Super Rugby 2017 Season

The Blues went to Melbourne and smashed the Rebels 18-56. The Rebels led something like 12-3 after about 25 minutes then just started turning the ball over and got blown away.

Rieko Ioane scored a hat trick of tries. He and his brother Akira have looked good prospects for a while.

A rare bonus point away win for the Chiefs against the Highlanders. Super Rugby will be the only benchmark to judge New Zealand players before the Lions tour starts. So far - in a small sample - they've looked better than the Australian and South African sides.

Highlanders had a lot of possession early on but didn't make it count, and fell behind. Life got worse with injuries to Ben Smith (concussion) and Aaron Smith (hand). It was a game of home side mistakes, so not quite the festival or rugby which some had hoped for.

Reds beat the Sharks 28-26 at home but threatened to lose the game. Cooper was off-target with kicking, and might have put them in control much earlier if he'd got them. Reds have been talked up this season, with a lot of experience returning, but things looked a bit rusty.

Sunwolves are hosting the Hurricanes, and are losing 5-83. There are more than twenty minutes left to go.

Sunwolves managing a mini-comeback to only lose by 17-83.

Week 2

Huge game friday morning, Blues vs Cheifs. As a Lions Watch this will give them a good idea of what there up against

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/video.cfm?c_id=80&gal_cid=80&gallery_id=172117

Steven Luatua, who has signed for Bristol, has just been red-carded for a high tackle. The Chiefs took advantage of the extra man to score a try just before half time. They lead the Blues 22-9.

Sunwolves might not feel so bad losing 17-83 to the Hurricanes. Melbourne Rebels just lost 71-6. That might be a one point better gap but at least the Sunwolves managed three tries.

It's the ability/skills to see or create and exploit space at pace that is the Kiwi point of difference.

You'll see similar in the nrl, but in Union NZ still are a step above.

Highlanders looking v good over the Crusaders; Sopoaga, Fekitoa and Nahola all looking exceptional.

Highlanders 27 - 30 Crusaders

The Highlanders led 27-6 at one point in the second half. The Crusaders got to 27-16 but the game really changed in the last ten minutes, when the Highlanders drew a yellow card and went down to 14 men. Two converted tries saw the Crusaders snatch an amazing comeback win.

Crusaders come back to win in style and the Fijian Tamanivalu scores to take the win (he is an AB ed.) (yer but his is really Fijian and ffs if rugby every sorts the rules out and if any of the supposed better nations; nz,oz,sa,eng or fr even dares to respect and bothers to tour Fiji then we might see the truth reveal itself in a few short years.

In mean time the status quo.....pillage, r*** the normal.

Anyway great game of rugby!

Didn't catch too many matches but the main theme of the weekend seems to be how poorly the Australian teams are doing.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/05/waratahs-defeat-to-lions-compounds-australian-teams-super-rugby-struggles

Australian teams still struggling. The Reds looked to have the beating of the Crusaders, which would have turned the tide. However, they contrived to leak 10 points right at the death, despite having a man advantage.

Sunwolves only lost by seven in South Africa, while the Jaguares won, so it wasn't a bad week for them.

In general, though, there's still a lot of uncertainly over the future of Super Rugby, with SANZAAR expected to make some announcements soon. The format seems far too complex for the average viewer, and it's having an impact on crowds and audiences.

All these NZ derbies make great watching,

Super duper, particularly NZ teams play a different game to the Jeff and GT competitions. Different strokes etc. All good to see.

kingelderfield wrote:All these NZ derbies make great watching,

Super duper, particularly NZ teams play a different game to the Jeff and GT competitions. Different strokes etc. All good to see.

 Not if your a Blues supporter.

Sunwolves vs Stormers is a treat to watch. Attack and counterattack in teh first 20 minutes. The Sunwolves lead 17-10

Another Sunwolves try has them ahead 24-10. That one was two locks combining in a midfield break.

The Sunwolves are trying chip kicks ahead from their own goal line.

The Stormers scored a peach of a try themselves, and butchered another, so they are also here to play.

Stormers switched to plan B & kept it tight in the 2nd half and blew the Sunwolves forwards away to win.


