Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

pickarooney

It's like the top 14 in reverse. Only one home win all weekend.

LuckyGent88

Swiwi. wrote: »

Ah lads, HOME defeats for last year's finalists and the Bulls sees a shocking run of results for the superbru troopers. Congrats to luckygent88 who tops the leaderboard.

I'll claim a moral victory but it was hardly outstanding from any of us.

Swiwi.

Higginbothan up to his old tricks. Cited post-match, and deliberate boot to the head should be a lengthy ban hopefully.

http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/all-blacks-being-targeted-richie-mccaw-stomped-scott-higginbotham-video-6235250

sydneybound

Anyone know if sky have a highlights show on all the weekends action on a Sunday or Monday night?

Swiwi.

sydneybound wrote: »

Anyone know if sky have a highlights show on all the weekends action on a Sunday or Monday night?

I doubt sky sports Uk do, not enough interest. In NZ there is re:union.

But here we go buddy, this will give you match highlights

https://www.facebook.com/TTRugbyVids/videos

Yeah_Right

Sky UK have had a weekend wrap up on super rugby in previous seasons. No idea if they are this year.

Swiwi.

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Sky UK have had a weekend wrap up on super rugby in previous seasons. No idea if they are this year.

Well spotted.

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/prog/1333/812/watch/tv-guide/16-02-2015

sydneybound

Cheers lads, will tape that. Fully intend on watching more Super Rugby this year.

CatFromHue

Swiwi. wrote: »

Higginbothan up to his old tricks. Cited post-match, and deliberate boot to the head should be a lengthy ban hopefully.

http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/all-blacks-being-targeted-richie-mccaw-stomped-scott-higginbotham-video-6235250

That's just plain stupid.

Even when he's getting his head stood on McCaw seems to come out of it with class!

Yeah_Right

I saw a photo of the 2 of them having a chat and a laugh after the game!!

Swiwi.

CatFromHue wrote: »

That's just plain stupid.

Even when he's getting his head stood on McCaw seems to come out of it with class!

The amazing thing about McCaw is that despite all the cheap shots he's had over the years, he's never retaliated, or been yellow or red carded for foul play, or been cited for same. He's also fairly despised by other teams' supporters - witness the booing at Twickenham when giving his post-match speech (ironic when English fans complained about their team being booed at Cardiff recently), and the ubiquitous cheat accusations which are regulary levelled, including on this forum - but his ability to remain calm is incredible.

Re:union even did a short clip of it a while back (yes it does include Heaslip, and yes I dont think Healsip is a dirty player, just a once-off brain explosion)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--6gLotY1ww

Dave_The_Sheep

New enough to getting to watch Super Rugby. What kind of quality are the Lions and the Hurricanes - and their recent game? Just wondering if I'm the only one thought it wasn't great.

Swiwi.

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

New enough to getting to watch Super Rugby. What kind of quality are the Lions and the Hurricanes - and their recent game? Just wondering if I'm the only one thought it wasn't great.

No it wasn't the greatest game ever totally agree. But the Hurricanes tend to blow hot & cold so getting a win in SA is in itself a good a good achievement. On paper hurricanes have an exciting back line and reasonable pack but not much depth. They are usually good to follow. Lions are expected to be cannon fodder.

Hopefully highlanders v crusadets should be good this weekend.

sydthebeat

LEADER BOARD (ROUND 1)


1 - Luckygent88 6.50
2 - Swiwi 4.00
3 - sydthebeat 3.50
4 - Pudsy33 3.00
5 - Yeah_Right 2.50
6 - Bridge93 2.50
7 - Kiwi_knock 1.00


Luckygent88 powers ahead thanks mainly to him being the only one to forcast the stormers beat the bulls.......

Bridge93

I see Greg Inglis may be the next league superstar to make the switch to union. Super player but he's demanding a huge fee, something like 800,000 which would be madness to spend on a recent convert. He also seems to be after a move to Europe.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Are there any other iq players in super rugby. I know tom sexton, michael fitzgerald and ed o donoghue

Any others?

Yeah_Right

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Are there any other iq players in super rugby. I know tom sexton, michael fitzgerald and ed o donoghue

Any others?

Stephan Moore. But he opted for Australia :mad:

skippymac6

That is SOME backline the Hurricanes have picked for the Bulls match on Friday. You could make a case that those lads in the 9-14 jerseys could all start for the All blacks and not look out of place. Certainly the 10-14 axis as Aaron Smith is the undisputed scrum half for them.

sydneybound

Bridge93 wrote: »

I see Greg Inglis may be the next league superstar to make the switch to union. Super player but he's demanding a huge fee, something like 800,000 which would be madness to spend on a recent convert. He also seems to be after a move to Europe.

