Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

Jacovs

Hasnt been a single draw all season and now the Stormers vs Lions is on 19-19 with 2 minutes to go.

Stormers will win conference with a game left but need the win for a better chance at the home semi.

sydthebeat

Ok
At awedding and very very drunk and tryin to understand the possible results over the weekend.

Highlanders can do one of three things. Loose and be pretty much guaranteed an away game v stormers.
Win by less than the chiefs and get an away v the chiefs. Provided we win and chiefs win with similar points

Win with bonus point and try to get home qfs against chiefs. By having bigger points difference.

??

Worst result for Highlanders is a win v blues and a bigger win of chiefs over canes.

irishbucsfan

sydthebeat wrote: »

Ok
At awedding and very very drunk and tryin to understand the possible results over the weekend.

Highlanders can do one of three things. Loose and be pretty much guaranteed an away game v stormers.
Win by less than the chiefs and get an away v the chiefs. Provided we win and chiefs win with similar points

Win with bonus point and try to get home qfs against chiefs. By having bigger points difference.

??

Worst result for Highlanders is a win v blues and a bigger win of chiefs over canes.

You'd think he'd take a break from the rugby on his wedding night, but sydthebeat is a dedicated soul.

sydneybound

God that stadium is near empty why play at Eden Park when a smaller ground would be more appropriate. Looks terrible on TV.

SuprSi

Looked like he lost that ball. The amount of handling and basic errors again is amazing.

Kiwi_knock

Fairly dubious TMO call

SuprSi

Some performance from the Highlanders here, 34 unanswered points. The Blues have been very poor any time I've seen them.

sydthebeat

Man my head! !

So...

Does this mean the chiefs need to beat the canes by 37 points to get a home qf?

sydneybound

John Kirwan must be in a spot of bother after such poor season?

sydneybound

sydthebeat wrote: »

Does this mean the chiefs need to beat the canes by 37 points to get a home qf?

Yes bonus point win and 37 point win at that!

irishbucsfan

sydneybound wrote: »

John Kirwan must be in a spot of bother after such poor season?

Well Piutau threw him right under the bus, I'm sure he'll be under a huge amount of pressure when the players aren't even endorsing him.

.ak

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Well Piutau threw him right under the bus, I'm sure he'll be under a huge amount of pressure when the players aren't even endorsing him.

Missed that, what did he say?

Or was it a case of what didn't he say?

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

Missed that, what did he say?

Or was it a case of what didn't he say?

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11462318

Veitch asked the 23-year-old if he had full confidence in the coach. Piutau replied: "Oh, I think you know...I can't really speak on that. I'm not too sure. Whatever the board and franchise decide will be the best for the team. I'll back that."

When Veitch asked if Kirwan had the goods to coach at Super Rugby level, Piutau said: "That's a tough question...I don't want to comment."

.ak

Ouch.

sydneybound

The young players coming through aren't great but the amount of handling errors out there by the blues was simply shocking. Granted it was a bit wet tonight but they've been making those silly mistakes all season.

Can't see JK keeping his job.

Kiwi_knock

Nadolo is something special.

Kiwi_knock

Not great consistency from the ref with the slap downs.

Kiwi_knock

One playoff confirmed: Highlanders v Chiefs

So either the Stormers or the Waratahs will play the Brumbies, most likely the Stormers

Jacovs

I think the Stormers have settled for 3rd place already after last week's draw against the Lions. Think their squad today away against the Sharks has only 3 players who played the Lions last week. Treating this week as their week off for most of their players to be ready for the play-off next week against the Brumbies.

Edit: will be interesting if the Reds beat the Tahs and then a Stormers B team has to go and win against the Sharks to get 2nd spot.

Buer

Have to say, Genia has been playing really, really well when I've watched him in the past month. Looks a lot more like his old self. Still only 27....good signing for SF if he settles.

Jacovs

Stormers gamble paid off, the Tahs beat the Reds and will stay in 2nd spot.

Last 2 games wont have any impact on the top 6.