A good summary of the weekend from an Aussie perspective
http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/27/wrap-super-rugby-game-three-halves/

3 wins out of 3 for the NZ teams this weekend (Hurricanes and Chiefs had byes) - the NZ conference is looking like a 3 way fight between the Crusaders, Chiefs and Hurricanes, with the Highlanders being hampered by a horrendous injury list, and the Blues hampered (for the 12th year in a row) by the lack of a top grade #10 - both are still good enough to be in the top half of the competition overall though.

The Jaguares look good early on, especially as the draw means they avoid most of the NZ teams - they have to go to SA on tour now which will give a better gauge, but they look like a good outside bet for the playoffs. Granted this weekend they faced a Reds side incapable of converting possession into points.

Reliable rumour in Australia has it that the Rebels are safe from the chop (it'd cost the ARU too much to buy off their private backers), with the Force odds on to be cut for next season, ahead of the Brumbies. The lack of depth in Aus is pretty obvious, so the change can't come soon enough

We are well into the Super Rugby season and, I have to admit, I haven't seen too many matches to comment. The coverage this year seems so relentlessly negative. Everybody hates the format, and there are proposals on the table for change, but we don't know what they are yet.

Almost every week in Australia, there are articles questioning the ongoing existence of rugby union in the country, let alone the current format. NZ rugby seems in rude health on the pitch but the collapse of Australia as a viable opponent is cause for concern.

South Africa, meanwhile, continues to wrestle with politics which presents a moving target for everyone involved with the sport.

It looks like Bryn Gatland came off the bench for the Blues against Highlanders, which increases his chances of playing against the B&I Lions.

*EDIT - it looks like Bryn as an unused sub.

Sunwolves beat the Bulls in Tokyo. Good result for the Japanese franchise but seen as a new nadir by South African supporters.

SANZAR confirm today that 1 Australian and 2 SA teams are getting chopped from SR next season. Should find out tomorrow which teams but I guess it'll be the Force and kings, Lions

yappysnap wrote:SANZAR confirm today that 1 Australian and 2 SA teams are getting chopped from SR next season. Should find out tomorrow which teams but I guess it'll be the Force and kings, Lions

The Lions being cut would be a major shock with them being the best SA side last year. I'd have though the Cheetahs would have been more likely to go.

Cheetahs is one. Seemingly they have been trying to get Rassie Erasmus back to save them.

Gotta feel bad for the fans, players, coaches etc on the teams that will be axed. I would rather just see a change in format rather than this.

Edit: this shows the effect... http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/force-captain-matt-hodgsons-emotional-press-conference-after-sanzaar-decision/news-story/c99d78d4b4a814283ea83413cfc97c74

Should have got rid of the sunpoodles instead of of one SA team to start with.

whocares wrote:Should have got rid of the sunpoodles instead of of one SA team to start with.

Aye. Only trouble then is figuring out which SA/Arg team to stick in the Aussie conference to even the numbers up

Why are SA having teams cut? I thought they brought the most money to this competition. Things are getting worse for them.

A shame for the Aus team but surely it has to be Rebels as you need at least one team on the west coast (Force).

Hope this gets sorted. We need Aussies to develop s15 wise. Losing an as team bad news. Sa and nz most passionate rugby nations.

Great crowds no matter what.

People say Munster are passionate fans but when they were doing poor had no fans. They are a fair weather fans

Nz and sa fans hardcore

What a game that was between the Blues and the Hurricanes. Joy to watch.

LuvSports! wrote:What a game that was between the Blues and the Hurricanes. Joy to watch.

 Not so great when you're a Blues supporter, but yes some stunning rugby talent on display.

See the Hurricanes take apart the Brumbies tonight. 6 unanswered tries in the 2nd half. Yee ha

nganboy wrote:See the Hurricanes take apart the Brumbies tonight. 6 unanswered tries in the 2nd half. Yee ha

The gap between NZ and Aus seems to be stretching.


And I see the Kings beat the Waratahs in Sydney!

Has it been confirmed which teams are being axed?

propdavid_london wrote:Has it been confirmed which teams are being axed?

Next week I think.

ARU has rejected a proposal to merge the Brumbies & Rebels - IMO that'd have been the smartest move.

Can't see the Rebels going in any form. Will cost the ARU a leg and an arm to buy out the private owner.

Think a merger between Brumbies & Force might be good. Have the touring NZ/SA sides play in Perth and play the derbies in Canberra. Might go some way to appeasing the fans.

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Can't see the Rebels going in any form. Will cost the ARU a leg and an arm to buy out the private owner.

