Thread: The Mega 2016 Super Duper Super Rugby Thread

The "Canes" don't even feature.

It's clear the Lions are the superior team.

Yeah...

The Hurricanes brought the Lions back down to earth with a big bump by smashing the Johannesburg side 17-50 at Emirates (Ellis) Park.

Read more: Hurricanes bring Lions back down to earth - Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby

Crystal clear.

According to someone named Teemy Whore-ran on Oz tv last night, Australian teams have won 3 of their 22 matches v NZ teams this year. May get one tonight, Waratahs at home to Hurricanes, but the match before, Crusaders Rebels could be another high score for the home side, adding to last night's humiliations 40-15 and 50-5
They'll be wanting to switch to join a SA conference next year

They'll be wanting to switch to join a SA conference next year

They'll be wanting to quit playing big boy's rugby, and start playing netball.

Originally Posted by prawnograph

They'll be wanting to switch to join a SA conference next year

The Toowoomba u12's could win the Africa 2 conference.

It's shit.

^Pure shit!

Jaysus, ref should call this Saders v Rebels game early.

It's a massacre. Fifty points up 3min into 2nd half.

On the bright side, four good tries to the Rebels, more than Brumbies and Reds scored last night
It's the 13 Crusaders' tries that spoiled it for them
85-26 final score
All hopes now on Waratahs for an Australian win

Plenty of current and former Wallabies tonight

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Rob Horne, 11 Matt Carraro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Will Skelton, 4 David Dennis, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Paddy Ryan
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Reece Robinson

Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Chris Eves, 2 Dane Coles (c), 1 Reg Goodes
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Ben May, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 Jason Woodward

It must be heaven to play in the African conference. Compare that to the NZ ...Chalk and cheese.

It will be interesting to see how the Lions go against some decent competition. My feeling is that they will fold, because they won't make the grade against a Kiwi side. Still, they will be playing at home, so that has to help them.

^ Jeez,. you're a funny boy. Got me good there. Bloody hell...

The truth of the matter, is that you guys will never get better at international level, unless you get to play better teams.

You can crow on all you like about your Lions, but if you bother to think about it, you have won an inbred conference. It's only stupid kunts like you that think this is good.Good luck with that, shit for brains.

Originally Posted by Baas Babelaas

Bonus point Lions lead Super Rugby standings again - Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby

Smashingly good job, my boys.

Now it's time to take on the filth from NZ.

Careful what you wish for, they'll fucking hammer you lot.....

Waratahs cop a hiding as well.

Must be the lowest aussie rugby has been for years or what I really believe is a new golden era for Kiwi rugby.

Lets see how the Saffers do against the Kiwis though I believe they will receive just as big a hammering.

From the not-exactly-shocking-news file:

Jarryd Hayne won't be included in Fiji's rugby sevens squad for Olympics - Sport - NZ Herald News

Justin Marshall: South Africans and Aussies a shambles

5:00 AM Monday Jul 11, 2016



I thought the Aussies would have been strong across the board, especially the Waratahs and Brumbies, but clearly I don't feel that way now. Photo / Getty Images

In fact, there were no genuine contests over the last round because there were no New Zealand derbies.

What has this made the difference this year? In making the World Cup final and retaining the vast majority of their players, I believed Australia were ready to kick on. New Zealand had lost a lot of top All Blacks, which could have had a negative filter-down effect to the Kiwi franchises, but there has been none of that.

I thought the Aussies would have been strong across the board, especially the Waratahs and Brumbies, but clearly I don't feel that way now.

It was incredible seeing the gap in quality between the Brumbies, Australia's top-ranked team, and the Blues, fifth in the New Zealand conference, and it hit home how far off the mark Australian rugby is at the moment.

The Aussies didn't get close to England in the June tests, and when you're getting nearly 90 points put on you, as the Rebels did in Christchurch, or leaking 50 at home, like the Reds did against the Chiefs, you're not getting pipped at the post, you're being comprehensively outplayed.

In South Africa, the Lions are a well-coached, quality outfit. They beat the Chiefs in Hamilton and pushed the Highlanders close in Dunedin. They are easily the best team in South Africa, and they could well finish the round robin on top of the table.

But I can't see how a South African or Australian team can win the championship. It will come down to either the Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes.

How and why has this happened? I think New Zealand Rugby's stance that you can't play for the All Blacks unless you play here is our biggest advantage. Australia have loosened their laws on eligibility and South Africa have none. The latter have lost a lot of top talent overseas so there's little depth left.

The depth at the Chiefs and Highlanders, in particular, over the last fortnight, is very impressive. The Highlanders left their six All Blacks at home when travelling to South Africa to play the Kings and they put together an excellent performance before doing it again with a new-look team against the Jaguares.

I can't seen any of the Brumbies, Reds, Stormers or Waratahs being able to do that. If they took out their best six players they would be in serious trouble.

Australia and South Africa have big problems. Do they go to their overseas players as a stop-gap measure to prevent embarrassment in the Rugby Championship, or do they swallow the big pill and say we're going to develop some new talent because we can't keep going to our ageing overseas-based players?

But where is that depth coming through in Super Rugby? It isn't there, they aren't performing. It's a big issue.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

It will come down to either the Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes.

Or Lions.

Home advantage will help, and they've shown playing away in Kiwiland they can perform against the CKBs.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Home advantage will help

Dunno about that. Hurricanes played them at home and put 50 on them.

Speaking of home advantage...

The Highlanders are currently 6th on the points table and would have a quarterfinal against the Stormers at Newlands even though they have fewer competition points than them.

The Highlanders are a good team, and the likes of the Stormers and Sharks (if they get through) have benefited from this year's system; the Highlanders will beat them.

As for any CKB team at the Lions, I'm not so sure; we will see pretty soon...

I just read an article about the conference system, a sort of 'Dummies Guide'.

I still can't understand it.

I understand that the four group leaders are seeded at home, and that makes it more interesting for a wider range of viewers than just having 4 CKB quarters (although the Lions have made that on merit, imho). Some of the other stuff is confusing, I suppose it comes down to who you played, and some teams have been more fortunate than others... In truth, it's never gonna be perfect and the CKBs are particularly strong this year which just spotlights the weak areas - in truth, it's not that bad, and 4 top teams will be in the semis; if any one of them is the outstanding team then they should win it from there (home or away). The Lions certainly have a nice draw, but they had tough games in CKBland which they did well in (didn't they beat the Chiefs in CKBland - the Chiefs put 50 points on the reds in Convictland last week...), so it wasn't a walk in the park...

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

although the Lions have made that on merit, imho

I don't disagree that they're a good team and have been playing some pretty good rugby but when you're in a pool with the Jaguares and Kings and get to play them twice it's always going to help your points total.

That's true, and that's where the CKBland teams suffer - but look on the bright side: consider how that tough competition weak in weak out aids your national team!