Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

stl.ire

That's devastating news.

Cruden is a massive blow to the Chiefs. They were the best side in the competition and now will probably struggle when the playoffs role around. Damien McKensie is a huge talent but barely out of school and they'll need him to step to a new level. Will be interesting to see him though, he's a future AB for sure.

As for the NZ team, although the papers are talking it down (they seem to believe Carter hasn't slipped at all) there is no way this doesn't hurt for the World Cup. He was locked in as the starter the way this season was going. Now it will be a hopefully somewhere near his best Carter and Slade when Carter needs a rest. I'm a Canes fan but Barrett is essentially a more athletic Madigan, he barely controls a game. I'd have Sopoaga before Barrett. It's not a strong position to be in at all.
Steve Hansen needs all the cotton wool on the south island sent to Aaron Smith's address. Oh and keep Stephen Donald's number handy!

Swiwi.

stl.ire wrote: »

That's devastating news.

Cruden is a massive blow to the Chiefs. They were the best side in the competition and now will probably struggle when the playoffs role around. Damien McKensie is a huge talent but barely out of school and they'll need him to step to a new level. Will be interesting to see him though, he's a future AB for sure.

As for the NZ team, although the papers are talking it down (they seem to believe Carter hasn't slipped at all) there is no way this doesn't hurt for the World Cup. He was locked in as the starter the way this season was going. Now it will be a hopefully somewhere near his best Carter and Slade when Carter needs a rest. I'm a Canes fan but Barrett is essentially a more athletic Madigan, he barely controls a game. I'd have Sopoaga before Barrett. It's not a strong position to be in at all.
Steve Hansen needs all the cotton wool on the south island sent to Aaron Smith's address. Oh and keep Stephen Donald's number handy!

I dunno, I think the biggest elephant in the room is the standard of goalkicking in NZ rugby at present. Heading into a world cup with your starting 10 being a flaky 40m kicker is hardly ideal. If he remains injury free maybe Carter will get the nod, but his kicking was awful last week too. Personally, I think the NZRU should rapidly lobby World Rugby for NFL laws: specialist kicker brought on just for the kicks...

skippymac6

What a try from the chiefs. Literally the length of the pitch. Couple of rucks and just unreal off loads and lines of running

skippymac6

Red card for the force scrum half for a tip tackle. This could get ugly!

He really has no excuse as he lifted him above the horizontal and drive him into the ground. What makes it worse is there was no need for it as Nanai Williams had spilled the ball and it was a force scrum coming up

sydthebeat

not looking forward to the next game, it could be a big enough win for the brumbies

the highlander have rested their 'big namers' in A+B Smith and Fekitoa, and have two newbies on the bench in half back Renton and lock Latta. I wouldnt question their abilities, but leadership and calmness under pressure is what you get with the smiths.

great chance for Fumi to show what he can do over the full 80, and a lot of pressure on Sopoaga to control the game as much as he can.

theyve also gone with a 6-2 bench with two back rows ...

matthew8

Great try from the Force there but this is all Chiefs. Chiefs had a scrum penalty try from around 20 metres out.

Buer

Oddly enough it's 14-14 since the red card.

skippymac6

Buer wrote: »

Oddly enough it's 14-14 since the red card.

Yeah the Force have really knuckled down and got a good breakaway try followed by another lineout maul going over. The Chiefs will be stung into action on the back of that and still need a try for the BP

skippymac6

skippymac6 wrote: »

Yeah the Force have really knuckled down and got a good breakaway try followed by another lineout maul going over. The Chiefs will be stung into action on the back of that and still need a try for the BP

And right on cue, Nanai-Williams goes over. That might break the Force's resistance but they are only a try away from their own BP

sydthebeat

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

The tip tackle, mindlessly stupid

matthew8

As long as the Chiefs have the ball they are moving forward with ease.

SuprSi

sydthebeat wrote: »

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

The tip tackle, mindlessly stupid

That is such a bad tackle, and one he didn't even have to make.

Buer

sydthebeat wrote: »

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

The tip tackle, mindlessly stupid

I don't think they replayed it enough times.

matthew8

Chiefs have played a bit brain dead this half. Absolutely heroic second half from the Force to cover the handicap :pac:. It's amazing how many super rugby teams surrender huge leads and good situations.

