Have to say Crusaders deserve their lead, much better so far.

mystic86

ah seriously, this is nearly bad as those vuvuzela's!

What a cracking game this is

Judgement Day

21-28 and Crusaders are back to their winning ways. A vital win away - against the odds - and right down to the wire. Amongst other things the Chief's lineout badly misfiring and, of course, the return of Israel Dagg, Keiran Read and Dan 'drop-goal' Carter were instrumental in the victory.

.ak

.ak wrote: »

I'd agree with everything, except I can see Chiefs winning their game.

That's why I'm not a betting man.

mystic86

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjsUeh92TA8

CatFromHue

I don't know why I watched that as I recorded the game and was going to watch it later

It can be very deceptive watching SBW on TV as doesn't look that big but when you check his stats he is a monster (for a back that is). Six foot four and seventeen stone according to Wikipedia!

Edit: He was caught out there at the end when he crashed it up with an overlap outside him!

boksmashoffice

CatFromHue wrote: »

I don't know why I watched that as I recorded the game and was going to watch it later

It can be very deceptive watching SBW on TV as doesn't look that big but when you check his stats he is a monster (for a back that is). Six foot four and seventeen stone according to Wikipedia!

Edit: He was caught out there at the end when he crashed it up with an overlap outside him!

SBW is a huge unit. I saw him warming up in the autumn series and close up he is a monster.

He is still learning the trade. I think this is his last season in rugby union. Rumors in Sydney state he has signed for the Sydney Roosters (rugby league team). Mind you as a south African fan I am happy, as a rugby fan I am disappointed.

He could be back in 2 years as he is that young.

Kilkenny14

boksmashoffice wrote: »

SBW is a huge unit. I saw him warming up in the autumn series and close up he is a monster.

He is still learning the trade. I think this is his last season in rugby union. Rumors in Sydney state he has signed for the Sydney Roosters (rugby league team). Mind you as a south African fan I am happy, as a rugby fan I am disappointed.

He could be back in 2 years as he is that young.

His move to the Roosters seems to be set in stone now - there was rumours he would go to Japan to play for a year but this move makes more sense.

Crusaders were good last night, they are still favorites for the title.

DDC1990

Funny comment on Wycliff Palu by the commentators.

He was holding his shoulder after falling and one of the commentators said:

"His shoulder is sore because they have to hold those massive biceps all day... look at those guns" :P

PhatPiggins

DDC1990 wrote: »

Funny comment on Wycliff Palu by the commentators.

He was holding his shoulder after falling and one of the commentators said:

"His shoulder is sore because they have to hold those massive biceps all day... look at those guns" :P

You can't beat the Aussie commentators for shooting from the hip. They were the highlight of yet another boring Australian derby.

The Waratahs are an embarrassment considering the squad they have. Murphy looked ok for the Brumbies when he came on.

yimrsg

Quinn Roux came off the bench for the stormers win against the cheetahs, he had more game time than last week but it wasn't a game for anyone to stand out; the awful conditions hampered both sides and it was a kicking duel by the time he came on. The highlight of Roux's play was nicking an opposition lineout from SA international Adriaan Strauss.

I'm not sure if it was intelligent play by Roux or bad from Strauss as his throwing went to pot late on; 3 lineouts in a row misfired; (Roux and Bekker stole one each and there was one overthrow) the commentator said he might have had a dislocation to one of his fingers which could explain the poor cheetah's lineout. It's hard to gauge much about Roux since his signing to Leinster was announced from the gametime he's gotten.

matthew8

Unbelievable. Lions 24-0 up and now it's 29-27 to the Rebels, though the last try was knocked on really.

matthew8

But we pull it out, 37-32 and a bonus point.

wonton

so SBW is off to panasonic in japan for a 10 match deal worth 665,000 euros then off to play league for two years with a 1.7 million deal, and the NZRU has apparently said they will welcome him back for the 2015 world cup.


Its mad, hes one of the best players to come out since o driscoll, but his out look on the game is so different.

I really love this man, but hate him too. would actually follow a super team just to see him play but knowing hes gonna change all the time makes it hard. but tis his choice at the end of the day and hope he goes well and returns to the all blacks eventually.

