Super Rugby

[rowan]

Jags got a big win over the Tahs. So far the signs are good for a more competitive championship this year. Early days though.

[rowan]

1. Rebels 3 3 0 0 115:46 15

2. Lions 4 3 0 1 157:119 15

3. Hurricanes 3 2 0 1 82:49 10

4. Crusaders 3 2 0 1 109:80 10

5. Highlanders 2 2 0 0 74:49 9

6. Reds 3 2 0 1 57:69 8

7. Sharks 3 1 1 1 93:72 8

8. Waratahs 3 1 1 1 86:89 6

9. Blues 3 1 0 2 93:103 6

10. Bulls 3 1 0 2 70:88 5

11. Stormers 4 1 0 3 98:132 5

12. Chiefs 2 1 0 1 50:66 4

13. Brumbies 3 1 0 2 52:76 4

14. Jaguares 4 1 0 3 94:137 4

15. Sunwolves 3 0 0 3 64:119 1

[rowan]

A couple of years ago it was WP. Not sure what came of that. But now it's the Blue Bulls facing bankruptcy:

The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd is close to bankruptcy and struggling to repay the Blue Bulls Rugby Union after receiving unauthorised loans worth millions.

According to Rapport newspaper, BBRU president Gert Wessels allegedly made several unauthorised loan transfers from the union’s funds to the company, but the payments are in arrears. The company is close to being declared bankrupt and is surviving on more loans and favours.

An initial loan worth R8.43-million from the union to the BBC was supposed to be paid off by February 2017 but the company has failed to do so. Despite the non-payment, the union’s CEO Eugene Hare approved another unauthorised loan of R5-million to the BBC, while also signing as a surety for R7.5-million of the company’s other outstanding debt.

The unions’ clubs have now tabled a motion of no confidence in Wessels, stating that he recklessly acted outside his mandate and ruined the union financially.

‘We are of the opinion that he [Wessels] did not put the BBRU’s interests first and we feel he can’t stay on in the position as president,’ said BBRU vice-president Henri van Aswegen.

But according to BBC CEO Barend van Graan, financial difficulty is not exclusive to the Bulls' business arm, but rather the entire South African rugby industry.

‘We are under pressure financially because of the teams’ underachievements, rising costs, low income and dwindling [crowd] attendance. The company will repay these loans as soon as we start making profit again,’ said Van Graan.

After being requested from the BBRU to resign, Wessels reportedly said he’ll only do so if the union nominates him for a position on the SA Rugby executive committee.

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/detail ... ocks-bulls

[rowan]

John Mitchell:

The former coach admitted to 1 NEWS yesterday he wasn’t ready to take the reins of the national side over a decade ago.
"I could have done with three or four years with the Chiefs," he said.
"But ultimately you never turn down the chance to coach your country, do you?"
Discarded after the 2003 World Cup failure, Mitchell re-established himself overseas.
And he's picked up a record along the way, taking on his fourth Super Rugby franchise this season where he’s been tasked with reinventing the Bulls - a team that had hit rock bottom after winning their last of three Super Rugby titles eight years ago.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/r ... all-blacks

[rowan]

Bulls with a good lead at halftime, playing AWAY to the Chiefs. That's impressive.

26-28 3/4 mark. Chiefs are fighting back. Set for a grandstand finish...

34-28 Chiefs in front with a few mins to play. Home team has all the momentum now.

FT 41-28. Chiefs with 27 unanswered points, Bulls held scoreless in the 2nd half.

[Lizard]

Fuck yeah!

Chiefs Mana.

[cashead]

Dillon Hunt is playing his way into All Blacks test contention RN.

[rowan]

Back-to-back losses for the Saders. When was the last time that happened . . . ?

[morepork]

Sunwolves 2 points off the Lions at Ellis park...

[rowan]

Good battle between the Rebels & Tahs going on right now. NSW have come from 3-20 down to lead 24-20 early 2nd 1.2.

So far the signs have been good for the Aussies and Saffas, it seems. Reds won in Argentina last night as well. But what's up with the Jaguares?

Hell, 3 tries in 10 minutes for the Tahs and they lead 41-20 at the 3/4 mark! 38 unanswered points...

FT 51-27. Rebels bubble burst but a great result for the home-team.

[Lizard]

Back-to-back losses for the Saders. When was the last time that happened . . . ?

16 & 23 July 2016. The Cru lost their final pool game to the eventual champions, the Hurricanes and then stumbled in the first round of play-offs after flying to Jo'burg to face the other eventual finalists, the Lions.

They haven't lost 2 consecutive regular season games since April 2015, when the Highlanders and Chiefs both took them down in Christchurch. The Highlanders went on to take the trophy.

A Bulls win this week would be their worst run since losing their 2013 semi-final to the Chiefs (who won the title) and then beginning the 2014 season with losses in the rematch v the Chiefs and v the Blues.

The Crusaders have not lost three in a row in the same season since 2010 when a horror overseas leg saw them go down to the Force, Stormers and eventual champion Bulls. They have never lost 4 in a row but have twice broken streaks of three losses with a draw, in 1996 (Chiefs, Reds, Blues who won the comp and Western Province -in fact their first ever 4 matches leading to the Crusaders finishing dead last in the comp) and 2009 (Brumbies, Canes, Landers & Force)

[rowan]

Thanks. Guess it wouldn't be so rare since they went a few years without a title there. Don't look like defending it this year either - but I'd be the last one to discount them completely.

