Super XV 2014 General Discussion Thread

Swiwi.

matthew8 wrote: »

By the way there was a massive hit by Ben Tameifuna on Michael Hooper in the Chiefs match. Make sure to check it out, looks best in real time.

Kiwi_knock

Probably the only one watching the Lions and Bulls game, but the Lions have just scored a brilliant try. 29-9 to the Lions with only 10 mins left, probably ends any playoff hopes of the Bulls

Jacovs

I'm in work so couldn't watch stormers-sharks game. Followed online. Seemed boring till last 10 mins. 19-18 to the sharks. Steyn misses 2 penalties. Then just before the hooter Taute slots a drop goal and the Stormers win it 21-19.
My parents sent me a picture of them with john smit before the game looking smug. Bet he isn't too happy right now. Still, legend of the game.

Happy for the stormers. Gutted for the sharks cos that's their no1 spot gone.

matthew8

Now that is a shocking result for the Sharks. Tahs and Saders aren't guaranteed to win their final 3 but Sharks will probably go to Newlands as underdogs anyway, and the Cheetahs won't be easy either.

Swiwi.

matthew8 wrote: »

Now that is a shocking result for the Sharks. Tahs and Saders aren't guaranteed to win their final 3 but Sharks will probably go to Newlands as underdogs anyway, and the Cheetahs won't be easy either.

Ah yeah, combined with the Pro 12 result, Swiwi was a happy man. Gives the Crusaders a chance at the top spot, but more importantly from a Kiwi perspective the Bulls are probably eliminated.

matthew8

If the Crusaders get 4 more points from the last 3 than Sharks from their last 2, second place might be decided on points difference. Sharks could be in Newlands not only chasing a win but going for a margin as well, or even a bonus. With the Highlanders and Blues at home, the Crusaders are well set up to get some good margins if they get past the Hurricanes, but we can't underestimate the ability of the Cheetahs to capitulate at home to the Sharks.

sydthebeat

...ANYWAY.....

apart from that round ball competition currently happening... we're coming to the business end of the Super XV season.

Highlanders v Chiefs on friday morning is the big one for me.
Hoping the chiefs will suffer a summer tour hangover. Landers had sterling performances from the two Smiths and Fekitoa should be buzzing from his first AB start.
The Chiefs will be glad that aaron cruden came through the games unscathed and battle hardened. They are the bare minimum favourites (-1), which is a reflection of the mirrored game back in march where they won by 2 points.
However they are coming into the game on the back of two heavy defeats, including a humiliation against the canes.

This really is a winner takes all as the looser could quite possibly be 4 points or more off the WC places.

Im going highlanders by 5

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

...ANYWAY.....

apart from that round ball competition currently happening... we're coming to the business end of the Super XV season.

Highlanders v Chiefs on friday morning is the big one for me.
Hoping the chiefs will suffer a summer tour hangover. Landers had sterling performances from the two Smiths and Fekitoa should be buzzing from his first AB start.
The Chiefs will be glad that aaron cruden came through the games unscathed and battle hardened. They are the bare minimum favourites (-1), which is a reflection of the mirrored game back in march where they won by 2 points.
However they are coming into the game on the back of two heavy defeats, including a humiliation against the canes.

This really is a winner takes all as the looser could quite possibly be 4 points or more off the WC places.

Im going highlanders by 5

I'm in that zone of post June internationals/soccer world cup, where i have limited interest in SXV. No doubt my passion will return as the finals get closer. At the moment, I'm just hoping no injuries to major players ahead of the RC. I guess Carter returning to action is a bit of a drawcard.

pickarooney

Ruaidhri Murphy drafted in as hooker for the Brumbies this weekend. Must be a while since a prop moved into the middle at this level, no?

LuckyGent88

Lovely try there from the highlanders. More quality yards from fekitoa and Ben smith.
Patrick Osborne can't be far off the all blacks squad as well. Very powerful and extremely quick.

Good reply from the chiefs though

Very tight half from both teams. All knock out games at this stage so nobody wants to make any mistakes. Hopefully it can open up a bit in the second half.

Kiwi_knock

Lovely try for the Highlanders. 20-13 to the Highlanders.

The Pheasant2

Great try for Nanai-Williams; god I wish Leinster had signed him! He'd slot in at 13 perfectly

LuckyGent88

Cracking last few minutes from the chiefs to get them back in the game.

LuckyGent88

That's a massive win from the highlanders. There home form has been superb.
That looks like the end for the chiefs this season. Have been an amazing team for the last 3 years but just had too many injuries this year.

Kiwi_knock

Lovely try for the Reds. 7-0

sydthebeat

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

That's a massive win from the highlanders. There home form has been superb.
That looks like the end for the chiefs this season. Have been an amazing team for the last 3 years but just had too many injuries this year.

just getting back into the office and checked the result... fecking delighted!!!

sounded like another good game.

Kiwi_knock

Reds score again. 12-3.

Kiwi_knock

Reds dominating the Rebels, destroying them with their maul. 17-3.

Kiwi_knock

Reds scoring with ease, bonus point try. 22-3. The Rebels are embarrassing, would be hard to see a worse performance this year.

Journeyman_1

So reds lose Genia and Cooper and start winning easily? Completely forgot to set the games to record this morning, really wanted to see landers/chiefs.. oh well.