Swiwi.

How did Marty McKenzie go at 10 for the Chiefs please.

skippymac6

Swiwi. wrote: »

How did Marty McKenzie go at 10 for the Chiefs please.

Not bad. He didnt do anything too flashy and just fed his potent outside backs when possible. Only one blemish from the kicking tee which was a bad miss but he kicked well as a whole.

sydthebeat

17 - 0 after 17 mins

matthew8

Good display of the Brumbies turning the screw. Highlanders haven't even been that bad and they're 24-6 down. Brumbies goal line defense to keep Highlanders to 3 was crucial.

sydthebeat

pococks second try, 3 tries already to the brumbies 24 - 6 after 30 mins

sydthebeat

pococks third try !!! bonus point within 35 mins

matthew8

Pocock maul hat trick. Outstanding Brumbies execution. A clinic in how to turn territory into points.

skippymac6

matthew8 wrote: »

Pocock maul hat trick. Outstanding Brumbies execution. A clinic in how to turn territory into points.

They've backed their maul all year to be fair to them. They've turned down a lot of shots at goal to take their chance (may have cost them against the Chiefs) and when they get it right they are very, very hard to stop.

matthew8

I swear at half time in this competition the players swap jerseys or something. So many games of 2 halves.

sydthebeat

matthew8 wrote: »

I swear at half time in this competition the players swap jerseys or something. So many games of 2 halves.

brumbies still covered their spread for you

SuprSi

Nice try Crusaders!

Buer

Kicking duties taken off Carter this week.

sydthebeat

Nandolo showing his value, crafts the first two tries.

Crusaders looking irresistible today

SuprSi

McCaw having an awesome game so far

matthew8

Blues thoroughly outplayed so far but only 14-10 down. Moala and Saili have to be 2 of the best centres not playing international rugby.

SuprSi

Nice try Blues

Buer

Lovely set piece try for Saili. Hits the line like a train and Carter/Crotty were powerless there.

14-10 now. For their dominance and how poor the Blues have been for large parts, that's a poor return.

matthew8

17-10 half time. Blues have to be relieved it's only that. Crusaders don't look like stopping.

SuprSi

Ouch! McCaw out cold from that one and a great try from the Blues, O'Connor has been very good in this game.

SuprSi

That's a much needed win for the Crusaders. Less convincing 2nd half but still, it's a BP win.

SuprSi

Couple of fantastic tries in the Lions v Cheetah's match - great game.

SuprSi

What a finish, best match of the day, Lions win 34 - 29.

sydthebeat

Reds are 12 - 3 up on the hurricanes after 24 mins

stl.ire

Brilliant by Conrad Smith. He beat 3 Reds with just a couple steps.
Reds started well but the Canes are back in this.

sydthebeat

Normal service resumes 12 - 20

Hurricanes absolutely love a broken game!

stl.ire

Nonu now with the break. As soon as they Hurricanes straighten the line their finding holes and poor Reds tackles. If they get a gap you'd doubt the Reds will get much from this game.

pickarooney

20-12 Hurricanes. This is more like it.

pickarooney

Game on! 19-23, Gill with the try, O'Connor converting.

sydthebeat

Sauvea powers over in the corner 19 - 28

sydthebeat

Ah thats some try by the canes

Proctor and perinara show

stl.ire

Very, very nice. That's a great try to kill off the game.

skippymac6

Perenara is just so good at supporting breaks. He gets his double off a break from Proctor and the canes have their try BP

pickarooney

I'm not sure NZ would be that goosed without Aaron Smith.

sydthebeat

pickarooney wrote: »

I'm not sure NZ would be that goosed without Aaron Smith.

At club level tj has been at least his equal for the last session and a half (tbf tj owned as in the two games last year)

However at test level Smith is still ahead of him.

It's amazing how many good 9's (as well as 10's) the kiwis can produce. Tj, Smith, pulu, kerr Barlow, and now youngsters like weber and Drummond

matthew8

Amazing how the Reds have the best set piece in the competition but are so awful. They can't defend at all.

Fireball07

Buer wrote: »

Lovely set piece try for Saili. Hits the line like a train and Carter/Crotty were powerless there.

This makes me happy.