[Lizard]

I've edited with more info...

[rowan]

Crusaders & Rebels both getting their campaigns back on track today, former thumping the Bulls, latter currently leading the Sharks 25-7 headed into the final 1/4. Encouraging signs from the Aussie so far, but the Saffas not really looking any better than they have for the past few years, despite the axing of two of their franchises. Could that be because the subsequent inclusion of those two teams in European competition has mean the talent pool remains over-stretched, whereas in Australia they been forced to condense it by 20%?

Rebels run riot in the final 20, 46-14.

[rowan]

Canes with a decisive bonus point victory over the Highlanders, albeit at home.

Sunwolves thrashed by the Chiefs. Still the number 1 reason this competition has lost some of its credibility and allure.

[morepork]

Canes with a decisive bonus point victory over the Highlanders, albeit at home.

Sunwolves thrashed by the Chiefs. Still the number 1 reason this competition has lost some of its credibility and allure.

Why do you rag on Japan so much?

[rowan]

Because they have dragged the standard of the competition down and destroyed its geographical identity. Two perfectly good franchises in the Force and the Cheetahs paid the price for that, which is an absurdity. But I certainly don't criticise them more than they deserve. They have been a joke since their inclusion and aren't even fielding most of the Japanese test team.

[rowan]

Jags with an early 10-0 lead over the Lions. Long way to go but a win for the hosts in this game will make it a fairly good weekend of rugby action from my point of view. Canes had a great win and I just watched a humdinger between Portugal & Poland live.

May have hexed it already. 10-5

Update: 25-14 early 2nd 1/2. Go Jags!

Update: 39-28 into the last 1/4 - 9 tries so far!

Update: 46-35 final 10 mins. Real ding-dong battle. Every time the Lions score to get within range the home-team scores one at the other end! 11 tries so far...

FT 49-35. Morale-boosting win for the battling Jaguares

[rowan]

Not bad Canes with a game in hand. Aussies looking a little better this season. Jags win over the Lions (the team whose championship prospects they severely dented in the corresponding fixture two years ago) really was quite an upset, looking at this:

[rowan]

New Zealand Conference

1. Crusaders (3-2)
2. Hurricanes (3-1)
3. Chiefs (3-1)
4. Highlanders (3-1)
5. Blues (1-3)

Australian Conference

1. Rebels (4-1)
2. Reds (3-2)
3. Waratahs (2-1-1)
4. Brumbies (2-2)
5. Sunwolves (0-5)

South African Conference

1. Lions (4-2)
2. Stormers (3-3)
3. Sharks (1-1-3)
4. Jaguares (2-4)
5. Bulls (1-4)

[rowan]

Some crucial match-ups this weekend, notably the Rebels at home to the Canes. Melbourne are top-of-the-table but the 4th-placed Wellington outfit are arguably in the second best position with a game in hand over the Saders, who they defeated and only trail by 1 point, and two games in hand over the Lions, who they trail by 5. It's a shame they couldn't synchronize this a little better, but I guess it's not so easy with a competition spanning 4 continents, 3 oceans and both hemispheres. Incidentally, no team is unbeaten already, and only the Sunpoodles are yet to record a win.

I'll pick the Canes to win, but it'll be a lot closer than their previous few encounters for sure, 2014 notwithstanding.

2017: Hurricanes won 71-6 in Wellington
2016: Hurricanes won 38-13 in Melbourne
2015: Hurricanes won 36-12 in Wellington
2014: Hurricanes won 25-15 in Melbourne
2012: Hurricanes won 66-24 in Wellington

[rowan]

Chiefs 20 Landers 12 early 2nd half . . .

Visitors briefly led 20-22 but now its the home-team ahead 27-22 into the final minutes!!

Otago scrum on the Chiefs' 5m line . . . Chiefs turn it over. FT

[rowan]

Ben Lam has got to be headed for an ABS jersey. The guy has been sensational so far this season. 2 tries as the Canes recover from a 19-7 deficit to lead 19-25 at the break. All the other Canes points came from Beauden with a try, 2 pens & 2 cons. The visitors have looked far more potent on attack, and had a try disallowed early in the game, or else they'd have their bonus point already. The Rebels have defended well, maintained their discipline and kicked their penalties. But they've got a big task ahead of them to contain the Canes in the 2nd half . . .

But they couldn't manage it and the Canes have run up a commanding 19-40 lead headed into the final 15. The Rebels' promising start to the season has just been blown apart! The Canes have 6 tries already and are basically the best-placed team in the comp now with games in hand taken into account. Lam gets a hat-trick and that's 38 answered points to the visitors.

FT 19-50, Lam 4 tries, Canes with 43 unanswered points after falling behind 7-19 midway first half.

I said we couldn't really judge the Aussie teams this year until they had played the Kiwis. I also said this one should be close That was not the case and the Rebels, at least, will need to go right back to the drawing board after that walloping on their home-ground...

[zer0]

Rebels left their paddling pool to venture into the open ocean and ran straight into a megalodon.

Though it's getting a bit sad to see the differences in results when the likes of Lam and Aso get the ball vs J.Savea. Can't see how he'll retain his starting spot once the likes of Minler-Skudder and/or Goosen return.

EDIT: And just as I post that he gets a chance to show his stuff but gets tied down then stuffs it up.

[rowan]

Am thoroughly enjoying Super Rugby again this year