LuckyGent88

Another massive game in store here between the hurricanes and crusaders.

It's an absolute must win game for the hurricanes as they have a bye in the final round.
Crusaders lacking the power of nodalo who is with Fiji but they have a certain mr Daniel carter back

LuckyGent88

Savea is just such a beast. Johnny mcnichol trying to tackle him was hilarious

umop.episdn

What a hit on Slade! If he was a boxer he would have taken an 8 count

LuckyGent88

umop.episdn wrote: »

What a hit on Slade! If he was a boxer he would have taken an 8 count

Definitely thought he was knocked out.

Gone for a concussion test now so DC is back in super rugby action

umop.episdn

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Definitely thought he was knocked out.

Gone for a concussion test now so DC is back in super rugby action

He failed the concussion test, so Caaarta stays on

LuckyGent88

Not surprising that slade has failed his concussion test. He took some hit.

Crusaders turning the screw here. Hurricanes are getting battered in the set pieces

umop.episdn

Try Hurricanes, terrible defence by both the fb & wing there to let Thompson thru for the score

LuckyGent88

Cracking effort from Thomson to get that try. Serious questions have to be asked about Taylor's positioning but Tuitavake is absolutely useless.

LuckyGent88

Brilliant win from the hurricanes. Didn't do much in the second half but defended very well. Barrett was brilliant must again along with both savea's.

Judgement Day

Well deserved win for Hurricanes and an entertaining game to watch.

LuckyGent88

Brilliant start from the waratahs. They are really looking like the team to beat this year.
Sharks getting home advantage for the playoffs may hold the key but I'm backing the Tahs to bring home the title.

ScissorPaperRock

Lovely by Mogg

Kiwi_knock

Poor from Folau to not catch that.

Steve Walsh is hilarious

Kiwi_knock

The Tahs get the bonus point

umop.episdn

Ben Mowen wins worst tache of the year award

umop.episdn

Blues destroying the Force, 26-0 inside 20 mins

Swiwi.

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Cracking effort from Thomson to get that try. Serious questions have to be asked about Taylor's positioning but Tuitavake is absolutely useless.

In a John Kirwan-like selection shocker, Blackadder delisted Sean Maitland and let Patrick Osborne go to the Highlanders.

The Crusaders are basically totally reliant on Nadolo for backline momentum. The result keeps both the Canes & Crusdaers in contention, if I look on the bright side.

LuckyGent88

Todd blackadder has ring the changes for this weekends game against the blues.
The main points being DC starting at inside centre, Kieran Read starting after his battle with concussion and Israel dagg back from injury.
No Tuitavake this week thank god and Nadolo is back from international duty which should add to the crusaders attack which has looked pretty poor this season.

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Kieron Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Dan Carter, Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Dominic Bird, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett.

Res: Corey Flynn, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Jimmy Tupou, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl.

.ak

Weird looking backline....

.ak

Would 13. Nadolo, 12. Crotty, 10. Carter not make more sense?

sydthebeat

.ak wrote: »

Would 13. Nadolo, 12. Crotty, 10. Carter not make more sense?

Might be a case of easing Carter back in while at the same time dropping Tuitavake for a well needed kick up the hole.

im not sure who the cover for back 3 would be if Mc Nicoll started.

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Would 13. Nadolo, 12. Crotty, 10. Carter not make more sense?

Carter has been tried at 12 and he's mediocre. Probably fine for Super XV, though. I would go Carter 10, Crotty 12, Fonatia 13, Nadolo 14.

Unfortunately, Tuitavake, and the other centre Lee have been very poor signings, which limits the options.

But Carter is NZ's best flyhalf, and Slade is 4th or 5th, so although I really like Slade, he should be on the bench.

LuckyGent88

The Honey Badger is off to japan

http://m.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/western-force-and-wallabies-winger-nick-cummins-to-join-japanese-club-coca-cola-west-red-sparks-for-2015/story-e6frf55l-1226977465170

sydthebeat

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

The Honey Badger is off to japan

http://m.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/western-force-and-wallabies-winger-nick-cummins-to-join-japanese-club-coca-cola-west-red-sparks-for-2015/story-e6frf55l-1226977465170

Gonna miss him, but he seems to be doing it for family reasons.

Japan seems to be a bit of a black hole for talented rugby players.

Kiwi_knock

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/lies-behind-nick-cummins-choice-leave-australia/

Nick comes from a family of 8 siblings, two of whom have cystic fibrosis, looked after in rural Queensland by their single parent father who also has prostate cancer.

Massive respect for him in making this tough decision.

sydthebeat

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/lies-behind-nick-cummins-choice-leave-australia/



Massive respect for him in making this tough decision.

Jesus.

Respect!

sydthebeat

Canes v chiefs currently.

Last chance saloon for the chiefs methinks.

LuckyGent88

sydthebeat wrote: »

Canes v chiefs currently.

Last chance saloon for the chiefs methinks.

Going well for the chiefs so far. Hurricanes haven't got going in attack at all yet

sydthebeat

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Going well for the chiefs so far. Hurricanes haven't got going in attack at all yet

Yeah. Chiefs have neutralized the canes very effectively. Saveau has been inviSible in that half.