Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

Del.Monte

What a shambles. Why did Crusaders leave it so late to start playing?

sydthebeat

Haven't seen pryor play at 8 before, hopefully he can fill the huge gap manu leaves. With Evans and Hardie that's a very mobile back row.

sydthebeat

Such a sloppy start from the Highlanders

sydthebeat

Force playing very good effective simple rugby

sydthebeat

Jesus Christ what rugby!

Force have knocked on 3 Times now on the white wash

Jacovs

Lions 23-3 Cheetahs at half time.

This is Naka Drotske's last game in charge. Was supposed to stay till end of the season but they released him early.

Swiwi.

Something to warm the cockles of syd's heart...

sydthebeat

Swiwi. wrote: »

Something to warm the cockles of syd's heart...

i love this passage

This is the strangest rugby team ever assembled, playing the weirdest brand of footy since the Southland Boys' High School Old Boys, aka the Satanic Verses, invented the "Braveheart" kick-off. There's Lima Sopoaga with banana kicks for territory from the halfway line. There's Patrick Osborne putting up high balls for Marty Banks to chase and regather, both seemingly unaware of the fact that they are intentionally messing with the natural order of things.

the highlanders have been a joy to watch this season (and last season, mostly, to be fair)

for a team that have no all blacks in their forwards, they have the best stats on forward set pieces.


edit:
and love this in the comments section as well

Love it Scotty, Don't forget Lima Sopoanaga who kick passes more than he pass passes

sydthebeat

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/25/waratahs-pair-suspended-for-illegal-tackle

Hooker Latu and lock Skelton were suspended for four and two weeks respectively after each were found guilty of an illegal lifting tackle on Crusaders and All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock in last Saturday’s Super Rugby game in Sydney.

i think the ref and TMO bottled this one, skelton did as much as he could that game to get carded,

SuprSi

Agreed, it was a running joke with the commentators. He'd at least 3 potential yellow card moments outside of the lift tackle and got none.

sydthebeat

Carter back at 10 tomorrow for the crusaders. ... possibly under some pressure to perform after a lack lustre season between injuries and playing at 12.

Freuen back at 13 but i didn't think himself and haivili well be able for Smith / nonu.

sydneybound

Crusaders on top so far 16-3.

Please tell me Nemani Nadolo will play for Fiji in the World Cup? Anytime I've watched him this season he's been immense, he made the crusaders try.

Carter converted four from four.

sydneybound

Try hurricanes 16 - 8. Carter miss kick led to the try.

skippymac6

sydneybound wrote: »

Try hurricanes 16 - 8. Carter miss kick led to the try.

Fantastic try from the Canes to start the second half. Length of the field try started by a lovely weighted grubber through by Nonu just outside his 22

Swiwi.

Ah bloody hell. Saders finally find some form...a week too late. If the tahs had been down to 14 or 13 would have certainly won last week too. Ah well

sydthebeat

Swiwi. wrote: »

Ah bloody hell. Saders finally find some form...a week too late. If the tahs had been down to 14 or 13 would have certainly won. Ah well

your game away to the brumbies in the last round could become very interesting

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

your game away to the brumbies in the last round could become very interesting

I think this result means Chiefs and Highlanders can still currently finish in 1st place.

SuprSi

Can the Crusaders make the wildcards? Looking at the table it will take some favourable results but it looks like there's still a chance?

sydthebeat

SuprSi wrote: »

Can the Crusaders make the wildcards? Looking at the table it will take some favourable results but it looks like there's still a chance?

if the bulls beat the brumbies in the next game, it could get very very interesting

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

if the bulls beat the brumbies in the next game, it could get very very interesting

Not a Bulls fan...but go the Bulls!

Edit: actually F that. Go the draw! (I think...)

sydthebeat

Swiwi. wrote: »

Not a Bulls fan...but go the Bulls!

Edit: actually F that. Go the draw! (I think...)

yeah the low score draw would be better, brumbies would end up on 39 and bulls on 36, youre on 36 currently

SuprSi

Hmm, not looking like any salvation for the Crusaders in this match!

SuprSi

Come on the Bulls! Converted try, 22 - 16 now

matthew8

That was a pretty awful game. Speight was excellent though, and with not many Australians putting their hand up for the wing spots, he has to have a great chance at starting.

matthew8

This game even worse, but Higginbotham impressing massively with 2 nice tries. Rebels red killed it a bit, to be fair to the lad (Weeks) he can land a punch.

sydneybound

Let's help the new Japanese super rugby team....!

http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/japan-asks-fans-to-help-name-super-rugby-team/

Hagz

sydneybound wrote: »

Let's help the new Japanese super rugby team....!

http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/japan-asks-fans-to-help-name-super-rugby-team/

Surely it has to be samurais....? Seems a shame if it's anything else.