Fishooks12

wonton wrote: »

so SBW is off to panasonic in japan for a 10 match deal worth 665,000 euros then off to play league for two years with a 1.7 million deal, and the NZRU has apparently said they will welcome him back for the 2015 world cup.


Its mad, hes one of the best players to come out since o driscoll, but his out look on the game is so different.

I really love this man, but hate him too. would actually follow a super team just to see him play but knowing hes gonna change all the time makes it hard. but tis his choice at the end of the day and hope he goes well and returns to the all blacks eventually.

No way. He's electrifying to watch but he's got some huge defects in his game too as illustrated with his incredibly poor decision making towards the end of this weekends game

No loss to the game AFAIC if money talks so much to him. It's not like he wouldn't be getting a huge pay deal staying with union

PhatPiggins

Fishooks12 wrote: »

wonton wrote: »

so SBW is off to panasonic in japan for a 10 match deal worth 665,000 euros then off to play league for two years with a 1.7 million deal, and the NZRU has apparently said they will welcome him back for the 2015 world cup.


Its mad, hes one of the best players to come out since o driscoll, but his out look on the game is so different.

I really love this man, but hate him too. would actually follow a super team just to see him play but knowing hes gonna change all the time makes it hard. but tis his choice at the end of the day and hope he goes well and returns to the all blacks eventually.

No way. He's electrifying to watch but he's got some huge defects in his game too as illustrated with his incredibly poor decision making towards the end of this weekends game

No loss to the game AFAIC if money talks so much to him. It's not like he wouldn't be getting a huge pay deal staying with union

Are you taking the piss are do you genuinely believe that just because he doesn't follow the norms he's no loss to rugby?

Judgement Day

If Sonny Bill continues in his present trajectory it will be his loss as he will be remembered as a jack of all trades and master of none. Money seems to be his driving force, and who can blame him, but from a personal point of view I'd like to see him give up his flirtation with boxing/rugby league and move back to Crusaders.

Ciaran-Irl

Awesome. Simply awesome.

http://www.balls.ie/2012/07/07/gif-of-the-most-insane-rugby-catch-ever/?ref=nf

Fishooks12

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Are you taking the piss are do you genuinely believe that just because he doesn't follow the norms he's no loss to rugby?

He's certainly exciting and would obviously draw a crowd, but if I was an AB fan I'd want to see him make his mind up or just move on

danthefan

Fishooks12 wrote: »

No way. He's electrifying to watch but he's got some huge defects in his game too as illustrated with his incredibly poor decision making towards the end of this weekends game

No loss to the game AFAIC if money talks so much to him. It's not like he wouldn't be getting a huge pay deal staying with union

Can't say how much this irritates me. Of course he wants to make as much money as he can. I certainly try to maximise my earnings, I assume you do as well, everyone does. Money is used like a dirty word by rugby supporters, it's idiotic.

.ak

I do think he's often unfairly titled an 'overrated' player. I think he's class. He's not O'Driscoll class imo, but he's a fantastic player and sparks any backline - he's the perfect modern day 12 imo; fast, powerful, and constantly looking for that offload.

As for his exploits with signing for big money deals - well, it is the professional era. You might not love him for it, but you can't exactly blame him either.

thomond2006

From a fans perspective, it's a shame that Japanese clubs throw crazy money at top players and therefore they are 'lost' to us in terms of watching them play, like Jerome Kaino, Jaque Fourie and now SBW.

You can't blame the players for going, it's brilliant money for a short season, meaning they have plenty of free time to spend that money! Plus it's a different lifestyle/culture in Japan etc. Thankfully it hasn't registered in European rugby (yet) that there's serious $$$ to be made in Japan.

CatFromHue

I think the Lions helps keep our players playing over here to be honest. The vast majority, if not all, of our players want to play for them whereas in the SH between the RWC's they just have the Tri/Four Nations.

I think it was the Saffers after the 07 RWC who said they stayed together for the Lions in 09 as opposed to moving on.

Also didn't James Haskell play over there for abit?

I do wonder how lucrative it is for a HN player though. Currently it's 1GBP£ to 1.95NZ$ though it used to be 1 to 2.5 a few years ago. So if a guy is on say 750,000NZD in Japan (I've no idea here I'm just using it as a reference) that would very roughly equate to 384,600 GBP and used to be 300,000GBP which for the top earners in England I would have thought to be very attainable if not the average. I'd imagine if you go to Japan your sponsorship opportunities could be reduced so you'd have to factor that in too.