Yeah from the sounds of things he keen. At the moment his agent is just fishing to see if any English or French clubs take the bait and offer something stupid. He's up in the UK soon to play in the World Club Champs against St. Helen's.

It doesn't say much for the all singing all dancing NRL if their top names like Burgess & Inglis want to leave their league and sport to play in a different code even regardless of the money offered.

LuckyGent88

Fekitoa has signed on till 2017 with the nzru and the highlanders. Hopefully ben smith signs an extension as well or else comes to munster!!!!!

Fixtures for this weekend.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 FIXTURES Chiefs v Brumbies (0635)
Melbourne Rebels v Waratahs (0840) Bulls v Hurricanes (1710)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 FIXTURES Highlanders v Crusaders (0635)
Reds v Western Force (0840)
Stormers v Blues (1505)
Sharks v Lions (1710)

Match on Friday morning should be a belter between two title contenders.

thomond2006

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Fekitoa has signed on till 2017 with the nzru and the highlanders. Hopefully ben smith signs an extension as well or else comes to munster!!!!!

Fixtures for this weekend.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 FIXTURES Chiefs v Brumbies (0635)
Melbourne Rebels v Waratahs (0840) Bulls v Hurricanes (1710)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 FIXTURES Highlanders v Crusaders (0635)
Reds v Western Force (0840)
Stormers v Blues (1505)
Sharks v Lions (1710)

Match on Friday morning should be a belter between two title contenders.

Ben Smith signed a long term deal almost two years ago.

http://superxv.com/39658/1/nzru-and-highlanders-re-sign-ben-smith#.VOT5oPmsUXU

LuckyGent88

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ben Smith signed a long term deal almost two years ago.

http://superxv.com/39658/1/nzru-and-highlanders-re-sign-ben-smith#.VOT5oPmsUXU

Now why did you have to go and ruin my dream thomond

sydneybound

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 FIXTURES Chiefs v Brumbies (0635)

A cheeky half before work ain't to bad. Chiefs team has been named. Pity Brumbies won't be naming Pocock whose out injured.

1. Jamie Mackintosh , 2. Hika Elliot , 3. Siate Tokolahi , 4. Matt Symons , 5. Michael Fitzgerald , 6. Liam Messam (c) , 7. Sam Cane , 8. Maama Vaipulu , 9. Brad Weber , 10. Aaron Cruden , 11. Hosea Gear* , 12. Sonny Bill Williams , 13. Charlie Ngatai , 14. Bryce Heem , 15. James Lowe

Replacements : 16. Quentin MacDonald* , 17. Pauliasi Manu , 18. Ben Tameifuna , 19. Brodie Retallick , 20. Tevita Koloamatangi , 21. Augustine Pulu , 22. Damian McKenzie , 23. Seta Tamanivalu**

sydthebeat

Lol that's some bench for the chiefs

Journeyman_1

Pocock is injured again? The guy can't catch a break!

LuckyGent88

Journeyman_1 wrote: »

Pocock is injured again? The guy can't catch a break!

Not his knees at least. Ankle supposedly but didnt see a time frame for his return

sydneybound

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Not his knees at least. Ankle supposedly but didnt see a time frame for his return

Just one week.

Journeyman_1

That's good. If he can get back some form it could be a hell of a battle for the Aus 7 Jersey!

LuckyGent88

Match predictor picks made anyway. Found it very hard to choose between the Bulls and hurricanes. Hurricanes are well capable of getting a victory down in South africa.

sydthebeat

HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Ross Geldenhuys, Tom Franklin, Joe Wheeler, Elliot Dixon, John Hardie, Nasi Manu (co-capt), Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Patrick Osborne, Shaun Treeby, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith (co-capt).

Reserves: Ash Dixon, Kane Hames, Ma’afu Fia, Mark Reddish, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Jason Emery, Marty Banks.

CRUSADERS (1-15): Crusaders: Wyatt Crockett, Ben Funnell, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Scott Barrett, Richie McCaw, Matt Todd, Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Colin Slade, Johnny McNicholl, Ryan Crotty, Kieron Fonotia, Robbie Fruean, Israel Dagg.

Reserves: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Dominic Bird, Jordan Taufua, Billy Guyton, Tom Taylor, Nafi Tuitavake.


Cant wait for saturday morning for the highlanders to start their season, hopefully to bring the pre-season form up a notch or two.