George Hook

Hagz wrote: »

Surely it has to be samurais....? Seems a shame if it's anything else.

I'd give a list of significant clans or shoguns but as much as I'd love it to have the weight and gravitas the historical context would provide they'd want something internationally recognizable. I.e. dumbed down.

How about Ninjas? Or Dragon Warriors?

*insert prefecture that they play out of* Green dragons/White Tigers
(both of which are significant Buddhist figures)

Swiwi.

Good game, nice Landers try. I tell you syd, dark horses these men from the south.

sydthebeat

Only getting to turn this on now.
Sounds like our defense is impressing?

Swiwi.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Only getting to turn this on now.
Sounds like our defense is impressing?

Waisake!

sydthebeat

Naholo !!!

Burns heem even giving him 10 meters. Some player

Swiwi.

It's been a good game syd. The Highlanders are very organised, and the Chiefs, while good, are missing their stars I reckon (Retallick, SBW, Lowe)

sydthebeat

Highlanders harassing defense has been excellent. Chiefs getting no time on the ball at all.

Swiwi.

Give me a S.T.A.T.E.M.E.N.T!

That is a 4 try BP victory...in style.

You're in the playoffs syd!

Edit: beat the canes next week and you can still top the table!

sydthebeat

That's a huge huge victory.

I know the chiefs were without their big names, but we showed today that we can play stodgy choking defensive rugby while still being a threat off every attack.

Totally satisfying to be qualified with two to go.

No body will want to play us in the play offs

Swiwi.

Based on season form final should be canes v landers. But with the silly table system landers and Chiefs will likely meet in the round of 6 and canes & landers (or Chiefs) in the semis. Pity.

franglan

Commentators in Perth think the Cooper move to Toulon is a "will he, won't he?" Thought that was confirmed at this point. Also saying Matt O'Connor could be the next Reds coach.

matthew8

Aussie commentators saying MOC very fancied for the Reds job next year.

Buer

Force being ridden bareback by the referee here. Last call was a stinker. Ref calls maul, goes to ground, defender doesn't move and gets penalised for not rolling away. Referee then gives final warning to Force!

SuprSi

Fantastic pass from Cooper, even if it was forward

Buer

Bit of QC magic there to make the try with a behind the back pass to Turner. All stemming from the incorrect penalty, though.

Buer

Great response from WF just before the break.

sydthebeat

Yeah this ref is a bit muck.

Like him or hate him, when Cooper is in form He's a class act.

matthew8

That maul then penalty for roll away is the worst call I've ever seen. The try off it definitely forward too. He's been harsh on Greg Holmes though, any time it's come down he's pinged him though Pek Cowan is scrummaging at a massive angle.

matthew8

Crazy Reds try, coast to coast then back to the other coast all for the sake of 2 metres in the one phase.

Buer

Quade Cooper is what I imagine people saw in Mark Ella back in the 80s....if he touches the ball twice in the same phase there's going to be a try.

Jacovs

Very odd that 4th placed team is already assured of their playoffs spot but 2nd and 3rd arent sure yet.

sydthebeat

Jacovs wrote: »

Very odd that 4th placed team is already assured of their playoffs spot but 2nd and 3rd arent sure yet.

??

2nd and third will be the aussie and SA conference winners, regardless of league points

without the conference system the table would look like this

1. Hurricanes 57
2. Highlanders 48
3. Chiefs 44
4. Brumbies 42
5. Waratahs 41
6. Stormers 38

Jacovs

sydthebeat wrote: »

??

2nd and third will be the aussie and SA conference winners, regardless of league points

without the conference system the table would look like this

1. Hurricanes 57
2. Highlanders 48
3. Chiefs 44
4. Brumbies 42
5. Waratahs 41
6. Stormers 38

Yeah but at the moment neither brumbies or stormers are assured of their play off spots yet, they could yet be overtaken and drop out of the top 6 completely.

I just meant at this moment in time the Highlanders in 4th are assured of playoff spot, but the current 2nd and 3rd team arent assured of it yet. I know all of us know how the log works, just from an outsider's perspective it must be confusing.