Stev_o

SBW is the blueprint for the best possible 12 ever to play the game, and SBW doesn't even live up to that blueprint. He's still plays Union like it's League (sorta understandable). His off load has changed the game look at the amount of players now trying it as opposed to before. His strength is incredible yet he only shows it about a 1/5th of time and he has pretty decent speed for a guy that big.

I don't see why he gets all the hate for "abandoning" the game, it was never his game to begin with. League is what he knows.

Fishooks12

danthefan wrote: »

Can't say how much this irritates me. Of course he wants to make as much money as he can. I certainly try to maximise my earnings, I assume you do as well, everyone does. Money is used like a dirty word by rugby supporters, it's idiotic.

SBW is in the bracket of earner that he'll never have to worry about money. They guy isn't some journeyman pro trying to guarantee his financial future, he's a superstar celeb.

No problem with him doing what he's doing, but if if he's not willing to commit to union I don't think he should be allowed come back in 3 years for a glory shot at the WC

wonton

Fishooks12 wrote: »

SBW is in the bracket of earner that he'll never have to worry about money. They guy isn't some journeyman pro trying to guarantee his financial future, he's a superstar celeb.

No problem with him doing what he's doing, but if if he's not willing to commit to union I don't think he should be allowed come back in 3 years for a glory shot at the WC

who shouldnt allow him?the IRB? New Zealand? or do you just mean its bad sportsman ship? like in fairness new zealand will pick a team based on what they think are their best players, if Sonny is the best player, regardless of if he spent the last year performing fiddler on the roof on broadway does it really matter?


it is kind of one of them weird choices cos you would want to see a player play for your country that has played with the provinces and commited etc, but im sure they want the win more.

Teferi

The main issue people have with it is that it is the soccer mentality starting to creep in.

You often see players kissing the crest of a jersey of one team one week and then playing for the highest bidding team the next week.

It will only get worse from here and can be directly attributed to rugby going professional.

On a business level I would do the same. You only get a certain amount of years of professional rugby and you should aim to get as much money out of it as possible.

On a personal level I like seeing a bit of loyalty to a jersy, club and country.

Swiwi

Would have loved to see SBW in 4N. IMO, at times he still looks like a league player having a go at rugby, but he has improved out of sight this year, and might have been on the verge of something special. His ball-greedy play at the end of the weekend's match was the first major mistake I have seen him make this year, and he apologised to the team afterwards apparently. But then again he scored a try that only he could score, so maybe they cancelled each other out.

From an AB point of view, at least this sideshow is out of the way...and there's still Nonu. Back-up to Nonu will be interesting, really don't rate carter as a 12, but I like Tamati Ellison. Doesn't quite give the opposition the heeby-jeebies like SBW, though.

Judgement Day

I imagine Nonu will be at the airport to wave SB a tearful farewell.

Morf

Nobody noticed how awful Steve Walsh was for the last 5 minutes of the Chiefs Crusaders game then. He could have given about 4 yellow cards and when it became obvious he wouldn't, the breakdown became a farce.

It was a wake up call for the Chiefs who have started getting tight decisions their way this season to come up against the Crusaders who still trump them in that regard.

boksmashoffice

Here are my predictions for this weeks fixtures, I was one off from a full house (bloody warathas, was an awful game to watch)

Hurricanes vs Chiefs (Canes)
Brumbies vs Blues (brumbies)
Crusaders vs Western Force (saders )
Reds vs Waratahs (reds)
Stormers vs Melbourne Rebels (stormers)
Sharks vs Cheetahs (sharks)
Bulls vs Lions (Bulls)

What do others think ?

mystic86

boksmashoffice wrote: »

Here are my predictions for this weeks fixtures, I was one off from a full house (bloody warathas, was an awful game to watch)

Hurricanes vs Chiefs (Canes)
Brumbies vs Blues (brumbies)
Crusaders vs Western Force (saders )
Reds vs Waratahs (reds)
Stormers vs Melbourne Rebels (stormers)
Sharks vs Cheetahs (sharks)
Bulls vs Lions (Bulls)

What do others think ?

4/1 on paddy power for the above