Thread: Today's Rugby

Genia and QC combine to win it 32-10 for the Reds.


Bath v Saracens up next

A tragic loss to the rugby world as former All Black Jerry Collins was killed in a car crash in France.

Reds lose 3-24 to the Chiefs. Chiefs through to the playoffs.

Crusaders slap the hapless Blues 34-11

Rebels nip the Bulls 21-20.

Two South African matches coming up.

The top three teams on the Super 16 are all Kiwi teams, so what does that mean, they have to drop below the top Australian and South African teams and lose their home advantage...what a load of absolute bullshit

Round 18

Friday, 12 June

Blues v Highlanders - Highlanders
Rebels v Force - Rebels

Saturday, 13 June

Brumbies v Crusaders - Crusaders
Chiefs v Hurricanes - Hurricanes
Waratahs v Reds - Waratahs
Bulls v Cheetahs - Bulls
Sharks v Stormers - Sharks

Originally Posted by happynz

The Hurricanes and the Waratahs earned next week off as they finished first and second respectively.

The Waratahs earned a place in the top six...not second...that is a fecking gerrymander

No argument there. The Stormers get third place on the table with 45 log points whilst the mighty (yes, mighty) Crusaders miss out on a playoff spot with 46. There ain't no justice (t.a.n.j.) at all. However, that's the way it rolls, so whatchugonna do?

Thats a weak argument re Stormers. Assured of a home playoff by virtue of the conference system they rested their team for a meaningless match v Sharks
Crusaders can only blame themselves for missing out, winning those last few matches when already out of the running
Every team knew how the conference system is, no point complaining now, there are other examples over the years of 'deserving' teams not making the finals/playoffs

NZ Herald has a list of hard luck stories here Rugby: The best side to ever miss the playoffs - Super Rugby - NZ Herald News

Originally Posted by prawnograph

Every team knew how the conference system is

Yes...but the fecking waratahs are different...a bunch of stuck up wankers if there ever were

Originally Posted by happynz

The Stormers get third place on the table with 45 log points whilst the mighty (yes, mighty) Crusaders miss out on a playoff spot with 46

Cos iof the NZRFU demand fair play,...the SAFFAS threaten to do a deal with the northern hemisphere...that probably will happen one day

Super Rugby Playoffs

These be me picks, arghhh...

Saturday, 20 June

Highlanders v Chiefs - Highlanders

Stormers v Brumbies - Brumbies

And the World Under 20s championship finishes this weekend with playoffs and final

playoff for 7th Ireland Scotland
For 5th Wales Australia
For 3rd south Africa France
Final England New Zealand

Originally Posted by prawnograph

Final England New Zealand

mmmmm...that will be worth watching

Hugely impressive display by the Brumbies....fuck I hope Hooper gets the nod for the World Cup.......

Originally Posted by prawnograph

And the World Under 20s championship finishes this weekend with playoffs and final

Originally Posted by Bruce Bayliss

mmmmm...that will be worth watching

It was Bruce...21 - 16 to the Junior All Blacks

Stormers demonstrate why the the South Africa Conference currently is crap. All they do is kick the ball deep and do up and unders. No imagination or daring with ball in hand.

Originally Posted by happynz

No imagination or daring with ball in hand.

Never really have had to with their climate and grounds

Why the Australians are the most enjoyable bastards to beat...except the English at rugby
Wynne Gray: The grapes were very sour in Sydney - Sport - NZ Herald News
Wynne Gray: The grapes were very sour in Sydney
Five tries to one - it was a clattering margin of supremacy for the Highlanders who made the Waratahs look second-rate on their own dung heap.

They were equally inept in the commentary with the sort of drivel Phil Kearns delivered about the referee having a "shocking" game.

The grapes were very sour in Sydney as the visitors' hillbilly forwards soaked up all the hometown posturing, turned them over and then rattled to the winning post.

A capacity Sydney Football Stadium crowd was as flummoxed as the Tahs while the underdogs and their coaches pulled off the heist of the series to create a 35-17 triumph.