Cant see there being more than once score between these by the end, crusaders arent exactly flying.
Good to see geldehuys and hohneck starting, front row was a real issue last year, so lets see what they can bring.

naholo starts on the wing with huge promise, and pryor, reddish and Banks on the bench are newbies too.

Yeah_Right

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Are there any other iq players in super rugby. I know tom sexton, michael fitzgerald and ed o donoghue

Any others?

Just found out that Matt Symons the Chiefs lock (and captain last week) is English. Becomes elligible for the All Blacks in May.

Swiwi.

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Just found out that Matt Symons the Chiefs lock (and captain last week) is English. Becomes elligible for the All Blacks in May.

He's kind of a Jeremy Thrush lock at best IMO. Fringe AB if he really has a go. Would be weird having a bord and bred Englishman playing for NZ, I must say.

Swiwi.

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Match predictor picks made anyway. Found it very hard to choose between the Bulls and hurricanes. Hurricanes are well capable of getting a victory down in South africa.

For me, there were 2 easy picks, the rest could go either way. IMHO the Crusaders are stronger with Carter out - Slade was the best 10 in NZ Super Rugby last season, and Dagg is a better 15 than Slade. Should be a great game hopefully. The other potential beauty is Brumbies v Chiefs, looking forward to seeing that new Taranki centre get a run off the bench. Hope the Canes take down the Bulls, I have no idea why Toomaga-Allen, Vito and Savea are on the bench - madness.

sydneybound

Swiwi. wrote: »

The other potential beauty is Brumbies v Chiefs.

I see this game is being played in New Plymouth will they get much of a crowd there given it should be a very competitive match?

I know the Chiefs generally play in Hamilton and have the odd fixture in Rotorua but I'm surprised they hardly ever play in Tauranga. Lovely part of the world.

Swiwi.

sydneybound wrote: »

I see this game is being played in New Plymouth will they get much of a crowd there given it should be a very competitive match?

I know the Chiefs generally play in Hamilton and have the odd fixture in Rotorua but I'm surprised they hardly ever play in Tauranga. Lovely part of the world.

Reckon it will be (close to) sold out. The Naki now part of the Chiefs franchise after ditching the Canes.

I think the Tauranga stadium is not that big from memory.

sydneybound

Swiwi. wrote: »

Reckon it will be (close to) sold out. The Naki now part of the Chiefs franchise after ditching the Canes.

I think the Tauranga stadium is not that big from memory.

Great, always looks better on tv with a full or near full stadium. I think Tauranga is 17,500 but has a motor dirty track around the pitch so wouldn't be a good viewing stadium for spectators maybe.

Kiwi_knock

Karmichael Hunt has been charged with supplying cocaine. Not exactly what you want when you are trying to turn a team around.

Hunt, 28, was arrested and charged with four counts of supply on Thursday evening, days after playing as five-eighth for the Queensland Reds rugby team.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/20/karmichael-hunt-charged-with-supplying-cocaine?CMP=soc_568

Yeah_Right

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Karmichael Hunt has been charged with supplying cocaine. Not exactly what you want when you are trying to turn a team around.




http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/20/karmichael-hunt-charged-with-supplying-cocaine?CMP=soc_568

I won't mention any names but it's not the first time I've heard cocaine and the Reds mentioned. I have some friends in Aussie that are were/are fairly close to most of the Aussie Super rugby teams and coke doesn't seem to be that uncommon going by their stories.

LuckyGent88

Bruising encounter so far between Chiefs and brumbies with Chiefs leading 13-11 at the break.

LuckyGent88

Chiefs scrum getting destroyed at the start of second half. 3 scrum penalties against the Chiefs from 3 scrums in 2nd half so far.

Brumbies lead by 4 with 20 mins left

sydthebeat

The amount of turnovers is very high. ... chiefs can snatch this if they just keep it in hand

sydthebeat

And at that nathai losses it in the tackle. ..

sydthebeat

Not so sure that kick by cruden was the best option

sydthebeat

Chiefs by 2 points. ...

Kiwi_knock

Rebels switch off after the Tahs get a penalty advantage, Beale chips over and collects and offloads it to Hoiles for an easy finish. Tahs leading 10-7.

sydthebeat

Half time Rebels 14 - 16 tahs


Bernard Foley with some criminal pillar defending on the last play

irishbucsfan

Who missed that tackle? Awful stuff

Kiwi_knock

Another bad missed tackle on Naiyaravoro gets him his second try. Bonus point in this match for the Tahs.

Kiwi_knock

And then he ruins it by getting a yellow card. Obviously doesn't understand the rules.

sydthebeat

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

And then he ruins it by getting a yellow card. Obviously doesn't understand the rules.

He forgot what game he was playing

Hilarious