Stormers vs Brumbies
Highlanders vs Chiefs

CatFromHue

So the three Capital city teams finished top of their divisions!

sydneybound

CatFromHue wrote: »

So the three Capital city teams finished top of their divisions!

SANZAR will be happy enough seeing that. The two semis in Wellington & Sydney should be very well attended games.

The quarter of the Highlanders V Chiefs should be tasty. Will be a near sell out, I'm sure the zoo will be rocking.

RoutineBites

CatFromHue wrote: »

So the three Capital city teams finished top of their divisions!

No. You'd need the Brumbies finishing top of the Australian Conference to say that. And if one of the Bulls, Cheetahs or Stormers had come first in South Africa, technically the "capital" team would have won the conference in any of those scenarios. :pac:

Wang King

Ref called it a good hit, but Sonny Bill issued a warning after the game?
http://www.rugbydump.com/2015/06/4369/sonny-bill-williams-issued-warning-for-huge-hit-on-conrad-smith

CatFromHue

Not sure if it was a good hit myself, he seemed to make contact first with Smith's face.

Yeah_Right

My first reaction was that it was a good hit. The arms wrapped round below the shoulders so I can see why the ref didn't have a problem with it. It was only the last reply that showed the shoulder making contact with Smith's face. Probably just a penalty.

sydneybound

Looks like JK will be shifted upstairs. Tana is due a job in some super rugby franchise will be interesting to see how he gets on as the Blues need serious work and have become a joke.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/69520753/Tana-Umaga-close-to-joining-Blues-as-head-coach-on-three-year-deal?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

total former

Kirwan has resigned, will not be staying on at the Blues in any capacity.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/69520753/john-kirwan-resigns-as-blues-coach

And there's the new bookies' favourite for the Leinster job...

Buer

Sweet mother I hope not. Resigned from the Blues after a horrendous time there where the players publicly refused to back him. Also sacked by Italy.

I'd rather the current ticket.

sydneybound

How does JK get offered these jobs (not saying he is being offer the Leinster job) as he has a shocking track record.

I admire him as a player and the great work he has done to raise the awareness of depression but as a coach he has really failed. Can the NZ union not give him a comfortable jobs upstairs which former great players normally receive?

Jacovs

If im reading this right, the Stormers management werent aware of Duane even traveling to France and first they heard was in the media when they saw him in a Toulon shirt.
I thought there'd be something in his contract against this kinda thing. Bad form on his part.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Stormers-stunned-at-Duanes-unveiling-20150619

Buer

sydneybound wrote: »

I admire him as a player and the great work he has done to raise the awareness of depression but as a coach he has really failed. Can the NZ union not give him a comfortable jobs upstairs which former great players normally receive?

I can only imagine they're strongly linked. He did a decent job with Japan in his last gig and is rugby royalty in NZ. He served his time but it was highly unusual for him to get the Blues job.

I think I looked into this before but I believe he's the only coach ever to be appointed to one of the NZ S15 sides whose last or existing position wasn't in NZ rugby. Seems innocuous but when you think there are about 20-25 coaches who have held those jobs, it's pretty impressive.

sydthebeat

Come on the Highlanders !!!

sydthebeat

Brilliant play !!!!!!

SuprSi

What a try!!! That was just brilliant

Kiwi_knock

What a start for the Highlanders if that counts

stl.ire

What a start!

SuprSi

Ah no way!!

sydthebeat

Dodgy decision !

sydthebeat

Dodgy decision !

SuprSi

Naholo on fire at the moment, this is exciting stuff!

stl.ire

Maybe a 50/50 call but you have to give the attacking team the benefit of doubt. Don't understand why refs (particularly video refs) seem to go safe and with the defending team.

Kiwi_knock

This is great to watch so far

SuprSi

YES!! Brilliant try, so well deserved.

Kiwi_knock

Some speed to take advantage of the space

SuprSi

What a tackle!!

Such good defence there.

stl.ire

Fekitoa! Beast of a hit!

SuprSi

What a half of rugby this has been