The Tahs were ready. A number of players and coach Michael Cheika were leaving and they were well-primed after watching the Highlanders see off the Chiefs in last week's playoff.
The penalty try to the Highlanders was crucial in the 57th minute but it's those moments which swing big matches and the high shot from Jacques Potgeiter on Patrick Osborne, stopped his momentum centimetres from the chalk.

Visiting referee and local television match official George Ayoub took a dispassionate line and concurred; yellow card and penalty try.

Kearns and his sidekick Rod Kafer then lost their objectivity, a failing which is sadly repeated by some New Zealand sideline pundits who confuse passion and fairness.
This semifinal was on the edge for ages.

Joubert warned the Highlanders the next offence would go to the bin as they soaked up some early and rare second half heat and conceded the lead again.

Time for some magic so Waisake Naholo jet-shoed to another superb try from nowhere, Osborne instigated the penalty try and the Highlanders were in overdrive, the Tahs in meltdown.

Brilliant. There's nothing like Aussie angst. Most of the headaches are for Cheika and what he can do to find the right mix of player and formula for the Wallabies while the Highlanders trundle through to a final against the Hurricanes at the CakeTin.

More no-names against the stars; five in the All Black squad against a dozen, neither side with a title in the 20 year history of the series, both with a runners-up badge.
The outcome is uncertain but one thing is apparent.

The Canes will continue their extensive ball movement and back their burgeoning tight five to make room for the expression while the Highlanders will bring variety. In Sydney they shifted their larger rivals around with kicks and strong defence until they attacked from about 40m with everything.

Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoga and Ben Smith kick to attack or retrieve possession while the venom of Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne lurks. They close the deals.

However it's those men in jerseys 1-8 who are mostly castoffs, draft picks or local men who have laid down the markers for this Highlanders ride and given the nation feel-good reactions most weekends.

Those like Kearns who seek to blame Joubert have short memories, Last years final was handed to the Tahs on a plate by Joubert who incorrectly penalised McCaw minutes from the end.. He apologiesd afterwards for a wrong decision on reviewing the match.

Originally Posted by petegilly

Last years final was handed to the Tahs on a plate by Joubert who incorrectly penalised McCaw minutes from the end.. He apologiesd afterwards for a wrong decision on reviewing the match.

Absolutely

Originally Posted by petegilly

Kearns

The Aussie union commentators are very poor quality...the league commentators are of a much higher standard...it just reflect the respective public interest in the games.

Originally Posted by petegilly

Those like Kearns who seek to blame Joubert have short memories, Last years final was handed to the Tahs on a plate by Joubert who incorrectly penalised McCaw minutes from the end.. He apologiesd afterwards for a wrong decision on reviewing the match.

Originally Posted by Bruce Bayliss

Absolutely

So let me get this correct, Joubert was incorrect in handing it to an Aussie team, but is correct in handing it to a New Zealand Team?

And you guys reckon Aussies are one eyed?

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Originally Posted by petegilly

Those like Kearns who seek to blame Joubert have short memories, Last years final was handed to the Tahs on a plate by Joubert who incorrectly penalised McCaw minutes from the end.. He apologiesd afterwards for a wrong decision on reviewing the match.

Originally Posted by Bruce Bayliss

Absolutely

So let me get this correct, Joubert was incorrect in handing it to an Aussie team, but is correct in handing it to a New Zealand Team?

And you guys reckon Aussies are one eyed?

I doubt very much that Joubert handed anything to the Kiwi's yesterday. The decision was the correct one given the circumstances.
Nick Mallet who has no affiliation with either country backed it as a good call on our local game review here in SA.
But I take it that you perhaps know more about the game than him?

Nailed on penalty try, those bleating should make sure they read and fully understand the law in respect of this decision......

Exactly the same reasoning that correctly cost Wales a win in SA last year.

Kearns is and always has been a whinging cock sucker.... anything that upsets him is top draw in my book.