Think a merger between Brumbies & Force might be good. Have the touring NZ/SA sides play in Perth and play the derbies in Canberra. Might go some way to appeasing the fans.

Rebels' owner was interested in the merger idea, so could've been an easy out. But that'd involve competence from the ARU. And if they were competent they wouldn't be in this mess

I sort of understand the bigger reason for axing an Aus team - there is an issue with diluting the player base too much in a country where Rugby is not a first pick sport.

2 SA franchises too! In such a Rugby'centric area! That is a big blow.
What are the reasons for the SA franchises being axed? Is that poor performance too?
We cant really argue that the player pool is an issue - granted the top SA players are mostly heading abroad (but that could be resolved at the union level).

propdavid_london wrote:I sort of understand the bigger reason for axing an Aus team - there is an issue with diluting the player base too much in a country where Rugby is not a first pick sport.  

2 SA franchises too! In such a Rugby'centric area! That is a big blow.  
What are the reasons for the SA franchises being axed?  Is that poor performance too?  
We cant really argue that the player pool is an issue - granted the top SA players are mostly heading abroad (but that could be resolved at the union level).

Fundamentally SA don't have the player base to support 6 teams - cutting 2 is a little harsh, but to even up the conferences it was either them or drop Argentina. The Kings are gash mind (it took a truly awful Waratahs side to lose to them last week - a result a akin to Zebre turning up and winning in Swansea). And the Cheetahs have made the playoffs (just) once in 12 years, and they've been 10th or lower 10 times.

The falling Rand also means that while SA is still the biggest TV revenue contributor it's getting harder to balance the books & retain players.

Australia currently don't have the money or the talent to support 5 teams, both the Brumbies and Force have needed bailing out in recent years. And Australians won't go watch a team that doesn't have a decent shout of winning - it's a crowded sporting market.

Arguably you'd cut the Sunwolves as they're rubbish & not supported by 2 of the 3 main pillars of Japanese rugby (the Top League clubs and the Universities), however they bring in a healthy slice of TV money. And moving them into the Australian conference makes a lot more logistic sense - cuts travel time and costs considerably)

Sending an NZ or Aus team to SA for 2 matches costs over £100k in flights and accommodation, ditto sending a SA team to Australasia, that's more than you'll take in (net) on the gates (a Twickenham or Millennium sell-out international crowd at £75 average price per head brings in over £5m, but you're talking a 15-20k average crowd for a Super Rugby match. And at a fair bit less per ticket)

Cheers Pete - always just boils down to money I guess.

Full Time: Highlanders 57...Stormers 14. (9 tries to 2).

aucklandlaurie wrote:Full Time: Highlanders 57...Stormers 14. (9 tries to 2).

Scottrf wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:Full Time: Highlanders 57...Stormers 14. (9 tries to 2).

And the Highlanders won the 10 minute spell while their prop was in the bin for a high tackle 7-0

I think the Highlanders vs B&I Lions is one where the NZ franchise will be without its ABs due to being later on in the tour. Blues and Crusaders however...

Crusaders only have Moody, Franks, Whitelock, Read, Crotty, Dagg from the first team

Scottrf wrote:Crusaders only have Moody, Franks, Whitelock, Read, Crotty, Dagg from the first team

Plus Crockett, Taylor, S. Barrett, Romano, Todd & Taminavalu from the November NZ squad ...

Today's scores so far:
Chiefs 27-20 Sunwolves - no TBP for the Chiefs, and the Japanese lads get 1 point from their 3 match NZ tour
Reds 26-29 Waratahs
Force 15-24 Lions (Lions TBP)
Lions 21-48 Crusaders - Crusaders TBP, but lost Kieran Read for 6 weeks with a broken thumb, meaning he's tight for the 1st Lions' test

And just after half time in the clash of the dead-men-walking
Kings 23-3 Rebels

Blues 18 - Brumbies 12.

Gatland got his first start, as new English 5/8th Piers Francis was out with a wrist injury.

aucklandlaurie wrote:Blues 18 - Brumbies 12.

Gatland got his first start, as new English 5/8th Piers Francis was out with a wrist injury.

So that's 15-0 to NZ in trans-Tasman clashes this season. I'm actually feeling sorry for the Aussies.

15-0? That's horrific. Only a few more weeks until you get some real opposition come down ; speaking of which this surely means Bryn Gatland will get some game time versus the Lions?